Verse 1
Bruce was a barefoot kid in a double-wide town,
Always had a secret when the sun went down.
Mama kept wondering where the jelly all went,
Daddy said, “That boy’s got a strange little hobby again.”
Bathroom shelf looking like a hurricane came,
Empty bottles, missing caps, nobody taking blame.
He’d whistle through the hallway like everything’s cool,
But everybody knew Bruce was breaking house rules.
⸻
Pre-Chorus
Some folks chase trouble,
Some folks chase the moon,
Bruce chased mystery
With a bathroom spoon.
Mama said, “Son, I love you,
But I’m tired of the truth.
Every time I turn around,
Something’s missing with you.”
⸻
Chorus
They call him Up There Bruce,
Riding on a strange little breeze.
Up There Bruce,
Lord, won’t you leave them vegetables be?
He’s got sunshine in his pocket,
Trouble in his shoes,
Every small-town doctor
Knows the legend of Bruce.
Yeah, Up There Bruce,
Floating like a cloud,
If something goes missing,
Bruce ain’t allowed.
⸻
Verse 2
One summer evening at the county fair,
They had a little booth with a folding chair.
Sign said, “Step right up, don’t be scared,
Play Guess What Bruce Has Up There.”
Folks came laughing from the funnel cake line,
Sheriff guessed a flashlight, preacher guessed twine.
Bruce said, “Y’all are cruel, but I’ll take my prize,”
Then winked at the nurse from the X-ray side.
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Pre-Chorus 2
Some men leave footprints,
Some men leave clues,
Some men leave stories
You can’t repeat in school.
He tried out for talent night
Back in junior high,
But the principal said,
“Bruce, not with the PTA nearby.”
⸻
Chorus
They call him Up There Bruce,
Riding on a strange little breeze.
Up There Bruce,
Lord, won’t you leave them vegetables be?
He’s got sunshine in his pocket,
Trouble in his shoes,
Every small-town doctor
Knows the legend of Bruce.
Yeah, Up There Bruce,
Floating like a cloud,
If something goes missing,
Bruce ain’t allowed.
⸻
Bridge
Now the produce man watches when Bruce walks in,
Cucumbers tremble and the corn gets thin.
The Crisco stays locked in a cabinet high,
’Cause Mama said, “Boy, I know that look in your eye.”
She said,
“That ain’t magic, that ain’t science,
That ain’t how a garden grows.
And if you keep using shortening,
You’ll get shorter, I suppose.”
⸻
Instrumental Break
Laid-back guitar solo
Organ bubbles
Bass gets funky
Crowd chants softly:
Up there… Bruce…
Up there… Bruce…
Up there… Bruce…
What you got loose?
⸻
Verse 3
Emergency room lights shining bright and blue,
Nurse said, “Lord, here comes you-know-who.”
Doctor put his coffee down, shook his head,
Said, “Bruce, this ain’t what curiosity meant.”
Bruce said, “Doc, I swear it was a slip this time,”
Doc said, “Son, that’s your favorite line.”
Everybody laughed, but they treated him fair,
Then asked, “So Bruce… what’s up there?”
⸻
Final Chorus
They call him Up There Bruce,
Riding on a strange little breeze.
Up There Bruce,
Lord, won’t you leave them vegetables be?
He’s got sunshine in his pocket,
Trouble
