My Father's Son
Recorded by Ricky Skaggs

(Capo on 4)

Intro.:  (G)  x 4

My (G)history is no secret, it's (C)written in the (D)stones
In the (G)hill beside this river, rest my (C)mother gentle (G)bones
And (G)daddy there beside her home a-(C)mong his next of (D)kin
And their (G)legacy passed (C)down to me, the sons of mountain (G)men

(G)Raised to be a miner by a (C)miners callused (D)hands
Passed my (G)youth between these mountains where I (C)grew to under-(G)stand
That (G)family was the word of God and (C)faith was its de-(D)mand
And (G)life and death, the same came from the (C)coal beneath this (G)land

Well, a (D)rich man writes the (G)book of laws a (D)poor man must de-(G)fend
But the (C)highest laws are (G)written on the hearts of honest (Em)men
(G)If that cup is passed to me to (C)do what must be (D)done
When they (G)lay me down remind them I was (C)just my father's (G)son

Inst.:  | (G)  | (G)  | (C)  | (D)  | (G)  | (G)  | (C)  | (G) --

I've (G)walked among these people, heard the (C)stories that they (D)tell
I've (G)crawled beside them in the mines and (C)touched the walls of (G)hell
I've (G)shared their sacred secrets, known their (C)triumph and their (D)pain
And (G)right or wrong I'll stand with them on the (C)final judgment (G)day

They (G)say God gives his comfort when the (C)time of trouble (D)comes
They (G)say we'll own no share of peace till (C)we lay down our (G)guns
But (G)will my boy have the chance to do the (C)things I've never (D)done
Or will (G)he, like me, be told that he must (C)be his father's (G)son?

Well, a (D)rich man writes the (G)book of laws a (D)poor man must de-(G)fend
But the (C)highest laws are (G)written on the hearts of honest (Em)men
(G)When that cup is passed to me to (C)do what must be (D)done
On a (G)chunk of coal just carve these words, ''I was just my father's son...''