Hometown Hero - Andy Shauf

Hometown hero flexing his charm

With a borderline joke to the guys at the bar

And they slap their knees like they’ve not heard it before

Thirty-five years old wearing his badge

Nickname for life on the shoulder of his bomber

That he wears as the coach of the high school team

He lights his cigarette

And says, «Man these things will kill me someday»

Raises his glass and says, «Here's to hoping»

Hometown hero flexing his arm

With a five-yard pass to the end of the bar

He says, «I'll be right back I’m just gonna go grab another pack.»

Walks one block to the all-night station

And steps into a situation

There’s a man with a gun pointed at the nervous clerk

And before he could think

He was tackling the gunman

Who hit his head and was knocked unconscious

The clerk relieved said, «Oh my god

You’re a hero man and you should stick around

'Til the cops get here, maybe you’ll make the morning news.»

But the hometown hero rose to his feet

Tossed him the gun and said, «Thanks, but I’ve gotta run

I’ll take a pack of camel lights and be on my way.»

He stepped outside the door

Heard the sirens in the distance

Lit his cigarette

And said, «Man these things will kill me someday»

Exhaled smoke and said, «Here's to hoping»