(Harlan Howard)

A careful man I want to be
A little youngster follows me
I do not dare to go astray
In fear he might go that same way.

I cannot once escape his eyes
And what he sees me do he tries
Like me he says he wants to be
That little boy who follows me.

Now he thinks that I'm so big and fine
he believes every single word of mine
Lord, the bad in me please don't let him see
I wish that I could much stronger be.

I must remember as I go through
Summer's sun and winter's snow
I'm molding for eternity
That little boy who follows me.

Yes, I'm molding for eternity
That little boy that follows me...