It's America

When my son was in daycare he talked about his ‘friend.’ I asked him what his friends name was and he said, “Allie Brooke.” My step-daughters, Lindsey and Morgan, said “Eli’s gotta girlfriend!” I spent most of my adult life chasing Lindsey and Morgan. I’m a better man today, not for what I taught them, but for what they’ve taught me. I don’t say it enough, but I’m so proud of you girls. I love you squirrels with all my heart. This song is also for my buddy Claxton!

It started out summer fun, chasing Allie Brook with a water gun
She’d laugh and she’d scream, she’d run and say “you can’t catch me”
Well time passed I turned sixteen, cruising from the Sonic to the Dairy Queen
Running the roads we ruled like Kings
We’d say “now here comes Allie with her hot friends, they got water balloons in their hands
Oh man they got me now let’s get them

Chasing girls, what a life, man I love them can’t get enough of them
From their toes up to their curls
Chasing girls, hard to catch, sweet to hold, even tougher to let them go
Ain’t nothing like it in the whole wide world
Chasing girls

Caught Allie Brook and that was that
Bought a bungalow on a culdasac yeah
Settled in and I knew my girl chasing days were through
Until she handed me the EPT I said tell me what this blue strip means
That was then and now our twins are three
And it’s “who left the popsicle on the couch, don’t let that dog lick you in the mouth”
Up and down all around this house I’m right back to where I started out

Chasing girls, what a life, man I love them can’t get enough of them
From their toes up to their curls
Chasing girls, hard to catch, sweet to hold, even tougher to let them go
Ain’t nothing like it in the whole wide world
Chasing girls

Last night I had a nightmare, the future was now here
My little girls were in their teens and then these teenage boys appeared
Oh no, yeah

Chasing girls, hard to catch, sweet to hold, even tougher to let them go
Ain’t nothing like it in the whole wide world
Chasing girls, oooooh
Chasing girls, ohhhhh

I believe God has a plan for each of our lives. I’ve wasted too much time getting in the way of his plan. This song is a prayer to thank God for his blessings, to thank Him for forgiveness and grace and to celebrate this life. It’s so easy to lose sight of what matters and how good it is just to be alive. As far as the lines about my wife…she could’ve done better.

Ain’t it something, you can jump on a plane or hop on a bus, catch you a train
Take in a Saturday game at Wrigley Field
Man ain’t it awesome, you can hit Talladega
Drink you a beer with the fan of a driver you’ve always hated
And probably always will

Yeah I forget how good I got it sometimes
How lucky I am just to be alive
Oh I pass through a prayer to the Man upstairs
Just to thank Him like I should
Let Him know I get it
I got it good

Oh it’s amazing, that boy in the yard is half of my wife
God bless his heart, the other half is every last bit of me
I can’t explain it, how his mama wound up with somebody like me
When she could’ve done so much better
Make you fall down on your knees

Yeah I forget how good I got it sometimes
How lucky I am just to be alive
Oh I pass through a prayer to the Man upstairs
Just to thank Him like I should
Let Him know I get it
I got it good
Yes I do

I get going so fast that what matters gets blurred
And I can’t feel the grass, see the trees, hear the birds
The sky starts to rain and I cuss and complain like a fool

Yeah I forget how good I got it sometimes
How lucky I am just to be alive
Oh I pass through a prayer to the Man upstairs
Just to thank Him like I should
Let Him know I get it
God I got it good
Yes I do
Get it, got it, good
Yes I got it good, oh oh oh

I love songs that make you laugh. The funny thing is that this song is true.

Football, alcohol, power tools, bird dogs, gentlemen start your engines
Pool tables, honky tonks, blackjack, Haggard songs, seventh game extra innings
That’s the best things that’s happened to men since women

You got your four wheelers, pick-up trucks, camouflage, hunting bucks, Guns, knives, hunting and fishing
Spark plugs, oil grease, horse power, more speed, big blocks and transmissions
That’s the best things that’s happened to men since women

Yeah you women are second to none
Beat all I’ve seen and all I’ve done
Ain’t no such thing as having more fun than with you
So here’s to you

Yeah you women are second to none
Beat all I’ve seen and all I’ve done
Sometimes we can’t get no loving from you
So whatcha gotta do

Beer pong, eighteen holes, box boats, super bowls, grilling out steaks and chicken
Loud guitars, throwing darts, hanging ‘round playing cards, going all in and winning
That’s the best things that’s happened to men since women

Yeah you women are second to none
Beat all I’ve seen and all I’ve done
Ain’t no such thing as having more fun than with you
So here’s to you
Yeah yeah
Girls here’s to you

The friends of a country boy. Every time I couldn’t get a job done around the house, it never failed….one of my neighbors showed up with their tractor to help get the job done. I was amazed at how Mike Haney is truly a Picasso with a front-end loader.

