You saw your youth in black and white  
Like your father before you
You stayed in that safe and silent place,
You were a mystery, too
Oh what could we do?

Well here's to you
Uncle Rupert in the shade
We miss you from time to time
And we never got to say
How we wish we could have known you 

We knew your past            Like ashes on our mantle place
Back in the days when life seemed hard. 
I wish you’d told us all the things you wouldn’t say
You were a mystery too,
Oh what could we do?

Well here's to you
Uncle Rupert in the shade
We miss you from time to time
And we never got to say
How we wish we could have known you  

Don't we Sister Ann, and don't we brother Sam?
Back when you were the talk of the town 
  Were you the big man around?
             
You kept your peace  where you laid your head
Keeping words we never knew
And you stayed in that safe and silent place
You were a mystery, too
Oh, what could we do?

Well here's to you
Uncle Rupert in the shade

Music and Lyrics © 2010 Brett Terry, All Rights Reserved.