[Verse 1]
Two packs of cigarettes a day
The strongest whiskey Kentucky can make
That's a recipe to put a vagabond on his hands and knees
I watched it all up close, I knew him more than most
I saw a side of him he never showed
Full of sympathy for a world that wouldn't let him be

[Pre-Chorus]
That's the man he was
Have you heard enough?

[Chorus]
What a shame, what a shame
To judge a life that you can't change
The choir sings, the church bells ring
So, won't you give this man his wings?
What a shame
To have to beg you to see that we're not all the same
What a shame

[Verse 2]
It's a hard life for every silver spoon
There's a touch of grey for every shade of blue
That's the way that I see life
If there was nothing wrong, then there'd be nothing right
And for this working man they say could barely stand
There's gotta be a better place to land
Some kind of remedy for a world that wouldn't let him be
[Pre-Chorus]
That's the man he was
Have you heard enough?

[Chorus]
What a shame, what a shame
To judge a life that you can't change
The choir sings, the church bells ring
So, won't you give this man his wings?
What a shame to have to beg you to see that we're not all the same
What a shame

[Bridge]
God forgive the hands that laid you down
'Cause they never knew how much a broken heart can break the sound
And change the seasons
Now the leaves are falling faster
Happily ever after
You gave me hope through your endeavors
And now you will live forever

[Chorus]
What a shame, what a shame
To judge a life that you can't change
The choir sings, the church bells ring
So, won't you give this man his wings?
What a shame to have to beg you to see that we're not all the same
[Outro]
What a shame, what a shame
That we're not all the same
What a shame, what a shame
That we're not all the same