Ranches And Rivers Lyrics - Joe Ely

In the cool of the evening she calls me to dance 

My back's about broken from choppin' the plants 

My soul is so thirsty I can't sleep at night 

She walks in my dreams, brings me delight 

I was born to the workers to toil and to strife 

My father before me he worked all his life 

He took nothing for granted, he said, "Son never bend" 

This heart that's been broken only her love can mend 

Some men could give you ranches and rivers 

With fences of barbed wire to keep out the cold 

But me, I got nothin', no titles to nothin' 

Just a love and a fire more precious than gold 

Your daddy works me in the ground, he knows something's goin' down 

Would you pack your things and run with me? 

Tomorrow at sunrise with the dew on the cotton 

They'll cut loose the watchdogs when they see that we're gone 

The smile of my sweet one asleep on the car seat 

Ten miles to the border where we will be free