“ Riding for the Brand “

Used to be a time, not so long ago
You’d lace ‘em up and head on out
   Driving rain or snow

Used to be a time
you’d always lend your hand
Never was a question
   You were riding for the brand

A place to hang your hat
  A place to rest your bones
    A warm and friendly fire
      Never felt alone

A job that must be done
  A callouse built with time
    Gloves and rope and wire
      Down along the line

Used to be a time
you gave it all you had
A cup of joe to help you go
   Neither good nor bad

Used to be a time
you’d rise to make a stand
A battle line once more drawn
   You were riding for the brand

A tale told once again
  A whiskey helped you hear
    A long lost love left behind
      Could bring a man to tears

A sunrise mornings chill
  Brings it  back again
    Hitch ‘em up and head on out
      Another chapter penned

Riding for the brand
The way it once was done
You did your time out on the line
   Then porched it in the sun

Riding for the brand
The way it used to be
I’d take care of them that cared
   Then they’d take care of me

Used to be a time
somewhere in the past
A handshake done, one on one
   A bond was built to last


Used to be a time , the labor of the years

  Would pay your way to own a space
  Keep your spot on a mountaintop
Clean your slate at the dinner plate
    Keep you warm ‘til the early morn’
  Hold the sun when the day was done
Through a lifetimes smiles and tears

Used to be a time
not so long ago
You’d lace ‘em up and head on out
   Driving rain or snow

Used to be a time
you’d always lend your hand
Never was a question
   You were riding for the brand