1. There is a man in our town, that's scarcely ever seen
   He is not the best man in town and not so awful mean.
2. He travels through the forest wide, his bleeding skin to shield,
   from dangers on the pathway wide, or in the fertile field.
3. He won't agree with what is right, but loves the name of wrong,
   He was never known read God's word, or sing a lively song.
4. He often sits upon the hills and in some secluded spots,
   Then views the country all around, and in his head he plots
5. To do some dirty low down trick, that no one else would do
   Because it suits him from the top of his hat to the bottom of his shoe.
6. He never sits down by his wife and talk of troubles past,
   Nor of the pleasures yet to come, with which they might be blessed.
7. And he never says, " Madam today, I'll take you down in town
   And walk along hand in hand and ride the street cars around".
8. He has never tried to help this land, although he is growing frail,
   He only lends a withered hand, "to burn another rail".
9. God help this hunched backed trifling wreck, to work with all his might,
   He will burn rails and tell false tales and think he is doing right.
10. Oh, may he, when he comes to die, grit his teeth and yell,
    "My God I have had a good time here , Will there be any rails in hell?"
11. Some people call him sugar lips, some people call him Gabriels Horn,
    But years ago, they say, his wife called him "Kissie Warren".
12. But age is creeping upon this man, like all of Adams race
    With silver hair that decorates a pallored care worn face.
13. He wants a porous plaster, to patch his bleeding hide,
    For not a dog will lick his sores since Bouncy Morrisons' died
14. There is a God to help us out when every effort fails.
    But there's no redemption for the man who burns his neighbors rails.

    * Repeat verse 9 and 10

This was written by John Riley Morefield and Charlie Gentry, who on Christmas day 1903 left a copy with Andy M. Gentry at his home late that afternoon. Andy always thought that it was meant to describe a nephew of his not far away. The original poem has been kept in tact until this day.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION: Andrew M. Gentry (Andy) was considered a promiment man by many. He was a timber man, a large property owner and a big farmer at the head waters of Gentrys' Creek area. Andy was the youngest son of David and Sarah Buckner Gentry, a family of 13 to 15 children. He was born 19 January 1834 and died 17 May 1913. He married Margaret E. Worley, 20 December 1868. Their children were: Martha, George and Ida. Andy was a former Sgt. in the 13th Tennessee Volunteer Cavalry during the Civil War.

Nancy Gentry, Andy's older sister married David Gilliland, 21 September 1839. One of their sons, Richard (Dick) Gilliland, was Andy's nephew that lived in the same neighborhood. "According to the story, Andy lost too many fence rails over a period of time. So being a man proficient in the use of explosives (especially black powder) Andy loaded up a few and waited for some results. Needless to say, in a short while a few small explosions took place in his nephew's house. From then on Andy didn't have to replace too many rails on his fences. However, his nephew had to replace a couple of stoves."

Dick Gilliland married Sarah Caroline Jane (Jane) Hawkins, daughter of Richard Washington Hawkins and Elizabeth Greer.