Forgotten Times

Momma's in the kitchen frying chicken Daddy's got the game on the old TV Two brother's playing and fighting in the parlor It's just the way things used to be Momma stayed home and raised us kids Never had much except love if I recall Daddy worked everyday but Sunday Then again, I guess we had it all We got our clothes from people up the street Their kids were older and always well dressed They would send a box down once or twice a year And we'd thank God, we were so blessed Shared a bicycle between five brothers Had all we needed and so much more Never saw a government check until we enlisted I guess they forgot to tell us we were poor Lived in an alley full of kids Second house in a row of seven Learned to work for whatever we wanted This was our little piece of heaven No one stole from one another Respected all and what they worked for Slept like a baby, three to a room Never bothered locking a door We have so much now it's mind boggling In a way I guess we lost our senses Corrupted with greed, we became reclusive Instead of bridges, we built fences Return with me to those forgotten times When we treated our neighbor just like a brother Never got judged by the way we dressed And people cared about one another Remember Jackie Gleason and the Honeymooners Lawrence Welk on a Saturday night Breyer's ice cream from the corner store Lassie and Dragnet in black and white Uncle Miltie and Bishop Sheen Robin Hood starring Richard Greene Superman and a matinee With Dinah Shore, see the USA Riding grassy hills in a cardboard box Taking little brother for long summer walks Forgotten times spent with a friend Times we thought would never end A life full of riches doing all that we could A life full of struggles, even the bad times were good Somewhere in the distance a lone church bell chimes While I close my eyes and dream of forgotten times.