Back home (P)

G C x 4
I drove out to the old place
I hadn’t been there for years
It’s always somewhere in my mind
But I’m hardly ever near

D C x 4
I pulled off of the highway
Down those lanes I used to know
I still knew every turn and rise
All the names from long ago

Am D C x 2
D Em D Em
Am C D Em C
I saw the rock strewn rolling hills I saw the bracken fern
I felt the rain-fresh earth beneath my feet the cattle yawned and turned
The sun was a pale smudge through the clouds its light too weak to burn
My breaths were long and slow and calm I felt that slow deep yearn

The old soldiers came to claim their place
To find some peace and settle down
Making something from not much at all
Held their heads up high in town

When I was young I thought I’d stay forever
Thought I’d grow strong and tall and brown
But there came a time I knew I had to leave
To find a life I could call my own

I left without a backward glance there was so much to learn
I walked my curling doubtful path I learned to live and mourn
I learned to love I learned the pain of loss I felt the ache of sorrow burn
I learned that in the darkest night somewhere the seasons turned

Well there are some things you know forever
Some things that shift and change
No matter where I’ve been or what I’ve done
I feel that country call my name

Now the farming life doesn’t pay so well
Most neighbours left the neighbourhood
Reason says I couldn’t live there now
But I still wonder if I could

Oh come with me baby could we settle right down amongst the bracken fern
Listen to the rain as it falls to the ground and watch the fire burn
We could watch the sun get higher in the sky we’ll see the seasons turn
We’ll let our hearts slow down again we’ll let our heads unlearn?