Neighborhood Girl

It started about the time she was born,
Her rising above the raising of corn,
Her Midwestern dream of winning the world.
And she was always my neighborhood girl.

She made cheerleader and I made the team.
I carried her books while she carried her dream
Of magazine covers and Hollywood world
And she was always my neighborhood girl.

I went in the Navy when war came along
And cried every time I heard a love song,
For as I was sailing half-way 'round the world,
I still loved my neighborhood girl.

I came home one Christmas on thirty days' leave.
The things that I heard I couldn't believe.
She still had dreams that were out of this world,
But she was now the neighborhood girl.

Two wars have come and gone in between
And all of my sons are now in their teens.
And I read in the paper she's now left this world
And I cried one last time for my neighborhood girl.
My neighborhood girl.