On a gravel back road down deep in the fall
So long ago yet how well I recall
My grandpa's green truck with the rusted out rims
And me on the seat between my mama and him
How we rattled along until the old ford, it stalled
And mama said: Jump on out, pick you a big cotton ball
An autumn leaf scraped it's way across the road
As we were headin' back home

See the proud, thrusting curve of the robin's red breast
Out gathering worms to return to her nest
The lavender haze at the first light of dawn
A woman's clear voice lilting in song
And all the fine words our poets have said
The sparkling dew upon the spider's silk web
Does one matter more? Does one matter less?
Who of us can say?

The tents are rolled up, the revival's left town
All that remains is the fine sawdust ground
Still wet with the tears that fell from the eyes
Of folks too far down to hang back in pride
And I am there, too, like I always was
Deep in the pain, strong in love
Still singing my prayer to heaven above
Heartfelt and true

Once you were the dawn, the dusk, and the night
Without the dream of holding you tight
My days turned to black, I could hardly take breath
I stumbled my way through a fate worse than death
But like the phoenix that rose right out of the fire
I came back too, from a bed of desire
And shook from my wings the ash from the pyre
And headed back home