i had an uncle name of matthew he was his father s only boy born just south of colby kansas he was his mother s pride and joy yes and joy was just a thing that he was raised on love was just a way to live and die gold was just a windy kansas wheatfield blue was just a kansas summer sky 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 growin up a kansas farmboy life was mostly havin fun ridin on his daddy s shoulders behind a mule beneath the sun yes and joy was just a thing that he was raised on love was just a way to live and die gold was just a windy kansas wheatfield blue was just a kansas summer sky well i guess there were some hard times and i m told some years were lean they had a storm in forty seven a twister came and stripped em clean he lost the farm and lost his family he lost the wheat and lost his home but he found the family bible a faith as solid as a stone yes and joy was just a thing that he was raised on love was just a way to live and die gold was just a windy kansas wheatfield blue was just a kansas summer sky and so he came to live at our house and he came to work the land he came to ease my daddy s burden and he came to be my friend and so i wrote this down for matthew and it s for him this song is sung ridin on his daddy s shoulders behind a mule beneath the sun yes and joy was just a thing that he was raised on love was just a way to live and die gold was just a windy kansas wheatfield blue was just a kansas summer sky yes and joy was just a thing that he was raised on love was just a way to live and die gold was just a windy kansas wheatfield blue was just a kansas summer sky