Chin Up, Head Down (Bill Passalacqua)

James, it*s so good to hear from you
To hold your letter in my hand
To see your messy chicken scratch
Through the dirt and the sand
I*m sorry for all the things you*re missing
And for all the things I wish you*d never see
I can tell from your words that you*ve changed already
I remember how that happened to me

I hear it*s hotter than the blazes
Camel spiders bigger than your fist
If the mosquitos don*t get you, the sand fleas will
Your sister says at least you*re getting kissed
She went to Big John*s wedding at the Legion.
They played a couple of songs for you
First a slow one and then "Let*s Get This Party Started"
And they laughed and tried to dance just like you do

It*s good to hear that you quit smoking
Even though you*re chewing now instead
You asked for a sleeve of Copenhagen
It*s in the package that I send
Along with a Hank Williams box set
Dylan*s "Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid"
And some crayons and a bottle of bubbles that your mother threw in,
I guess you*ll always be her little kid

Your mother unplugged the television
She gets so angry at the news
First she got mad at all those war protesters
Now she*s mad at the President too
She threw our Toby Keith tickets away
Her Dixie Chicks CDs are in the trash
If she had it her way Johnny Depp and Rupert Murdoch
Would both be strung up and lashed

Lot*s of folks have asked me to thank you
For serving the good old U.S.A.
And others have told me that they*re very, very sorry
That we can*t seem to find a better way
I remember when I was in the jungle
Wondering what I was fighting for
Trust me on this one son, don*t even get started
Trying to figure out war

Say, did you know that the Astros are in first place?
Football season is in high gear
The college students have all gone back to school
So things have gotten pretty quiet here
Like I said Son, it*s so good to hear from you
We love you and we pray for you each day
Keep your chin up and your head down
And be ready for whatever comes your way