[Verse 1] Dawn hangs low on the fence line Mud on my boots, red on my hands Feed sack torn on the tailgate Blackbird talks while the kettle stands I patch it up with baling twine You know this place runs on good grit Every mile’s a worn-out lesson And I learn mine a little bit [Pre-Chorus] I don’t need much Just a porch light glow A tired old truck And a row to hoe [Chorus] My only tie is a rod My only tie is a rod Line goes out, and I come back Right where the cornrows nod My only tie is a rod Keeps me from drifting too far You can take the town I’ll take this ground And a sky full of stars [Verse 2] Rain drums soft on the tin roof Dog by the gate with a crooked ear Granddad’s knife in the kitchen drawer Still cuts rope like he’s standing here You ask me why I stay so long Why I don’t chase that far-off shine I got my name in the split-rail post And my heartbeat in the land’s slow time [Pre-Chorus] I don’t need much Just a porch light glow A tired old truck And a row to hoe [Chorus] My only tie is a rod My only tie is a rod Line goes out, and I come back Right where the cornrows nod My only tie is a rod Keeps me from drifting too far You can take the town I’ll take this ground And a sky full of stars [Bridge] If the creek runs high I’ll wait it out If the wind gets mean I’ll learn its shout Ain’t fancy, babe But it holds me down Like an old bent rod In this dirt I found [Final Chorus] My only tie is a rod My only tie is a rod Line goes out, and I come back Right where the cornrows nod My only tie is a rod Keeps me from drifting too far You can take the town I’ll take this ground And a sky full of stars
