I made a trip back to my hometown last week
For my grandparent's 50 year anniversary
It was black leather wingtips, and big bouffant hair

Your typical senior affair

They were cutting a rug to a Glen Miller tune

When someone stood up and tapped a glass with a spoon
It was old Eddie Vicker's, granddaddy's best man
And his very best friend to this day

And his eyes grew misty as he raised his champagne

He said, here's to the makers of things built to last

Like church bells and bridges, and baseball on grass
Like Ferguson tractors and Lucchese boots
My daddy's old tools I still use


The pledge of allegiance, the stars and the stripes
The words in the Bible, the sun in the sky

And here's to the twinkle in old married eyes
Still there after fifty years past
Here's to the makers of things built to last


We live in a world now of plastic and glue
Disposable honor, replaceable truth

If a pot breaks, why fix it
Man, what's the use
It costs less to buy it brand new


Oh, but lately I've looked in the eyes of my wife
And I see there what matters the most in this life

And I have decided I'm taking a stand
To stay on that fifty year plan
Inspired by the words of a very wise man


He said, here's to the makers of things built to last
Like church bells and bridges, and baseball on grass

Like Ferguson tractors and Lucchese boots
My daddy's old tools I still use


The pledge of allegiance, the stars and the stripes
The words in the Bible, the sun in the sky
And here's to the twinkle in old married eyes

Still there after fifty years past
Here's to the makers of things built to last
Here's to the makers of things built to last