I sat beside a man from Hollywood California on a plane
Said he had rich and famous friends, he liked dropping names
I said well howdy do that’s good for you I dig a lot of those actors
But son you ain’t got a thing on me see I got friends with tractors

They’ll grow your groceries, haul a load, pull you out and fix the road
They’re good at slowing speeders down when they pass through from out of town
I’ll live out in the country, happily ever after
I got everything I need, ‘cause I got friends with tractors

On Friday night we hit the woods go bogging in our trucks
It’s just about a guarantee some good ole boy gets stuck
Where I come from you can bet your butt a mudhole ain’t a factor
I’ll sink mine to the floorboards, ‘cause I got friends with tractors

They’ll grow your groceries, haul a load, pull you out and fix the road
They’re good at slowing speeders down when they pass through from out of town
I’ll live out in the country, happily ever after
I got everything I need, ‘cause I got friends with tractors
Yeehaw

I’ve been to fancy five star restaurants and I left there barely filled
They charged me for the water, the butter and the bread
That gourmet meal looked more to me like fishbait on a cracker
But I’ll stay fat and happy, ‘cause I got friends with tractors

They’ll grow your groceries, haul a load, pull you out and fix the road
They’re good at slowing speeders down when they pass through from out of town
I’ll live out in the country, happily ever after
I got everything I need, ‘cause I got friends with tractors
I got everything I need, ‘cause I got friends with tractors
Yeehaw

(Yeah man, talking about Internationals, John Deeres, Massey Fergusons
Whatever you got, we don’t discriminate
Front end loaders, bush hogs, post hole diggers
Need ‘em, gotta have ‘em
I believe I do know one actor
Is Larry the Cable Guy an actor?
Oh well, he’s got a tractor, ha)

You gotta laugh. It’s good for you. Thanks to the song writers for letting me have this one.

I got a call from my best friend this evening
He said he wasn’t going out with us guys on Friday night
Yeah he was gonna change for his newfound flame to keep her satisfied
And I just laughed and said “heheh,” hey man, well go ahead and try

‘Cause I gave up smoking, women, and drinking last night
It was the worst fifteen minutes of my life

Now I’ve heard it said that too much fun will kill you
And I’ll be the first to tell you that I don’t wanna die
Too many twelve ounce curls, pretty girls, and parties ain’t advised
Well take it from me, don’t believe all that hype

‘Cause I gave up smoking, women, and drinking last night
And it was the worst fifteen minutes of my life
That’s right

Well you could get hit by a truck tomorrow
So you might as well raise a little hell tonight

Cause I gave up smoking, women, and drinking last night
And it was the worst fifteen minutes of my life
Man it was the worst fifteen minutes of my life
That’s right

When the last album took off, there were moments I thought I was losing my mind. Losing myself, to the ‘artist’ I was expected to be. This song became my therapy. I started writing this song in the summer of 2007 while my son, Elijah, and I were hanging out in the creek behind the house. I sat on the back of the 4 wheeler and watched him get soaking wet, splashing and smiling, while he “hunted” for Indian money and tadpoles. I didn’t get it finished until December of 2008. It’s what really matters, the simple things.

We got the biggest dog you ever saw
Sprawled on the porch cooling off down at our place
His name is Ace
We got the hummingbirds coming in
Hitting those sugar water feeders and buzzing off again
Floating in the wind
Then the sunset melts into a line of clouds
Well life is slow out here, but it sure suits me fine

Cause it’s the simple things that strung my strings
The baby cries a mama sings her back to sleep
Oh it sounds so sweet
It’s putting in a hard day’s work
Coming home and putting on a clean t-shirt
It’s friends and family gathering
A neck to hug, a joke to tell, and a dish to bring
It’s the simple things

I like taking my boy to the river on Sundays
Hunting tadpoles and the Indian money
And I just laugh while his flip-flops splash
And we spray on the Off cause we don’t want chiggers
Baiting our hooks with chicken livers
Going yellow catfishing, a little whisker lip rippin
I love it when he says “Daddy give me five”
And watching him grunt and grin while he’s reeling in that flathead on his line

Cause it’s the simple things that strung my strings
The baby cries a mama sings her back to sleep
Oh it sounds so sweet
It’s putting in a hard day’s work
Coming home and putting on a clean t-shirt
It’s friends and family gathering
A neck to hug, a joke to tell, and a dish to bring
Just the simple things
It’s the simple things

It’s feeling thankful just looking at the stars
It’s finding peace of mind in your own back yard

Yeah it’s the simple things that strung my strings
Like big ole trees and tire swings
And lemonade, ice cold and homemade
It’s putting in a hard day’s work
Coming home and putting on a clean t-shirt
It’s friends and family gathering
A neck to hug, a joke to tell, and a dish to bring
It’s the simple things
It’s the simple things
That’s it

I realize more and more everyday how lucky I am to have been born in this amazing and wonderful country. Folks helping folks out. I hope I get to sing this song for the rest of my life. God bless the soldiers and rescue workers. Your sacrifices blow my mind every day. From my family to yours…thank you.

