Rising bright and early just to race the dawn
Testing his strength just to say he’s that strong
Braving torrid summers and ice cold winters
Time-torched hands and metal splinters
Just another part of that big machine
But his crooked smile still has a sheen
That says he’s fine with just where he stays
And that’s where he will be until the end of days

The young ones come and the old ones go
The leaves will fall and the streams will flow
Through the years one man will stand
Without a seal, stamp or brand
He will never be rich but he’ll never be alone
He won’t gamble with dice he’s never thrown
And as the world continues to change around him
He will just adjust those chains that bound him

He’s a heartland hero
Persevering through the roughest times
A strong man here to
Prove that in the end it’s all just fine
The heartland hero

He had his dreams when he was young
But he was quick to learn that under this sun
Not everything will grow to be how it was planted
And the decisions he made can’t be recanted
Just like his father’s father and those before they
There’s a code to follow and a law to obey
Family comes first and the world comes second
So work for them, love with reckless abandon

He ain’t been out of this valley for a decade or more
He’s grown numb to the pain, he’s no longer sore
His purpose is clear and his mind is devoted
He’s never bragged and he has never gloated
The world may look at him like he’s a common man
But there’s one thing they won’t understand
His wisdom comes not through books but through years
His face is dirty, never cleansed by tears

He’s a heartland hero
One of the few proud to be
A strong man here to
Work hard without sympathy
The heartland hero

The sun will set and that last bell will ring
He’ll hang his hat, listen to ol’ Bruce sing
Smile to himself and have a last sip of joe
He may not be rich but he will always know
That when the sun sets in the very end
His legacy will never break nor bend
For while he may never be well known
He will be proud that the world was shown

You don’t need a degree to be well-learned
And money made is always money earned
You don’t need a mansion to be right at home
And as long as you’ve got your pride you’re never alone
You don’t need to be wealthy to feel like you’re blessed
And you don’t need an “A” to pass the test
Though the world does not know your name
You’ve made a mark, so don’t feel no shame….

The heartland hero.

-Tyler Woodbridge

11/17/08