Abigail Washburn Follow

The first day I stand foot
In this fair country
Boarder man took my paper
Told me I would be free
Boarder man took my paper
Told me I was now free

Walking out into the open air
Well what did I see
Birds flying on a westwind
Sure an omen for me

Opened up my mama’s suitcase
Saw the holes in my shoes
Kicked off my old home soil
Knowing I couldn’t lose
I kicked off that dried up soil
Knowing I couldn’t lose

With my hands down on three jobs
From the morning through the night
Weary eyes don’t see the difference
’Tween the dark and the light
Weary eyes don’t see the difference
’Tween the dark and the light

10 years later Papa wrote me
Saying Mama had died
Wish that I could see her face now
And the hope in her eyes
Wish that I could see her face now
And the hope in her eyes

I’m just old now, all alone
In a land of fertile life
I see my unborn born babies
Tired birds in the sky
I see my unborn born babies
Tired birds in the sky

Before I die grant me one thing
Grant one thing to me
Don’t let me dream of nectar
Make me fruit on the tree