Driving down the street today
I saw a sign for lemonade
They were the cutest kids I’d ever seen in this front yard
As they handed me my glass
Smiling thinking to myself
Man what a picture perfect postcard this would make of America

It’s a high school prom, it’s a Springsteen song
It’s a ride in a Chevrolet
It’s a man on the moon and fireflies in June
And kids selling lemonade
It’s cities and farms, it’s open arms
One nation under God
It’s America

Later on when I got home
I flipped the TV on
I saw a little town that some big twister tore apart
People came from miles around
Just to help their neighbors out
I was thinking to myself
I’m so glad that I live in America

It’s a high school prom, it’s a Springsteen song
It’s a ride in a Chevrolet
It’s a man on the moon and fireflies in June
And kids selling lemonade
It’s cities and farms, it’s open arms
One nation under God
It’s America
Now we don’t always get it all right
But there’s no place else I’d rather build my life

Cause it’s a kid with a chance it’s a rock’n’roll band
It’s a farmer cutting hay
It’s a big flag flying in the summer wind
Over a fallen hero’s grave

It’s a high school prom, it’s a Springsteen song
It’s a welcome home parade
It’s a man on the moon and fireflies in June
And kids selling lemonade
It’s cities and farms, it’s open arms
One nation under God
It’s America
It’s America

I wanna live with no excuses
And love with no regrets
Take the bad with the good
And know I did my best
Walking in the sunshine
And dancing in the rain
From the rocking of the cradle
To the rolling of that long black limousine

From rock-a-bye sweet baby
Til I hear the angels sing
From mama’s tender kisses
Til I board that glory train
I wanna love the life I’m living
And live the life I dream
From the rocking of the cradle
To the rolling of that long black limousine

I came in this world with nothing
That’s how I’ll leave someday
And all that I’ll take with me
Is the love I gave away
And it’s love that makes a difference
From a pauper to a king
From the rocking of the cradle
To the rolling of that long black limousine

From rock-a-bye sweet baby
Til I hear the angels sing
From mama’s tender kisses
Til I board that glory train
I wanna love the life I’m living
And live the life I dream
From the rocking of the cradle
To the rolling of that long black limousine

So roll on, roll on, tell the story turn the pages
Roll on, roll on, children of all ages
From the first breath that we take til our last one takes us home
Let love be the rock we’re standing on

From rock-a-bye sweet baby
Til I hear the angels sing
From mama’s tender kisses
Til I board that glory train
I wanna love the life I’m living
And live the life I dream
From the rocking of the cradle
To the rolling of that long black limousine
From the rocking of the cradle
To the rolling of that long black limousine

I wanna live with no excuses
Love with no regrets

I know it’s been said before, but ‘what if’ we all lived every day as a chance to positively affect folks lives. To forgive and forget, to give more than we got and when we’re gone to leave a lot of love behind. I pray today to have the courage and the clarity to live that way. I love this song.

I was late for work, had to pull to the side
While a funeral train of cars drove by with their lights on
It was just my luck, it went on and on for miles
Kept checkin’ my watch, grittin’ my teeth
Suddenly it dawned on me that whoever this is
Is gonna be missed for a long, long time
It got me thinking

When it’s my time to go
The end of my road
I hope it looks like this
200 cars stretched out as far as the hearts I touched while I lived
And I hope I leave half as much love behind
When it’s my time

So I followed that last car down to the church
Took off my ball cap, tucked in my shirt
I just had to see what kind of life could cause such as traffic jam
Heard story after story, people laugh people cry
It didn’t take long to understand why every pew was full
There’s a lot of good souls made better for knowing him
And now I’m one of them

When it’s my time to go
The end of my road
I hope it looks like this
200 cars stretched out as far as the hearts I touched while I lived
And I hope I leave half as much love behind
When it’s my time

Felt a hand on my back, turned around someone asked “Did you know him well?’
And I said “Yeah,” well enough to know

When it’s my time to go
The end of my road
I hope it looks like this
200 cars stretched out as far as the hearts I touched while I lived
And I hope I leave half as much love behind
When it’s my time
When it’s my time

The first time I heard this song I knew it was an important song. This song is about healing. Coming back to your true self. Coming home.

