The Man Who Shot Himself - Tom T. Hall

He did not seem much like a man with a problem

He was small he was quiet he dressed neat and shaved

His job was five days in a brick making plant

And he drank a few beers on his other two days

His music was country, his faith was in Jesus

In fact he had pictures of Christ in his house

He never once questioned his daily existence

Nor wondered a lot what his life was about

He was fond of his pistol and he cleaned it too often

He’d go down by the river shoot driftwood all day

Stare out the window and sip on the cold beer

Sometimes he was happy like children who play

And some Saturday morning he came to my father

And said Virgil would you cut my hair for me please

And my father was handy with razors and scissors

Sometimes he cut hair with the guys on our street

As small boys would do I sat watchin' my father

Dad kidded him some bout his jealous wife

The man thanked my father and he offered to pay him

Went back to his house and he took his own life