Gray Rock, Red Clay Land
Tales of Endurance: Nurturing Life on Gray Rock, Red Clay Land
Lyrics
This farm has been hard days work
This farm has been a place of hard work.
How well I understand
The speaker deeply understands the challenges associated with the farm.
Cause I watched my daddy break his back
The speaker observed their father working tirelessly on the land.
On this gray rock, red clay land
The farm is characterized by gray rocks and red clay.
We'd break a good plow markin' rows
The process of marking rows involves breaking a good plow.
Pick limestone out by hand
Limestone is manually picked from the fields.
The meanest patch there ever was
The land is challenging and considered the meanest patch.
This gray rock, red clay land
Reference to the difficult gray rock and red clay land.
Like that old Cedar tree, my roots run deep
The speaker's roots are compared to an old Cedar tree, indicating deep connections to the land.
All through this stoney ground
The roots extend through stoney ground, emphasizing the challenging nature of the soil.
Molded and shaped, burdened and graced
The speaker's life has been shaped and molded by hard work and burdens.
By the Lord and the sweat of my brow
The shaping is attributed to both the Lord and the speaker's efforts.
For as long as I can, with all that I am
The speaker vows to work the land with all their being for as long as they can.
I'll work this gray rock, red clay land
Reiteration of the commitment to work the challenging gray rock and red clay land.
Plant the seed in heavy earth
Planting seeds in heavy earth symbolizes the effort invested in cultivating the land.
Pray for gentle rains to follow and
Praying for gentle rains reflects a reliance on external factors for successful farming.
Hope the sun will help it grow
Hope is expressed for the sun to aid in the growth of crops in the challenging soil.
Through this gray rock, red clay land
Reiteration of the connection between hope and the gray rock and red clay land.
There's a shady spot beyond the field
A serene place is described beyond the fields, where time seems to stand still.
Where time has stopped and marble stands
Marble stands as a symbol of permanence and timelessness.
When my life is done, they'll lay me there
When the speaker's life ends, they will be laid to rest in the enduring gray rock and red clay land.
In that gray rock, red clay land
Final affirmation of the connection between the speaker and the land even in death.
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