[Instrumental intro] [Verse 1] A stretch of years passed since tall grass was mine Out in the country as a boy Wild horses ran loose and cattle grazed free While the Summer’s warmth promised joy [Instrumental break, short] [Verse 2] I passed my days catchin’ toads with my friends I felt these times would always last But those were just thoughts of the innocent For I learned all bliss must come to pass [Chorus 1 - harmonized] Why did my folks sweep us up and leave? Why did they move to town? And why’d I leave my slingshot in that oak? How did the world go crumblin’ down? [Instrumental break, long] [Verse 3] Now I pass through life in a gleaming place Ain’t even one speck of dirt Ohh how I long to dig in the creek And wipe off the mud on my shirt [Verse 4] Now and then I take long dusty rides Down the miles of dirt road Past wild turkeys and the old homestead Hitch up my pants and step in the flow [Chorus 2 - harmonized] Why did my folks sweep us up and leave? Why did they move to town? And why’d I leave my slingshot in that oak? How did the world go crumblin’ down? [Instrumental break, guitar solo, mandolin solo, dobro solo] [Chorus 3 - harmonized] Why did my folks sweep us up and leave? Why did they move to town? And why’d I leave my slingshot in that oak? How did the world go crumblin' down? [Instrumental outro]
