Carl's got a brand new haircut

Must have been the girl's first date

Baby blue front quarter panel

On his old dark green Chevrolet



Probably never make the pages

Of People magazine

But you oughta see them sick kids' faces

When he shows up on Christmas Eve



Dressed like old St. Nick

That missin' tooth don't matter a bit

But there's a lot like him around in every town



They're just family, friends, and neighbors

Doing what they've always done

Lovin' fathers, lovin' daughters

Lovin' mothers and lovin' sons



They gather 'round ole glory

'Round the tables and the steeples

The beautiful people

The beautiful people



Debbie Jo, down at the diner

Sunny side up, burned the toast

Raisin' up two kids solo

Can't afford no fitness coach



She was goin' to California

The year her mama got sick

So she hung around to do what she could

Had the first one and that was it



Then her mom passed on

But she still goes by the old folks home

Just to sit a while and bring a smile



They're just family, friends, and neighbors

Doing what they've always done

Lovin' fathers, lovin' daughters

Lovin' mothers and lovin' sons



They gather 'round ole glory

'Round the tables and the steeples

The beautiful people

The beautiful people



A wrinkled old man wearin' medals

That he earned on ... Beach

Sayin' goodbye to a grandson

Who was killed outside Tikrit



They gather 'round ole glory

Out behind the steeple

The beautiful people

The beautiful people



The beautiful people

Man, they're beautiful people, yeah