We held tight to our loved ones
and we held on to the promise
And we scraped our meager
We prayed to what would have us,
every doubting John Thomas
Spread through Appalachia ever south
And I hear we weren't welcomed here,
at least not in those days
No one needs our drunken,
But we settled in this new place
and we worked it in our ways
And spread our kin upon it in due time
Spread our kin upon it in due time
And we fought our losing battles
and we held onto our ways
And we talk of how we left behind
Some were living lives of leisure,
some surviving hand to mouth
Bash our heads against the future,
Bash our heads against the future
When I set my sights upon you,
we were both still in our prime
We were moving in big circles
that I sought out to combine
And I held you in my arms and
swore eternal love this time
Tried to lasso brighter futures
and let it drag us both behind
let it drag us both behind
So we aimed our sights westward
Expanding our horizons to
Where everyone takes notice of
the drawl that leaves our mouth
So that no matter where we are
No matter where we are we're
Now my Christian Southern brethren
will tell you all what for
To keep your heathen ways up in you
and your shoes outside the door
Take your stand for noble causes till
you just can't stand no more
And surrender to some savior,
Surrender to some savior,
But despite our best intentions,
We keep swinging for the fences,
I hear you whistling past
the graveyard looking down
Whistling past the graveyard
