Real Swell Guy

He was active in his church
He sang hymns in dulcet tones
he played stickball with the kids
and he bought them ice cream cones

He shook your hand real firm
He laughed at all your jokes
Although they weren’t funny
He was just the nicest bloke; he was a
Real Swell Guy

He hosted barbecues on Sundays
From May right through September
He covered all the costs
And made a burger to remember

he was always bringing pastries
to the neighbors and their kin
Oh do you know the muffin man
well I sure did — it’s him; he was a
Real Swell Guy

If he was selling bridges
you’d be sure to buy
He had an honest face
he was just a real swell guy
just a real swell guy

He’d stop you on the street
When wintertime was here
And ask you “is it cold enough?”
and make it sound sincere

His lawn was well-presented
Like a little slice of Heaven
He mowed it every Saturday
But never before seven
Real Swell Guy

His wife ran the PTA
It should come as no surprise
At the high school bake sale
Her cobbler won first prize!

They decorated at holidays
Without garishness or gloat
He put the Christ in Christmas
Without ramming it down your throat; he was a
Real Swell Guy

he coached the local pee wee
He spelled TEAM without an I
even grown-ups learned from him
he was just a real swell guy
just a real swell guy

He built his house with his two hands
but he put it up for sale
he left his heart and soul
in every brick and every nail

We’re gonna miss this man
he up and moved away
because that colored family
just moved in across the way