Carry It Home

[Short Instrumental Intro] [Verse] Copper's heavy on my shoulders And the snow come on by noon Every step down off that ridge line Rang the kettle like a tune Passed the fire pit, still smokin' Passed the laurel where I lay And I left the shoe I carried Standin' upright on their grave [Chorus] Carry it home That's all that's left to do Carry it home Through the cold and through the truth It ain't light like it was told to me It ain't clean like in the song But it's mine to set my back beneath So I carry it home [Verse] Crossed the water at first daylight And the creek run quiet and low Like it took what it was owed me And was done with me for gold On the near bank, somethin' waitin' Fourteen winters, gray and true Lord, that dog walked down beside me Like forgiveness sometimes do [Chorus] Carry it home That's all that's left to do Carry it home Through the cold and through the truth It ain't light like it was told to me It ain't clean like in the song But it's mine to set my back beneath So I carry it home [Dobro Break] [Verse] Stopped a while at the widow's Set the copper by her well Left four dollars on the table And one story I won't tell She looked me over, boots to burden Said, "So the mountain let you pass" I said, "No ma'am, the mountain kept some I'm just what it handed back" [Fiddle Break] [Emotional Swell] [Bridge] [Stripped Back] Now they'll sing about the copper Sing it shinin', sing it brave And I'll let my young one sing it 'Cause the truth is mine to carry And the song is theirs to save [Chorus] [Harmonies] Carry it home Through the holler, through the pine Carry it home Past the church and down the line Mama's cryin' on the porch step Daddy's older than he was And the fire — Lord, light the fire 'Cause I carried it home [Outro] [Harmonies] [Emotional Swell] Seven generations of copper Seven generations of flame Passed from father down to son Along with everything that came Some folks inherit silver Some folks inherit shame We got seven generations of copper And we carry it just the same [Fade Out] Seven generations Seven generations