Bad Road

By Terry Burns

Got to do 40 miles of real bad road
driving this wagon and toting this load
and when I get through I got me a windmill to fix.
Then I gotta lotta fence to mend
and gotta build a pen for the hens
and gotta fill the firebox with a big armload of sticks.

But you know I met me a tourist the other day
he was on vacation I heard him say
vacation, my gosh, what kind of thing is that?
The only vacation this cowboy gets
is when he just up and sits
down in the shade to wipe the sweat from his hat.

But you know it's not all sweaty and hot
shoot no, in the winter, guess what we got;
breaking ice, shoveling snow and feeding each cow.
I guess it's not that I mind
I just wish I weren't so behind
Guess I'd quit if I could just figure out how.

But then there comes that peaceful day
just sitting my horse & watching calves play
with a gentle breeze cooling down my face.
Then I remember what I'm here for;
no cars or schedules or running out the door
and I own every cow, calf and kid on the place.

I don't guess that I would quit
though now & then I gotta throw a fit
but overall I guess it just suits me.
So I smile & hollar to perk up the team;
had to get it out of my system if you know what I mean.
Forty miles is a lot of nice country to see.