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The Ballad of Handy Mackey Lyrics by Larry Jon Wilson

Let Me Sing My Song To You

1976

Me and friend on five notch road in 51' rode ponies makin' memories
We rode up to an old grey shack where Handy Mackey lived, he told us good things
He'd say a bird in hand is a bird for the pan
And silence can't be golden cus' I never learned me nothin from no quiet man
Handy said
Handy said
Handy won't you show me how to work the land to be my own man someday
You bent your back down all those years and you never looked to no man for your pay
But he said workin' the land won't make no man it ain't what you leave hеre
Cus' sowin and reapin' n layin' by n crop and choppin'll maybe gеt you by for one more year
Handy said
Then Handy won't you tell me one more good thing before I go back to the city?
Won't you tell me something I can use to grow up with and be a man like you?
And he'd say a penny saved is a penny burned
You'd better go on and spend em' son the world just may not be here 'time your next one's earned
Handy said
The old grey shack and Handy burned one night, the fire was cold 'fore they found him
The funeral in the cold n' few old friends and family preacher gathered 'round him
But i've remembered all those good things through the years, it brings me joy
And I know he's in a better place where everybody calls him man, not boy
I bet they call him man, not boy
Credits
Larry Jon Wilson

Larry Jon Wilson

About “The Ballad of Handy Mackey” by Larry Jon Wilson

Read the complete lyrics to "The Ballad of Handy Mackey" by Larry Jon Wilson from the album "Let Me Sing My Song To You" 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 Country, Folk.

"The Ballad of Handy Mackey" is performed by Larry Jon Wilson. from the album "Let Me Sing My Song To You" 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 "The Ballad of Handy Mackey", explore more songs by Larry Jon Wilson 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

"The Ballad of Handy Mackey" is credited to Larry Jon Wilson. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"The Ballad of Handy Mackey" appears on "Let Me Sing My Song To You" in 1976.

Visit the Larry Jon Wilson artist page at /artist/larry-jon-wilson for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.