My Tennis Shoes

It was rough, I've seen it rough
I wore one pair of tennis shoes during the Depression, five years
Wore 'em out up to the name on the ankle
I was the only kid in 7th grade who wore canvas fats
It was tough trying to learn something hungry, sitting there with a cabbage sandwich wrapped up in some red wrapper
That's right, cabbage sandwich, put it on the radiator and let the grease melt
I've been there, brother
Bread was so juicy, then add oil and margarine, and you had to color it yourself
My grandmother didn't take that time to color nothin'
We hadn't had no margarine, so all, she just spread it right on something right away
I used to go home and go to school with a margarine sandwich, no color in it
They thought I was eating lard sandwiches
Didn't see any sugar sprinkled on it
She remembers—her family was poor, too, weren't they, honey?
If your family was poor, smile
Look, hahaha, goddamn right, I know
A lot of people don't like to admit it
Get a few bucks and try to be all grand
"Neckbones?" Isn't that beautiful, honey, that we can laugh at neckbones?"
But you do go back and cook 'em every now and then, don't ya?
Right, brother, or are you through with pork?