Side of the Mountain

[Verse 1] On the far side of the ridge where the morning mist hangs low I split oak by the little stream where the cold clear waters go Got a tin roof on a cabin and a path worn through the pine And your hand tucked into mine, girl, makes this little world shine [Verse 2] There’s a copper kettle humming where the laurel keeps it hid A sweet clear jar for winter nights, just like my granddad did We don’t need a highway sign or a paycheck from uptown The creek keeps time beside us while the whole world races down [Chorus] This is my side of the mountain, this is where I’m free With a garden in the red clay and your shoulder next to me We’ll lay the supper by in jars, bring venison home by fall If the city wants its golden cage, it can keep it all This is our American dream, simple, strong, and true A little patch of heaven, and a life I built with you [Verse 3] We set beans along the fence line, squash beneath the sycamore Stack tomatoes in the pantry, seal the peaches by the door And behind the row of okra where the tall weeds lean and sway Two quiet little secrets catch the afternoon each day [Verse 4] I cast a line at daybreak, track a buck through frost-white grass You mend the quilt beside the fire, make the jars and seasons last No boss can ring our supper bell, no clock can name our pace The only law we answer to is mercy, work, and grace [Chorus] This is my side of the mountain, this is where I’m free With a garden in the red clay and your shoulder next to me We’ll lay the supper by in jars, bring venison home by fall If the city wants its golden cage, it can keep it all This is our American dream, simple, strong, and true A little patch of heaven, and a life I built with you [Bridge] If the river keeps on running and the seasons turn around We’ll still be here together on this stubborn piece of ground Let the skyline chase its fortune, let the traffic have its way I’ve got everything worth having at the end of our dirt road today [Instrumental] [Final Chorus] This is my side of the mountain, this is where I’m free With a garden in the red clay and your shoulder next to me We’ll lay the supper by in jars, bring venison home by fall If the city wants its golden cage, it can keep it all This is our American dream, simple, strong, and true A little patch of heaven, and a life I built with you [Outro] On the far side of the ridge, where the little stream runs blue I found the life I dreamed of, girl, and I found it here with you