The Fence That Built Me

Southern rock, Outlaw country, loud, male voice, gritty, raspy, guitar, violin, heartfelt, storytelling

'The Fence That 
       Built Me'

I started my ranch life,
With thirty acre,a new wife
I had big plans for this 
little brushy spot of land,
I'd patch it up and fence it in
And run as many cows 
as I can....

First, the barn needed a 
new roof,
And just outside the stall
I'd put my new chute....
Next would be my most  
 rewarding expense,
To protect the cows 
I'd need a fence....

So I walked out to the surveyor's stake,
Popped my line
And it looked like a snake....

First thing to do
Was straighten out that run,
Through briars, roots and limbs
The hard work had begun....

I sharpened my axe to a 
razor's edge,
And started on that brush
I had to dredge....

I widened the path 
To stand and work,
Sometimes on my knees
Crawling through the dirt....

Pick axe, shovel and machete
I became accustomed to them all,
I whittled away a perfect line
As I looked back proud and tall....

For the corners I used welded iron
Coated not to rust or burn,
As with many other things 
I would learn....

I'd run the wire 
with extra clips,
For when the sun would stretch it
It wouldn't slip....

Gates hung with extra hinges
And latches accompanied
with sliding pins in the ground,
To hold all 'Houdinis'
safe and sound....

I wasn't building the fence
The fence was building me,
Teaching me things of life 
I've yet to see....

Find your stake
that no one can take
Sharpen your wits
and follow that straight line,
And make a wide path,
so no one is left behind.
If you slip, crawl to the alter
Kneel and have that talk,
And look back and be proud of your walk....

I was being taught how to be strong and protect
The ones that could not protect themselves
And weather the storms  straight and tall
And do your best to hold your own, most of all...

Simple lessons, so it seemed,
Brought to me through my dream
And how hard work would help me sleep at night
And that simple was the happier life....

Now it is finished
As I look on I see
Hard work and a dream
And the fence that built me....

1992/7500

'The Fence That Built Me' I started my ranch life, With thirty acre,a new wife I had big plans for this little brushy spot of land, I'd patch it up and fence it in And run as many cows as I can.... First, the barn needed a new roof, And just outside the stall I'd put my new chute.... Next would be my most rewarding expense, To protect the cows I'd need a fence.... So I walked out to the surveyor's stake, Popped my line And it looked like a snake.... First thing to do Was straighten out that run, Through briars, roots and limbs The hard work had begun.... I sharpened my axe to a razor's edge, And started on that brush I had to dredge.... I widened the path To stand and work, Sometimes on my knees Crawling through the dirt.... Pick axe, shovel and machete I became accustomed to them all, I whittled away a perfect line As I looked back proud and tall.... For the corners I used welded iron Coated not to rust or burn, As with many other things I would learn.... I'd run the wire with extra clips, For when the sun would stretch it It wouldn't slip.... Gates hung with extra hinges And latches accompanied with sliding pins in the ground, To hold all 'Houdinis' safe and sound.... I wasn't building the fence The fence was building me, Teaching me things of life I've yet to see.... Find your stake that no one can take Sharpen your wits and follow that straight line, And make a wide path, so no one is left behind. If you slip, crawl to the alter Kneel and have that talk, And look back and be proud of your walk.... I was being taught how to be strong and protect The ones that could not protect themselves And weather the storms straight and tall And do your best to hold your own, most of all... Simple lessons, so it seemed, Brought to me through my dream And how hard work would help me sleep at night And that simple was the happier life.... Now it is finished As I look on I see Hard work and a dream And the fence that built me....

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