The fence was leaning by the alley Somebody said somebody should care For three months folks kept saying somebody Till old Maria met us there She brought a hammer and some food I brought nails and borrowed time By sunset nothing looked much different Except the fence was standing fine A kid was staring at a bicycle Missing half a chain and wheel Three of us stayed after supper Just to see what we could heal By the time the streetlights flickered He was racing down the block Grinning like he’d stolen sunlight From somewhere nobody could stop Funny thing about a good day Most of them don’t make the news I’ve got soil in my fingernails Dust upon my feet Paint upon my sleeves And somebody else’s truth A little sweat A little patience A little borrowed time The world don’t change from wishing It changes hand by hand Like mine There’s a garden near the rail yard Where a factory used to stand Nobody remembers who started it Now everybody lends a hand Tomatoes climbing old machinery Sunflowers through broken stone The strangest thing about that garden Is nobody can claim it their own I used to spend my evenings arguing About how things ought to be Till an old man handing out seedlings Said something simple back to me He said, “Son, the earth has heard enough opinions Show me what you’ll grow.” Then he smiled and kept on working And I finally let it go Funny thing about a good day Most of them don’t make the news I’ve got soil in my fingernails Dust upon my feet Paint upon my sleeves And somebody else’s truth A little sweat A little patience A little borrowed time The world don’t change from wishing It changes hand by hand Like mine So if you need me I’ll be where the work is Not because I’m special Not because I’m right Just because this place gave something to me And I figure I ought to give something back I’ve got soil in my fingernails Dust upon my feet Paint upon my sleeves And somebody else’s truth A little help A little effort A little faith in folks The world gets built by people Who decide to show up And don’t Go Home Yet… I’ve got soil in my fingernails And that’s alright with me Proof I wasn’t standing still While life rolled past my feet
