...to live there

Rooster crowin' from an unmowed lawn
Grandma in the kitchen with biscuits on
Singin' old-time hymns of hope and despair
When the roll is called up yonder
She aimed to be there

Door was never locked one time that I knew
Coffee always on, come in and sit a few
Carson comes on after the news goes off
Her face was hard and weathered
But her eyes were soft

See her sitting in her chair and swattin' flies

Smilin' at the grandkids and the passing time
Bag of chips and a flat RC to snack on
With a freezer full of "Here,
Take you some of this home"

Down the hill if you follow the dirt path

Lead you right to the back of Aunt Dessa's house
It's long gone now, it was nearly gone then
I see her with a pinch of snuff
And a missing-tooth grin

It's a nice place to visit
I'm so blessed I got to live there
All arms and legs and full of years
And unruly sandy blonde hair
Climbing trees, throwing rocks
Drinking water from the hose
With no clue how fast the time goes

Mama cried when I moved out on my own

She knew another part of life was gone

There's a time for laughter, and a time to weep

But the apple didn't fall
Very far from its tree

Had a soft-top Jeep wish I'd never let go
"She's in Love with the Boy" on the radio
Driving just to drive and feel the nighttime air
We were Katie and Tommy,
Didn't have a care

Eight hundred square feet, two-eighty for rent

Barely scraping by, counting every cent
Free curbside couch, still had a corded phone
Leave a message at the beep
When I wasn't at home

Basketball in the yard under streetlight glow
After Midnite blaring on the stereo
Pringles from the can and a cold Mountain Dew
"She's in Love with the Boy"
Makes me think of you

It's a nice place to visit
I'm so blessed I got to live there
Life was mostly in the windshield
Still sportin' nearly all my hair

Skipping class, wasting gas
Drinking something cheap and cold

Too young to care how fast time goes

Kids calling "Daddy" running down the hall
Magic marker drawings taped on the wall
Thinking "Who'da thought this would ever be me?"
"Cruel Summer" on the radio
"Bluey" on TV

But I don't have to visit

I'm so blessed I get to live there
They're all arms and legs and full of years
She's got ketchup in her long hair
Playing school and hide-and-seek
Amid a minefield of Legos
Reminding me how fast time goes

Rooster crowin' from an unmowed lawn
Grandma in the kitchen with biscuits on
Singin' old-time hymns of hope and despair

I'm so blessed I got to live there