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MacArthur’s Hand Lyrics by Cal Smith

The Best Of Cal Smith (2009)

1976

[Verse 1]
With high cheekbones and dark sad eyes and shaggy coarse black hair
The old man squared his shoulders and returned the judge's stare
When the judge pronounced him guilty to the charge of vagrancy
He said I've heard Your Honor now Your Honor you hear me

[Chorus]
For I once shook the great MacArthur's hand
He pinned his medal on me 'cause I was his kind of man
I stood my ground in that red hot hell when brave men turned and ran
Yes I once shook the great MacArthur's hand

[Verse 2]
I've got no job or money just a few old ragged clothes
But I'm not a thief or beggar and it's no crime to be broke
I hadn't harmed a single soul when they arrested me
I was fit to fight your war am I not fit to walk your streets

[Verse 3]
Now I came through that war unharmed that's what the records show
But MacArthur felt and saw the scars that war left on my soul
And frankly I don't give a damn what your kind thinks of me
I earned a great man's handshake and that's all the pride I need

[Chorus]
For I once shook the great MacArthur's hand
He pinned his medal on me 'cause I was his kind of man
I stood my ground in that red hot hell when brave men turned and ran
Yes I once shook the great MacArthur's hand
Yes I once shook the great MacArthur's hand
Credits

About “MacArthur’s Hand” by Cal Smith

Read the complete lyrics to "MacArthur’s Hand" by Cal Smith from the album "The Best Of Cal Smith (2009)" in 1976. On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under In English, USA, Country.

"MacArthur’s Hand" is performed by Cal Smith. from the album "The Best Of Cal Smith (2009)" in 1976 This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "MacArthur’s Hand", explore more songs by Cal Smith using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

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Frequently asked questions

"MacArthur’s Hand" is credited to Cal Smith. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"MacArthur’s Hand" appears on "The Best Of Cal Smith (2009)" in 1976.

Visit the Cal Smith artist page at /artist/cal-smith for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.


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