[Intro — piano and acoustic guitar; pedal steel answers as the full band enters gently] [Verse 1] We walked that bottom forty With the survey stakes in place. She was quiet by the cottonwoods; I had dust across my face. We’d gone through every figure, Spent a week on what to do. She said, “Are you sure about it?” I said, “Only if you are, too.” [Chorus] Forty acres less, And her first year’s tuition paid. A smaller note against this place, Some breathin’ room we’ve made. There’s still a light on in this house, Still some ground for us to tend. Forty acres less, And some better days ahead. [Turnaround — fiddle and piano] [Verse 2] She signed her name beside mine, Laid the pen back on the desk. We stopped off by the college, Wrote a check for what came next. That night our girl was makin’ lists Of the things she’d need to pack. I found an empty cardboard box; She wrote “School” across the back. [Chorus] Forty acres less, And her first year’s tuition paid. A smaller note against this place, Some breathin’ room we’ve made. There’s still a light on in this house, Still some ground for us to tend. Forty acres less, And some better days ahead. [Instrumental — eight bars; pedal steel leads, fiddle answers] [Bridge — ease back to acoustic guitar, piano, and bass] She said, “I’ll pay you back someday.” I said, “This ain’t a loan. Your mama and I both chose this. You go make a life your own.” [Final Chorus — full band returns; warm harmonies] Forty acres less, And her first year’s tuition paid. A smaller note against this place, Some breathin’ room we’ve made. There’s still a light on in this house, Still some ground for us to tend. Forty acres less, And some better days ahead. [Tag — softly; hold the final phrase] We’ll be here when she comes home, Forty acres less. [Outro — fiddle reprises the chorus melody; piano and pedal steel settle into the final chord] © 2026 Redneck Muslim. All rights reserved.
