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 Chevorlet
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
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, 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
Raising up two kids solo
Can't afford no fitness coach
She was going 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, lovin' sons
They gather 'round ole Glory
'Round the tables and the steeples
The beautiful people
The beautiful people

A wrinkled old man wearing medals
That he earned on ? Beach
Saying 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, their beautiful people, yea