[Verse 1] The rooster crowed at half past four Rain came rattling through the screen I found my boots beside the stove And mud where the floorboards should have been The old mare kicked her stall door twice Like she knew the day would turn I poured black coffee, checked the latch And watched the frost begin to burn [Chorus] So pass the tin cup, turn the soil Let the hard days have their say There’s a tune in every busted hinge And a debt the fields will pay When the county road runs out of light And the last fence leans and groans I’ll be right here, keeping time With these rough hands and these old bones [Verse 2] The tractor coughed beside the creek The mailbox wore a coat of snow Your red scarf hung from the kitchen chair Like you might walk in, nice and slow But the barn cat slept on your folded coat And the clock kept losing time I set another place at supper Then ate alone beneath the sign [Chorus] So pass the tin cup, turn the soil Let the hard days have their say There’s a tune in every busted hinge And a debt the fields will pay When the county road runs out of light And the last fence leans and groans I’ll be right here, keeping time With these rough hands and these old bones [Bridge] The creek takes what the spring thaw gives The hill keeps what the years let go I learned to laugh with a cracked front tooth And plant where the cold winds blow [Final Chorus] So pass the tin cup, turn the soil Let the hard days have their say There’s a tune in every busted hinge And a debt the fields will pay When the county road runs out of light And the last fence leans and groans I’ll be right here, keeping time With these rough hands and these old bones [Outro] At first light, I’ll mend that gate And leave one lamp turned on
