Morning came with cows to milk, And fields that wouldn't wait, Pipe to move and gardens calling— Work was simply how we lived. We didn't travel very far; The farm kept us close to home, But we had acres of childhood And all the world to roam. Red Wing, Dandy, Midnight too Would carry us away, Down to the bottoms or Johnson Farm Where we'd move the pipe each day. Then when the work was finally done, We'd turn those horses loose— Hands held high, wind through our hair, Young and wild and free. Oh, we had acres of childhood, And everything we needed there— Haystacks, bikes and horses, Open fields and country air. We worked hard and we played hard, Made adventures where we stood, Living whole lifetimes Between the milkings In those acres of childhood. An old shed became our little home With treasures that we found; Once Mom let us take the baby To our hideaway down by the ground. Then bees sent every child home screaming— And we left the babe behind! But when hail came, Mom made trip after trip Till every child was safe inside. I loved the first day back at school, And books could steal my day; Lisa and I read every one On our little school's library shelf Primary waited down the walk, And most of all we'd sing— Somewhere in those childhood songs My faith began to breathe. Oh, we had acres of childhood, And everything we needed there— Haystacks, bikes and horses, Open fields and country air. We worked hard and we played hard, Made adventures where we stood, Living whole lifetimes Between the milkings In those acres of childhood. There was Jackie on the school bus; We all knew what to do— If she needed sugar quickly, Weston's store would see her through. We learned to help, we learned to trust, To notice who might need a hand; And somewhere in that little town I learned to lead and take a stand. Maybe I was born a mover, Maybe Weston made me one. Work hard, help out, make things happen— Finish what you've begun. And when the chores were finally over, Then came the time for fun— Life was lived between the milkings, From the rising to the setting sun. Final Chorus Oh, I had acres of childhood, More than I understood back then— Room to work and room to wonder, Room for family, faith and friends. We didn't have a lot of money, Didn't wander very far, But I had books and bikes and horses, And a million dreams beneath the stars. I learned to work, I learned to serve, I learned to make things happen too— And when the work was finally finished, There was one more thing to do: Climb on Midnight, my trusted friend Feel the wind rush through my hair— Let the reins go, raise my hands high... And fly without a care.
