Work The Land

Work The Land
@Ted DeMille/Rick Lang  
As I rummaged through the attic an old trunk caught my eye 
Opened the latches took a look inside 
Found a faded picture with some writing on the back 
It was just my father’s father reaching to me from the past 
He was plowing in the pasture behind an old gray mule 
Before the John Deere tractor, there were only handmade tools 
He looked a little weary, but I could plainly see 
A fierce determination looking back at me 
Chorus 1
It was back breaking work, that wore his body down
From dawn to dusk every day he turned that fertile ground 
From a simple photograph I've come to understand 
All the love and labor when you work the land 
I remember all the stories my daddy told to me 
How through all the hard times he kept the family 
Fed and kept them free from fear, they never really knew 
The endless hours of sacrifice their daddy had to do 
Chorus 2
I took that faded picture and put it in a frame 
And shared it with my family that proudly bears his name 
From a simple photograph I've come to understand 
All the love and labor when you work the land