Fiddlehead fern on the back, on the heel Oaks they sway to the breeze of my tune It makes the sound so much sweeter about you They go waltzing after midnight, around noon Downy green, sew a pillow for my mind Norway Pine, carve a boat for I can sail Fly on back over the valleys down bellow I can't wink without dreaming about you Pipers run the ever-lapping salt sea Hunting digs fill back up with water green The path is wrote, only to be washed clean Under the living, breathing water unseen

I'll swing my hammer with both my hands, I'll swing my hammer in the glory land I'll get in bed to go to sleep at night and I'll get up come the morning light. Livin' in America, dressed all well to do. Livin' in America, we all read the Rocky Mountain News I pull my boots on right when I leave home, I get slicked up with my pocket comb Wouldn't trade a Clipper trot for a motor car, but I would my left leg for an old guitar The breakman's singin' in a cloud of smoke, my daddy got broken but the mare's done broke Hank is on the radio achin' blue and I would if I could take a little chance on you.

Toe to toe we were dancing in my sleep But face to face we weren't dancing cheek to cheek I'll wait a minute it a lifetime if I must If I had a nickle, I'd have a pocket full of dust If I had a dollar to my name I wouldn't sing my pity song And if I had a heart that wouldn't break I'd rise the bright and early dawn My love's a sparrow, she weaves a blazing thread She flies in crimson when the sky is burning red She sharpens like an arrow as the evening turns to rust If I had a nickel, I'd have a pocket full of dust From now on I'll hold my candle good and high The dancing shadows they make the darkness come to life I'll hold a picture of the one that holds my trust If I had a nickel, I'd have a pocket full of dust

The orchards stand in anxious rows, retreat from the sky Hare and fowl both good in broth, from the ground good taters pried Take a shovel to the walk or like Ma use a broom Flutters flurry downward slow, like the past, world's covered soon Harvest has gone swiftly by, time to root on down Just like last year, this year's here and away it quickly bounds

My momma's got an overcoat that's nice and long and warm and woolen She goes to the baker, but she don't get her none down there Because she bakes a meaner biscuit that nobody can prepare My daddy's got a hat that sits right down between his ears right on his noggin He goes to the cooper, but he don't get him none down there Because he cuts and steams and bends 'em like nobody can compare James is out in the pasture and he's gettin' into somethin' James is out in the pasture and God knows he's gettin' into somethin' He goes to the farrier, but he don't get him none down there Because he packs a better barefoot that no mule would ever dare Old rabbit's got ears that hang all down his back straight to his haunches Old rabbit's got ears that hang all down his back, can't be for hearin', to his haunches He goes to the thicket, but he don't get him none down there Because he hops a better two step than no Texas man could bare

Go on and tell me you don't love me anymore Go on and hurt me like you hurt me before I'll find a reason to look away when you're untrue 'Cause I love you, It's the natural thing to do No matter how you treat me, I'll stand the test Until you see this love of mine stands out from all the rest I'll be there to mend the pieces when he breaks your heart in two 'Cause I love you, it's the natural thing to do If we could only just relive old yesterdays When love was blooming like the flowers that bloom in May I'm just wishin' for the things that can't come true 'Cause I love you, it's the natural thing to do

The fire it stands a blazing wick, the smoke it pours out honey thick Down in the lonesome draw, the moon's all snared in midnight's jaws The Kingdom of the great prairie, it's home to you and home to me Born in waiting, hem and haw, shattered like ol' Dempsey's jaw. The Railroad men go pushing west, a scar laid out on mother's breast What brings liquor and what brings gold, bears the young and saves the old It's a short time here and a long time gone, the workmen sing the people's song Down in the lonesome draw, the sun it bakes the rawhide raw If you don't like Dodge you can always go to Abilene I hear the gettin's plenty and the grass is always green Or you could always head to Kansas City where they pave all of their roads But the vices flow like the Ohio and the Governor's on parole My heart lies on a high plateau, the Texas bull stands lowing low River's meant to separate but it just unites the Border state No one still can understand what life is like int he Border land And here's to the great expanse, where everyday is a poisonous dance

Off the Chama I was born and raised, and by the dry bed spent most my days. My mother she taught me the letter My father he drove wielding strings of brown leather. Though master of field mice and the governor of crows, My kingdom like all did dissolve, For my age it turned over and over again And I spied a true kingdom my heart did demand She’s bright as the moon-glow and quick as a cat, her eyes like a quarry of stone, And under her bosom was a true beating heart, mine rattled my breastbone a as a prisoner of war And as the cruel world it turns still in its place my love swept by the river of sorrow away for there was work needed in yon distant land, and like every migrant not a chance did she stand. So I took to the orchards and hay fields of north, picked peaches and swung a bent sickle all day, my back it grew weary and my eyes they grew dim, For the fruit of each blossom and the bend in each stem only echoed her praises to me So I looked to the water to make up my pay, A skipper right down mighty Yakima’s shores Down Kennewick, Richland, and Pasco way, But each day I thought of her more So I took to the timber to keep on my way, Knocking logs to Big Sandy to roll on away, But there in each ring, and each needle her face, I returned to my home with her memory did race. As I rode up in the window I stared, two hands like a flutter of doves, Long flowing locks like the girl I had loved, swung loose in the frame as from heaven above She said “I’ve been waiting for seven long years, I slipped back by the cover of night” My parents I left but my true love had gone, But believed your return would come once for all. She’s bright as the moon-glow and quick as a cat, her eyes like a quarry of stone, And under her bosom was a true beating heart, mine rattled my breastbone a as a prisoner of war And as the cruel world turns still in its place, One pardon was granted to me, Though sickness and death do accompany grace, My love does accompany me.

Lorene, Lorene write me a letter, answer the last one that I wrote to you Lorene, I hope you're still waiting but your last letter is way overdue I know many times you have started to write, darlin' I wonder what's taking your time Lorene you seem to be near me but your last letter is way overdue Lorene, stop me from hurting all it would take is a letter from you Lorene, you said I could trust you but your last letter is way overdue If you've found another since I've been away, don't let me return for it's best that I stay Lorene, I feel I have lost you for your last letter is way overdue

Troubles and trials often betray those On in the weary body to stray But we shall walk beside the still waters With the Good Shepherd leading The Way Going up home to live in green pastures Where we shall live and die never more Even The Lord will be in that number When we shall reach that Heavenly Shore Those who have strayed were sought by The Master He who once gave His life for the sheep Out on the mountain still He is searching Bringing them in forever to keep We will not heed the voice of the stranger For he would lead us to despair Following on with Jesus our savior We shall all reach that country so fair

Lost men head toward water, and found men head toward god Ashen skies fall crumbled and the frozen winters lay thawed Thunder crashes over me and lightning pierces high Cracks wide open that heavenly boundary, through pieces of the sky I hope that its peace I find Let those troubles burn out of your worried mind Sinner, come on home Trials and tribulations, won't you nail them to the wall The stiffest limb will bend and mighty mountains they surely will fall Cary that flame on over, there's peace on the other side Lost men fall and weaken but I outlast that feeble tide