Four AM comes awful early
And I was dead on my feet
But if you’re gonna catch the biggest fish
You’ve gotta lose a little sleep

Well I packed my gear and a couple beers
And I headed to my favorite spot
Well I cursed my luck when I saw his truck, right where I pulled off
Was hoping to have the river to myself that day

Cause the river don’t talk
The river don’t care
Where you’ve been, what you’ve done, or why it is you’re standin’ there
It just rolls on by, whispering to your soul
It’s gonna be alright, the river just knows

The way the sun bounced off the water, I could hardly make him out
But I could see he had a fish on him, a big old rainbow trout
The fight went on forever
And as they headed down my way, I saw his military haircut and the new scars on his face
Right then I knew what brought him to this place

You know the river don’t talk
The river don’t care
Where you’ve been, what you’ve done, or why it is you’re standin’ there
It just rolls on by, whispering to your soul
It’s gonna be alright, the river just knows

He held that fish down in the water
And he coaxed it back to life
He said I’ll help you get your wind back because you helped me get mine
But all I could think to say was Welcome Home
But I think that river said it best on its own

Cause the river
You know the river don’t care
Where you’ve been, what you’ve done, or why it is you’re standin’ there
It just rolls on by, whispering to your soul
It’s gonna be alright, the river just knows
It’s gonna be alright, the river just knows

I love starting an album with twin fiddles. The first time I heard this song I completely identified with the lyric. This song is an anthem for country boys everywhere; it doesn''t matter where you''re from. It''s not a state, but a state of mind.

Now he ain’t much for talking but he means every word he says
And that color on his arms and neck ain’t from no tanning bed
Leaves no doubt about where he stands on the Chevy or the lord
Yeah you can always tell a country boy

His idea of heaven is home sweet home East Tennessee
But for a girl like you he would pull up roots and move down the road a piece
He’ll always take his own sweet time if you give him a choice
Yeah you can always tell a country boy

Yeah you can always tell him, but you can’t tell him much
‘Cause all he is ever going be is who he always was
A cross between his old man and his mama’s pride and joy
You can always tell a country boy

He’ll go off and take a long walk when he needs some time to think
Might even you let drive his truck when he’s had too much to drink
Bout as true blue as Old Glory waiting on there on the porch
You can always tell a country boy

Yeah you can always tell him, but you can’t tell him much
Sometimes his gears run so slow you swear they’re gonna rust
From the way he bangs that old guitar to the gravel in his voice
You can always tell a country boy

Now you can drag him from the country every now and then
But you can’t drive them 40 acres out of him
Yeah you can always tell him but you can’t tell him much
He’s on the fence about a lot of things, but on you his mind’s made up
‘Cause he swears there’s nothing sweeter than the sweet sound of your voice
You can always tell a country boy whatever’s on your heart
Now come on and tell this country boy

Well I heard he needed some help on the farm
Somebody with a truck and two strong arms
Not scared of dirt and willin' to work
till the sun goes down
So I pulled up and said I'm your man
I could start right now and we shook hands
He said the fence needs fixin',
the peaches need pickin'
And the cows need bringin’ round

I was haulin’ hay, I was feedin’ the hogs
and that summer sun had me sweatin’ like a dog
So I cooled off in the creek
then it was back to work in the daggum heat
I was cussin' out loud, thinkin’ bout quitin'
Lookin' back now I'm sure glad I didn't
Cuz just when I thought it couldn't get no hotter
I caught glimpse of the farmer's daughter

She was just gettin' home from Panama City
she was all tanned up and my kinda pretty
When her eyes met mine
I was thinkin’ that I sure love my job
as the days got shorter our talks got longer
the kisses got sweeter and the feelings got stronger
so we'd hop in the truck and get all tangled up
every chance we got

We were down by the river all night long
When the sun came up I was sneakin' her home
And draggin’ my butt to work
With the smell of her perfume on my shirt
I'd be on the tractor she'd be on my mind
With that sun beatin' down on this back of mine
Just when I thought it couldn’t get no hotter
I fell in love with the farmer's daughter

We got married last spring
Woah and there ain't no better life for me

I'm still haulin' hay and feedin' the hogs
And that summer sun has me sweatin' like a dog
So I cool off in the creek
And she brings me outta glass of sweet ice tea
Now I'm on the tractor and she’s on my mind
And I can't wait till its quitin' time
And just when I think it can't get no hotter
I come home to the farmer's daughter
Yeah the farmer's daughter