Em (022000@1) CWhen (x32010@1)I was just a young boy, on the okalhoma plains Em (022000@1) C (x32010@1) I tried to keep my shoes shined, tried to keep a clean name G (320003@1) F (133211@1) CWay (x32010@1)over town, lived a boy named Eugene Pratt Em (022000@1) D (xx0232@1) CAnd (x32010@1)we weren't allowed to talk to him, say hi and none of that no no Em (022000@1) CI (x32010@1)went off to school, Eugene sat right in front of my desk Em (022000@1) CThe (x32010@1)kids they made fun of him, cause Gene was such a mess Lord G (320003@1) F (133211@1) CBut (x32010@1)oh, he worked hard, and he took home a mess of good grades Em (022000@1) D (xx0232@1) CAnd (x32010@1)when it came time for him to go to big school, Eugene went far away D (xx0232@1) Em (022000@1) D (xx0232@1) CCause (x32010@1)that's the way it was, and that's the way it is D (xx0232@1) Em (022000@1)D (xx0232@1) CAnd (x32010@1)that's the way it was, and that's the way it is Em (022000@1) CI (x32010@1)went off to college, got myself a job in the campus store Em (022000@1) CBut (x32010@1)in the meantime, Gene spent his time writin' bout the world and war G (320003@1) F (133211@1) CI (x32010@1)didn't understand, all the things he was talkin about Em (022000@1) D (xx0232@1) CSo (x32010@1)my friends and me from that old fraternity, got drunk and blocked it all out (Yes we did) Em (022000@1) CAnd (x32010@1)then we graduated, lost our deference, our excuse. Em (022000@1) CAnd (x32010@1)the man said, come here boys, gonna put your education to a good use G (320003@1) F (133211@1) CWent (x32010@1)down to the draft board, saw Eugene lookin' alive and well Em (022000@1) D (xx0232@1) CBut (x32010@1)when it came time to put his name on the line, he told them boys to go to hell (Yes he did) Em (022000@1) CEugene (x32010@1)was by far the smartest, the most concerned with humanity Em (022000@1) CBut (x32010@1)it was him they took, far away, and stuck in a penitentiary lordy G (320003@1) F (133211@1) CI (x32010@1)can't help but wonder, if we'd all stand up like him Em (022000@1) D (xx0232@1) CThen (x32010@1)there'd be no one to carry those damn guns for something nobody believes in D (xx0232@1) Em (022000@1)D (xx0232@1) CBut (x32010@1)that ain't the way it was, that ain't the way it is D (xx0232@1) Em (022000@1)D (xx0232@1) CThat (x32010@1)ain't the way it was, that ain't the way it is D (xx0232@1) Em (022000@1)D (xx0232@1) CThat (x32010@1)ain't the way it was, that ain't the way it is D (xx0232@1) Em (022000@1)D (xx0232@1) CThat (x32010@1)ain't the way it was, that ain't the way it is
