baxter hill

years ago grandaddy baxter gave dad 40 acres

daddy proudly named it baxter hill

him and mom raised seven kids

and gave us each 1 acre

in hopes someday that's where we all would build

daddy's greatest dream in life was baxter hill

the rest all moved away but

i stayed on with mom and daddy

but they all gathered in when mama died

they were quick decidin' papa couldn't handle bizness

and the six of them all said let's subdivide

you could see them dollar bill signs in their eyes

yeah

they subdivided daddy's 40 acres

the place where him and mama worked and saved

not out of need

just out of greed

they built them six room houses

bet mama's turnin' over in her grave

just knowin' they've done papa this away

well

they agreed that i could keep

the acre papa gave me

so i left that old house standin' where it was

and just a few days later

them big old yellow graders

started pushing up the ground my daddy loved

tearin' up everything that he'd dreamed of

now papa didn't say much

he just sat there on the front porch

and watched them big bulldozers rape his fields

he'd look straight ahead

and say i know your mama's dead

but she'll be comin' back to baxter hill

and she'll rattle chains in every room they build

yeah

they subdidvided daddy's 40 acres

but the houses stand there empty

cold and still

they sold a few

but the people moved

and swore they'd never come back

papa just grins and says they never will

while your mama walks on baxter hill

yeah

mama walks at night on baxter hill