A Great Anthem

My childhood hero died in a crushing way
We came to his funeral the very next day
There were still flowers about and words to say
He left us so early with so much more music to play
Taken before he knew, his song had become a great anthem
He'd say "Mama told me, I’d been born with a silver spoon
Yep, I’d been born with a silver spoon

His young child cried, that little boy blew away his pain
Daddy always told him, he wanted his family, not all the fame
When you comin' home, Daddy, the sweet child would pray
Soon my son, he’s gotta entertain the fans, until there are none
You know you’ll be a close-knit family, when he’s all done

Church speakers turned on, then in harmony, everybody sings
We all said, "Thanks for the music, man, for what joy it brings
Your lyrics speak to us all, almost the same as the kings
Now laid to rest, with paper and pen, as we bow on down
As we left the building, kids were playing cats in the cradle
And we thought, Wow! Even the young ones feel the beat, yep
For real, Wow! Even the young ones feel the beat

His young child cried, that little boy blew away his pain
Daddy always told him, he wanted his family, not all the fame
When you comin' home, Daddy, the sweet child would pray
Soon my son, he’s gotta entertain the fans, until there are none
You know we'll be a close-knit family, when I’m all done

Well, one year later, we came together, again
So great to see you all, for those of us that remain
Guys, we rock to the same beat, while we’re still alive
We shook each others hands, and said our goodbyes
What I'd really like though, guys, is to have one more beer
So five hours later, we all agreed to get together every year

His young child cried, that little boy blew away his pain
Daddy always told him, he wanted his family, not all the fame
When you comin' home, Daddy, the sweet child would pray
Soon my son, he’s gotta entertain the fans, until there are none
You know we'll be a close-knit family, when I’m all done

I've aged quite a lot, since those hippy years
I now prefer to sip on shandy, than those heavy beers
I said, what, speak up, I can’t hear anything in my ears
They said, we have our problems, like remembering our wives
You forget your recent life, but seem to remember earlier times
But it's sure been nice listening to music with you, guys
It's sure been nice listening to music with you

And as they left the building, one by one, gone before me
The young would grow up, just like me
They would find their own great anthem, just like me

His young child cried, that little boy blew away his pain
Daddy always told him, he wanted his family, not all the fame
When you comin' home, Daddy, the sweet child would pray
Soon my son, he’s gotta entertain the fans, until there are none
You know we'll be a close-knit family, when I’m all done.