[Verse 1]

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

[Verse 2]

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 missing tooth don't matter a bit

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

[Pre-Chorus]

They're just family, friends, and neighbors

Doing what they've always done

Loving fathers, loving daughters

Loving mothers and loving sons

[Chorus]

They gather 'round ole glory

'Round the tables and the steeples

The beautiful people

The beautiful people

[Verse 3]

Debbie Jo, down at the diner

Sunny side up, burned the toast

Raisin' up two kids solo

Can't afford no fitness coach

[Verse 4]

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

[Brdige]

Then her mom passed on

But she still goes by the old folks home

Just to sit a while and bring a smile

[Pre-Chorus]

They're just family, friends, and neighbors

Doing what they've always done

Loving fathers, loving daughters

Loving mothers and loving sons

[Chorus]

They gather 'round ole glory

'Round the tables and the steeples

The beautiful people

The beautiful people

[Verse 5]

A wrinkled old man wearing medals

That he earned on, Beach

Saying goodbye to a grandson

Who was killed outside Tikrit

[Chorus]

They gather 'round ole glory

'Round the tables and the steeples

The beautiful people

The beautiful people

[Outro]

The beautiful people

Man, they're beautiful people, yeah