Author - Kendall Bush

I’ve known you since I was just a kid,

But I guess it’s still up to you.

If I get to stay, I’ll work my way,

Cause workin’ is all I ever knew.

It’s nice up here and if I had a chance,

now I couldn’t do it on my own,

But the old knees feel better and if I had a crew

I could help you keep these bright lights on.

See I had the best job in the world

Not like the folks on TV

 I’m a wood walker, a clumsum, a Lineman

And I’ve seen things they’ll never see

I saw your world from the top of a pole.

Doing work with heart and pride

Like that first pole in spring, after you shed the coat

It’s a feeling I can’t describe.

Most folks said it’s too dangerous

But the monster never got me.

I did it safe, head in the game

For my wife and my family

Some of the guys would drink and cuss

They were hard grizzled men.

I’d be lying if I told you different,

sometimes I’d join right in.

And I missed church a lot when I was on call.

It seemed it would happen every time.

We get ready to go and I’d get a call,

lights were out somewhere on our lines.

No excuses though, it’s up to you

I had a life somewhat out of the norm.

 No hard feelings if you send me packin,

It wouldn’t be the first time I was sent back in a storm

Hard hat in his hand looking down at his boots,

God looked him up and down.

He said I know you,

and It’s for sure, I’ve seen you all around.

I saw you at Katrina, Ivan and Andrew,

and that ice storm in 92.

It seemed every time there was a problem anywhere,

you Kentucky boys would always come through.

I heard you the night you cut out at the top,

and you got that belly full of wood.

I was the one that helped you kick back in,

and you thanked me like I new you would

I saw the tears and heard the prayers

when your friend lost his life.

And at Christmas I saw you get gifts for his kids,

and slipped a hundred to his greiving wife.

I was there when you left the family all alone.

They were scared of the storm that was passing by.

It tore out your heart to leave them there,

and you asked me for a watchful eye.

 Let me tell about that crazy life

of a lineman that you lived

You reached out to help others.

What more could be asked to give.

Now if it weren’t for the biscuits and gravy,

you’d still be out there today.

Giving it all to keep on the lights,

so here’s what I’ve got to say.

Your names wrote down so enter in.

Up here the coffees always hot.

Over there’s a pole to climb if you take a mind,

without a runway, a steeple or a knot

Now your crown will be this clean new hardhat,

new tools, and these golden hooks

I don’t figure you’re a wing kinda guy,

but you can climb that pole and give heaven a look.

It’s been called the highest profession,

not because they climb the poles.

But these hard and determined men

have a brotherhood that few ever know.

Let it be known through out the commonwealth,

to these young’uns with paint on their hooks,

you can’t buy it, touch it, or write it

you’ll never read it in a book.

This lineman’s life that you’ve chosen

is only passed from heart to heart

And when you get to heaven

I’ll say this Linemans on break, forever, he’s done his part

The old crews are waitin,

Ya’ll can spend the ages telling tales and chewin’ the fat.

But don’t worry bout the lights, their always on.

I gotta son that takes care of that.

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