Black Texas Dirt lyrics

Mama and papa spent the very best years
Of their life on the west Texas farm
Tryin` to scratch a livin` from the black land dirt
That traded them only with storm.

From way before sunup to way up to sundown
Papa walked behind that ol` mule
Until the day that they laid him away
He lived by the golden rule.

Black Texas dirt you`re full of hurt
And you won`t grow nothing but weeds
You took my mama and papa, it`s true
But you ain`t a gonna get me.

--- Instrumental ---

Yes, sun and the rain, well they took everything
`cept the dirt that would fly in my face
I swore that someday that I`d find me a way
To take me away from this place.

I packed up my belongings for soon
I`d be goin` far off to start a new life
And I`d better hurry or I`d have to worry
About those dark clouds in the sky.

As I reached the gate and turned to take one last look
At the old homeplace where I was born
I thought I could hear voices callin` to me
But then I thought no that just must be the storm.

I couldn`t get over the feelin` something was wrong
That I was leavin` something behind
I couldn`t put my finger on it
But I couldn`t get that off my mind.

It seemed as if the wind was mama`s and papa`s voices
And that they were pleading with me to stay
And that the rain was tears that the skies were shedding Because I was goin` away.

But then like a bolt of lightnin` from out the blue
Oh, that feelings got over me like a flood
And for the very first time in my life, I knew
I had black Texas dirt in my blood.

Black Texas dirt you`re full of hurt
And you won`t grow nothing but weeds
You took my mama and papa, it`s true
And now you`re a gonna take me...