Snap Button Shirt
 
His pearl snap button cowboy shirt was one that he had bought
Cheaply made in Pakistan and sold in chain stores by the lot
But to him it was his favorite cause he'd worn it on the day
He'd found the ten dollar bill when he had stopped to pray
 
Sitting on a bench outside the store he'd swallowed pride
To make the call to home cause they knew he'd tried
then he asked for help from God in the midday heat
looking round and wondering he looked down at his feet
 
there it was just lying on the concrete like a prize
a green back dollar with a ten looking at his eyes
he knew he had enough to buy a ticket on a bus
that would get him closer to those that made a fuss
 
he'd left to earn some money back some years ago
hit the road to cowboy and to work the rodeo
he'd gone out true enough and learned to make a hand
but he fell prey to himself as he traveled cross the land
 
there was a couple years where he earned a midland rep
marking out good on saddle broncs he had the try and pep
then some bad falls laid him up and he got buried by the debt
so he skipped out and ran away as fast as he could get
 
he'd hire out to day work and send some money back
then time passed on and he found himself falling in the crack
drinking more in some dark bar where the jukebox plays
and some big football game is screaming on for days
 
then in one town he dried out and made a call to home
and through hard tears his father said "You don't need to roam.
We'll clear those bills up somehow, we're here for you son."
Then he sat down by the store with no further need to run
 
He's made a good hand once again and still has the shirt
The old pearl button snap one he bought cheap as dirt
he wears it once a week to church underneath his coat
and if you need a ten spot you'll get it with no note
©Steve Dirksen