Readin, Writin, and Redneckin

[Intro – spoken, half-laughin’] Yeah… tap the dash right there… Mm-hmm… let’s go home now. [Verse 1] Headed down south to a hoedown reunion, Passin’ through cities glitterin’ like fireflies shootin’, Gotta git home ‘fore the sun sinks low, Back to the place where we learned what we know. Three R’s on the chalkboard hangin’ crooked and thin, Readin’, writin’, and redneckin’, amen. Schoolhouse pond and a bullfrog choir, Tree frogs singin’ like they’re paid by the fire. [Pre-Chorus] Shared stumps and books with the bucks and the does, Nobody fussed ‘bout skeeters bitin’ our toes, Snakes in the grass, we just stepped real slow, Grew up easy but we moved real bold. [Chorus] Readin’, writin’, and redneckin’, Banjo poppin’ and my head kept reckonin’, City tried hard but it didn’t stick, Too many rules, not enough stick-and-kick. Yeah I’m headed back home where the dirt makes sense, Where love’s real strong and the fence ain’t bent, Readin’, writin’, and redneckin’, That’s the school that I’m checkin’ back in. [Verse 2] No jobs, no cash, so I tried the town, Neon lights starin’ me straight in the ground, Too many people, too many cars, Sounds so foreign like dogs barkin’ in Mars. Tried usin’ my skills from back in the day, Like a lawyer, doctor, engineer—hey! Settled disputes with a left and a kick, That was arbitration… real quick. [Verse 3 – funny] Played doctor practicin’ on my dog Beau, And a raccoon named Bob who don’t sit real slow, Engineered bridges with mud and sticks, If it didn’t fall—well, that’s physics. City said, “Sir, you need degrees,” I said, “Buddy, I got scars on my knees.” [Chorus] Readin’, writin’, and redneckin’, Dashboard thump got the whole crowd steppin’, Mouth harp cryin’ like a porch-screen door, I ain’t built for cubicles or elevator floors. Yeah I’m headed back home where the dirt makes sense, Where the truth’s real loud and the rent’s paid in fence, Readin’, writin’, and redneckin’, That’s the life lesson I’m back to gettin’. [Bridge – half spoken, crowd chant feel] Unlearn the city… (Yeah!) Learn to walk again… (That’s right!) Eat what the good Lord gives us… Fishin’ and giggin’ four times a week—amen! [Verse 4] Gonna take care of family where needed most, Fix what’s broke, feed whoever’s close, Gonna find my girl Veronica too, Marry that gal, yeah that’s overdue. Ten chillin’ runnin’ barefoot wild, Eight loud dogs and one spoiled child, Front porch rockin’ ‘til the sun goes down, That’s my kind of uptown. [Final Chorus – bigger, stomp ready] Readin’, writin’, and redneckin’, Clap your hands, y’all quit second-guessin’, Good people, good times, good lovin’ too, If you know this life then you know it’s true. Yeah we’re headed back home for a big reunion, Laugh too loud and dance to the ruin, Readin’, writin’, and redneckin’, Line it up—let’s start steppin’! [Outro – spoken, banjo tag] If you learned life by skinnin’ knees and catchin’ supper… You’re already graduated. Hit it, Beau.