The House I Live In

(album: Cooke's Tour - 1960)

the house I live in
a plot of earth, a street
the grocer and the butcher
and the people that I meet
the children in the playground
the faces that I see
all races, all religions
that's a miracle to me

the place I work in
the worker at my side
the little town or city
where my people lived and died
the howdie and the handshake
the air of feeling free
the right to speak my mind out
that's a miracle to me

the things I see about me
the big things and the small
the little corner newsstand
and the howls a mile tall
the wedding in the churchyard
the laughter and the tears
the dream that's been a-growing for a 150 year

the town I live in
the street, the house, the room
the pavement of the city
are a garden all in bloom
the church the school the clubhouse
the million lights I see
but especially the people
that's a miracle to me