Story Behind The Song

This song came to me when I was camping with a group from church, just kind of floated down from heaven :). These are guys I have visited in the nursing home.

Song Description

I put together several visits with various old men and combined them into one song. I wanted to honor the greatest generation for their contribution to life and our country through their many years of service. I also wanted to challenge my listeners to take the time to visit old people. There are many lonely folks at nursing homes so hungry for a visit, so lonely.

Lyrics

Strapped into his wheelchair, staring into space
Life is kind of slow now, it used to be a race
Time was when the feller sped his roadster round the bend
Now his gaze is blank; He's joined the rank
of clean old men, of clean old men

Oh his face feels rough and scratchy; crooky smile 'n bumpy nose
Can tell you how to feed and prune a county champion rose
Tell you how a feed machine tore his finger off back when
Now scars remain; arthritic pain
for clean old men, for clean old men

Chorus: Clean old men, clean old men
Has anyone got time to spend with clean old men?
Half an hour to listen, half a heart to care?
Half a mind to just take time to spend
and spend it with clean old men, clean old men
It's gettin' kind of near the end for clean old men.

He's got a stain on his old shirt and a button's missing there.
I wish the nurses' aide could find the time to wash his hair.
He may not smell terrific ?cause he has to wear Depends
But his heart is clean; on Christ he leans
He's one of Jesus' clean old men, one of Jesus' clean old men. CHORUS

So I'll rise before the aged; I'll give honor to the gray
to veterans of life and war, I've got a debt to pay
Someone's daddy, someone's grandpa, and his own father's son
But no one's left to visit him. I'm the only one
(or you're the only one to visit) CHORUS