Verse 1 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 close to home, But we had acres of childhood And all the world to roam. Verse 2 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. Chorus 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. Verse 3 An old shed became our little home, With anything we found; We built our beds and tables From the treasures lying around. Once Mom let us take the baby— A real one!—out to play, Till bees sent us all home screaming... And we left the babe behind that day! No more babies for our pretending— Back to dolls, our mother said. But when hail came pounding down one day, She counted every head. Haystack, shed, then barn, then home, She made each trip alone, Moving every one of her babies Till she had us safely home. Verse 4 I loved the first day back at school, Especially on my birthday; Books were gifts and learning treasure— I'd have read the day away. Lisa and I read every book Our little school could hold, While Mrs. Ward's "teacher's pet" Loved every story told. Primary waited down the walk, Right next door to school; We'd line up while our teachers marched us Down to Sunday rooms. I don't remember every lesson, But I remember how we'd sing— And somewhere in those Primary songs My faith began to breathe. Chorus 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. Verse 5 There was Jackie on the school bus, And we all knew what to do: If she needed sugar quickly, Weston's store would see her through. Grab the candy, don't stop to pay— No child abused that trust; In a little town, we understood Some things were bigger than us. Then Mom and Dad brought bicycles home, Three shining, brand-new rides; But the flu had put me straight to bed, So mine stayed parked outside. Lee was staying with us then, And he rode my bike that day; I missed being first to ride it— But I remember his happy face. Bridge Maybe that's where I learned to notice What needed doing—and begin. Maybe leadership started somewhere With those few girls and four young men. Maybe making homes from nothing Taught me how to make room still. Maybe work taught me to show up Whether I wanted to or will. Maybe I was born a mover, Maybe Weston made me one. Maybe all those little lessons Were preparing what would come. Verse 6 Fourth of July meant half a day, The Twenty-Fourth meant Weston fun; Parades and celebrations— As long as chores could all get done. For cows don't care it's Pioneer Day, And evening always comes; So everything worth doing Had to fit between the runs. I'd pedal south to Cornish When a nickel bought a treat; Weston had that awful hill— Cornish made for easier feet. And when they sent me out for milk I'd race the whole way there, Certain lions, tigers, bears Were climbing off that train somewhere! 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 sky filled up with stars. I learned to work and learned to serve, Learned to lead and understood That you don't need to travel far To have a childhood full of good. Outro And sometimes, when I look back now, I see that little girl again— Balancing high on the pipe-trailer rail, Testing how far she could bend. Or racing Midnight through the bottoms, Nothing holding her but air, The day's hard work already finished, Both hands lifted without care. She couldn't know where life would take her. She didn't need to understand. She just knew when something needed doing, You worked until the work was done... And when the moment came for flying— You raised your hands and ran.
