WAY OUT HERE
By: Josh Thompson
Our houses are protected by the good Lord and a gun
And you might meet 'em both if you show up here not welcome son
Our necks are burnt, our roads are dirt and our trucks ain't clean
The dogs run loose, we smoke, we chew and fry everything
Out here, way out here
(Chorus)
We won't take a dime if we ain't earned it
When it comes to weight brother we pull our own
If it's our backwoods way of livin' you're concerned with
You can leave us alone
We're about John Wayne, Johnny Cash and John Deere
Way out here
We got a fightin' side a mile wide but we pray for peace
'Cause it's mostly us that end up servin' overseas
If it was up to me I'd love to see this country run
Like it used to be, oughta be, just like it's done
Out here, way out here
(Chorus)
We won't take a dime if we ain't earned it
When it comes to weight brother we pull our own
If it's our backwoods way of livin' you're concerned with
You can leave us alone
We're about John Wayne, Johnny Cash and John Deere
Way out here
We won't take a dime if we ain't earned it
When it comes to weight brother we pull our own
If it's our backwoods way of livin' you're concerned with
You can leave us alone
We're about John Wayne, Johnny Cash and John Deere
Way out here, way out here
Our houses are protected by the good Lord and a gun
And you might meet 'em both if you show up here not welcome son
The song ignited several thoughts to stream through my mind.
God knew where I belonged.
I was born to to two blue-collared, hard-working, middle-class, WONDERFUL people.
I was born to two people who were from small, southern towns, too.
Where we say "Hey, Y'all!" to people we pass in the grocery store, at the post office, or at the gas pumps.
We didn't have a lot of money, but we had class.
You do not have to come from money nor have a lot of money to have morals, integrity, respect for self & others, or class.
I see so many people that may have a little money act like they are so much more than they are.
It's not that big ol' house, or those fancy rides that get you into Heaven, I promise.
Sure, they're nice to have, but I'm happy with what I've got. It may not be much, but it's mine.
I find myself thinking about this a lot since Jubal was born. I would certainly love a bigger, newer home. Who wouldn't? That is a couple years down the road for us, though. I've always heard "Love grows best in small houses". I figure that must be true because the world sure seems like it was easier to live in way back when families of 12 lived in two-bedroom homes (yes, true!). Families were just that-FAMILY!
Second, I want Jubal to have a happy childhood, just like I did. We didn't go on expensive vacations. We went camping on sandbars, we went on day trips to the beach, or we just sprayed each other with water hoses! Ha! That sounds funny, but it was fun.
My most memorable summers were spent riding my bike with friends from my neighborhood & coming home when it started to get dark. We would build forts, go exploring in the woods, climb trees, and even "help" our female dogs birth their babies. Yes, I did that. Ahhhmazing! Especially for a seven year old! :)
I want Jubal to find happiness in the small things that life presents us with, that are often times free.
I want him to believe in God with his whole heart & know that it is only because of Him that we exist or have the things we do have.
I want him to be proud of where he is from. I feel like if we lived in a big city, he wouldn't get the chance to experience the crickets chirping, or the frogs croaking. He wouldn't get to chase fireflies, or just enjoy the slow-paced life of living in the country. Period.
Third, I want Jubal to want to work. If that means becoming the big CEO of some fast-paced company, that's his choice. I wish we had a farm or something we could pass down to him, though. I think our hard-working farmers are the most humble people & I would love for Jubal to be that kind of man. I want nothing for him but happiness, as long as it's productive for him. I just want him to always do his best.
We don't have to struggle (thank God!) to make ends meet at our house, but we do both have to work. I do hate that it takes away from time I could be spending with Jubal, but it's our way of life. He has two hard-working parents. He has a mama & daddy that would work their fingers to the bone to provide a good life for him.
Maybe not the big ol' house, like some, or the brand new truck I would love to give him on his 16th birthday (maybe if I start saving now), but he does and will always, if I can help it, have nice, clean clothes to wear, a safe, secure roof over his head, food on the table where we will sit down as a family to eat, and so much love that I hope he never feels alone in this world.
This post has been all over the place, really. My thoughts get jumbled when I try to write them all down. Maybe this post doesn't even make sense to some who read it. I understand it, though, and I know exactly what I'm trying to say.
I've been caught up lately in wanting to have things that only money can buy. I need to get back to my roots & remember what genuine happiness really exists of. Family, home, laughter, togetherness, hugs, kisses, friends, cookouts, football games, boiled peanuts, crickets chirping, frogs croaking, & chasing fireflies. Just a few of my favorite things. ;)
Thank God I'm from the country.
I may not have much, but it's mine, and I'm happy.
Just sayin'!
And for your listening pleasure, a few more of my favorites. ;)
