I remember our country
Three decades ago,
Demoralized and fearful,
Our national pride so very low.

I remember the Watergate,
And the mistrust that it wrought,
And the secrecy of our government,
Who struggled and fought
To keep the truth from us all.

I remember President Carter,
His gentle heart and high ideals,
But he wasn't equipped,
For our country's wounds to heal.

But then came the Gipper,
Onto the scene,
To be our country's skipper,
And revitalize our dreams,
And to return to us that which had been lost.

Our belief is in freedom,
And that which is right,
For the oppressed of our world,
We're willing to fight,
And we were led by a man that we grew to love.

I knew him as a child
On Sunday nights,
Twenty mule team Borax,
 And Death Valley Days.

He was the embodiment for us,
Of all that is good.
He was true to his word,
And you knew where he stood.

He loved his family,
And his country as much,
And through his strong leadership
We have all been touched.

And so today,
With the flags at half-mast,
We mourn our loss,
But the dye has been cast,
And his memory will outlive us all.

Look no further for a hero,
And when you speak of him
Do it not in soft tones,
For the grandfather of us all,
Raced to heaven on the spirit of Smarty Jones.