| Sulphur Springs Valley
A Chiricahua hawk
circles a farm cat beneath
while coyotes try to catch
the moon in their teeth
I remember this valley
before the interstate
my folks moved from Tucson
back in '48
Willcox was a tiny
train set of a town
hiding low in the valley
a bird's nest on the ground
I cut hair in the army
discharged in '62
set up my barber pole
on Railroad avenue
down in Sulphur Springs Valley
you'll find seed is safe where it falls
we fill up our lives, with neighbors and wives
and the mountains march tall
defending us all
ranchers brought their sons
back when men liked it short
we talked round-ups and auctions
mostly high school sports
I still see us gathered
'round my Philco radio
for that army-navy game
lo, many years ago
and by now all our boys
know that our old stories
turned our lucky touchdowns
into small town glories
we all thought our sons
would envy city things
now they spread tales of their own
'round the sulphur springs
chorus
out by Ft. Bowie
over a downed fence line
bounds a wild Palamino
who won't be caught this time
Tucson's growing fast
and some worry that soon
city lights will file down
all our fingernail moons
most every old man
sees his share of change
dust blows through this valley
but its soul remains
when the time rolls around
to put away my shears
here's where the wife and I
will live out our years
chorus
|
Composition