The Fence We Never Built

[Spoken intro — guitar only] Funny thing about a fence. Sometimes the one you don't build is the one that saves the neighborhood. [Verse 1] There was a chalk line by the mailbox, Two old men and a summer sun. One said, "That's my patch of daylight," One said, "Look what you've gone and done." They'd been measuring every inch of it, Since the county moved that road. Two front porches, one blue heaven, And a whole lot of pride to hold. [Harmonica reply] [Chorus] We never built that fence, Thought we had a reason then. Two front yards under one blue sky, Same good rain on either side. One small wave and one outstretched hand Did what a hundred boards never can. The best line in the dirt, my friend, Was the fence we never built in the end. [Verse 2] Then a storm came down on Sunday, Dropped a maple across the drive. One brought coffee, one brought a chainsaw, Both were glad the other was alive. They were laughing by the evening, With the branches piled up high, Said, "Ain't it something what gets settled When you quit defending lines?" [Chorus] We never built that fence, Thought we had a reason then. Two front yards under one blue sky, Same good rain on either side. One small wave and one outstretched hand Did what a hundred boards never can. The best line in the dirt, my friend, Was the fence we never built in the end. [Bridge — quiet picking] You can mark a piece of property, You can paint a gate bright white. But you can't measure understanding By who's wrong and who is right. [Harmonica solo — eight bars] [Final chorus] We never built that fence, And we'd do it all again. Two old friends under one blue sky, With the same good rain on either side. The best line in the dirt, my friend, Was the fence we never built in the end. [Spoken outro] Good neighbors. Good coffee. No fence. And all is well.