You And Tennessee

(album: From Sea To Shining Sea - 1968)

Like a sweet rippling mountain stream
Goes the sound of the banjo on Cripple Creek
Never beginning never ending just rippling on and on
So does the land just ripple on and on
As a heart gets soft on a woman so can the heart get soft on the land
And to fall in love with a woman as well as the land is to surely be in love

I stayed away too long I know and every day was slow to go
Every night I dreamed I was here it's been a mighty lonely year
Every mile I needed you I kinda hope that you needed me too
Everywhere I saw your face around every town I was in
This old familiar place welcomed me again
Back to where I belonged to be back to you and Tennessee
Back to you and Tennessee

Beside the Cumberland River where the grass is soft and sweet
We ran across the fields of cedar hiding from the noisy streets
And when the leaves fell from the cold the stars were silver the moon was gold
I said it's yours with love from me
I'm planting my roots in this ground and when they look for me I'll be found
With something that is part of me you and Tennessee
Back with you and Tennessee