This song appears on six albums, and was first released on the back home again album, and has also been released on the changes album. live versions also appears on an evening with john denver, the wildlife concert, the best of john denver live and the very best of john denver (double cd) albums.
Had an uncle named matthew
he was his fatherĄŻs only boy
born just south of cobly, kansas
he was his motherĄŻs pride and joy
Yes, and joy was just the thing that he was raised on
love is just the way to live and die
gold is just a windy kansas wheatfield
and blue is just a kansas summer sky
And all the stories that he told me
back when i was just a lad
all the memories that he gave me
all the good times that he had
GrowinĄŻ up a kansas farmboy
life was mostly havinĄŻ fun
ridinĄŻ on his daddyĄŻs shoulders
behind a view beneath the sun

yes, and joy was just the thing that he was raised on
love is just the way to live and die
gold is just a windy kansas wheatfield
and blue is just a kansas summer sky
Well, i guess there were some hard times
and iĄŻm told some years were lean
they had a storm in forty-seven
a twister came and stripped them clean
He lost the farm and lost his family
he lost the wheat and lost his home
but he found a family bible
faith as solid as a stone
Yes, and joy was just the thing that he was raised on
love is just the way to live and die
gold is just a windy kansas wheatfield
and blue is just a kansas summer sky
So he came to live at our house
and he came to work the land
he came to ease my daddyĄŻs burden
and he came to be my friend
So, i wrote this down for matthew
and itĄŻs for him the song is sung
ridinĄŻ on his daddyĄŻs shoulders
behind a view beneath the sun
Yes, and joy was just the thing that he was raised on
love is just the way to live and die
gold is just a windy kansas wheatfield
and blue is just a kansas summer sky
Yes, and joy was just the thing that he was raised on
love is just the way to live and die
gold is just a windy kansas wheatfield
blue is just a kansas summer sky

words and music by john denver