Rust & Rain

Carter Jacobs left the county line in June

With a cardboard suitcase

underneath the moon

Engine hummed a lullaby of rust and grease

Looking for an honest hour,

looking for some peace

Pinned a paper ticket

to an old wool coat

Kept a silver nickel

and a folded note

Said you can take the highway

where the river bends

Where the gravel gives away

and the telephone wire ends

Oh, Carter Jacobs, keep your hands upon the wheel

There's a lot of country

left for you to feel

Past the red clay ditches

and the morning rain

Nobody remembers

how you bore the pain

Found a morning shift down by the timber mill

Stacking yellow pine

against the stubborn hill

Hands grew tough as leather,

but his eyes stayed wide

Watching all the swallows

on the morning tide

Oh, Carter Jacobs, keep your hands upon the wheel

There's a lot of country

left for you to feel

Past the red clay ditches

and the morning rain

Nobody remembers

how you bore the pain

Carter Jacobs on an empty road (hummmm)

Laid down the heavy load