I woke up this morning bright before the dawn
And the ache wasn't quite so bad
in these old hands, crooked hands

There's a hard white covering frost
but the sun will melt it down, sure enough
in an autumn's firey glow

slower than slow, slower than slow
So wake up my darlin' and stand with me here
where we can watch these twenty acres shine

down to that old spring stone line
Slip your hands inside this glove
and the other into mine, warm mine

and we'll walk along the old forge road
and bid this season well, fare thee well


We'll watch the children rub crayons
they're pulling up history drawn off the faces
of tombstones and grave heads

holding their lungfulls they're hopping cross centuries
worn down by ages, the dirt covered passages
all bare falls mark

it is the season for sleeping close your eyes
but don't turn your back to cold change
there is no reason to cower down under the marching

as time passes it faces us all

I'll scratch your name into this earth

and on my knees declare
I am going to love you till the day I die
and they blow these ashes cold towards that sky

And someone here will whisper still
and walk these gravel roads sure enough
in an autumn's fiery glow

slower than slow, slower than slow

They'll watch the children rub crayons

they're pulling up history drawn off the faces
of tombstones and grave heads
holding their lungfulls they're hopping cross centuries

worn down by ages, the dirt covered passages
all bare falls mark
it is the season for sleeping close your eyes

but don't turn your back to cold change
there is no reason to cower down under the marching
as time passes it faces us all