Hard Times in the Heartland

Words & music A. McKnight, ©2003 Catalooch Music, BMI

Verse 1
Welcome to my neighborhood, sorry things don't look so good
seems the bottom falls out like each last one did
We harvest wheat, cotton, corn and oil, coax all we can from deep dark soil
Seems each year it's debt and toil that's what grows best

Chorus
Cause these hard times in the heartland, would try the soul of any man
it's hard to think the best we can, ain't enough to make a stand
and hold back hard times in the heartland

Verse 2
When I was young dreamed I'd hop a freight, or float on down New Orleans way
guess roots grow deep just like they say, as years flow by
Birds flock through each fall and spring, wonder what I'd see if I had wings
I hope someday that better things wait way up high

Chorus

Instrumental

Verse 3
The levees hold the water out, but can't hold back the flooding doubt
the river knows the one way route and she don't come back
highway crews plant pavement ribbons in the fields, the plow yields to endless wheels
once our kids find that road, this town's good as gone