Tell Me Why I Shouldn't Cry

They say that men should never cry. It shows a weaker side.
Throughout my life, I’ve always found that tears are hard to hide.
There’s so much evil in this world, it makes me wonder why.
Sometimes it’s hard for me to cope. Tell me why I shouldn’t cry.  

A movie called “Old Yeller” was a show I went to see.
It’s about a loyal faithful dog as loving as could be.
All was fine until the end when Yeller had to die.
I was only ten years old. Tell me why I shouldn’t cry.  

The first time that I fell in love, my world was filled with joy.
What I felt was new to who was then a teenage boy.
It would all come crashing down when she left me high and dry.
I never felt such pain before. Tell me why I shouldn’t cry.
 
My grandma was a joy to me. She always made me smile.
She had a cabin way up north where I would stay a while.
When I heard she’d passed away, my memories all flew by.
I was by then a young man. Tell me why I shouldn’t cry.  

As a boy, I played with guns. I learned to shoot and aim.
But then I went to Vietnam, and it was NOT a game!
I saw good men give up their lives and pass without a sigh.
A sergeant must be strong and true. Tell me why I shouldn’t cry.  

My mother always stood by me and tried to keep me strong.
She helped me through the times when we knew that I was wrong.
She passed so fast I never had the chance to say goodbye.
I hope you’ll see I’m still a man. Let’s pretend I didn’t cry.