There’s a two-lane road and a dollar store
Church on Sunday, seen it all before
Everybody knows your truck, your name
Who your daddy is and where you came
Ain’t but a handful left my age
Most moved on or got engaged
Slim pickin’s in these hills I roam
But I still call this place my home
Now I ain’t complainin’, just tellin’ it true
Round here your options get mighty few
I could have any girl in this whole town
Long as she ain’t in my bloodline down
Gotta check the tree ‘fore you make a move
Make sure you ain’t got the same last roots
Yeah it sounds funny but it’s just the truth
In these hills, that’s how we do
Ain’t many left I can run to
But I got three I ain’t kin to
There’s Mary Lou works at the IGA
Got a smile that’ll make you stay
But her mama’s cousin married my uncle Ray
So that one’s gone, can’t go that way
Then there’s June by the riverside
Lord have mercy, I almost tried
Till my grandma said, Boy don’t you dare
That girl’s your kin somewhere back there
Yeah the family tree’s got tangled vines
And it wraps around most every line
I could have any girl in this whole town
Long as she ain’t in my bloodline down
Gotta check the roots ‘fore you fall too fast
Round here the past ain’t really past
Yeah it sounds crazy but it’s the truth
In these hills, that’s how we do
Ain’t many hearts I can run to
But I got three I ain’t kin to
Now I ain’t sayin’ I won’t leave someday
Find me a girl a county away
But there’s somethin’ ’bout these mountain skies
And familiar love in familiar eyes
I could have any girl in this whole town
Long as she ain’t in my bloodline down
Slim chances but I still got hope
Three good reasons I ain’t let go
Yeah laugh if you want but it’s the truth
Life runs close in these mountain roots
Ain’t many roads but I see it through
With the three I ain’t kin to
“Three I Ain’t Kin To” is track number 1 on the Thumper Barrel album, Bush Bond.
Track: Three I Ain’t Kin To
Album: Bush Bond
ISRC: QZNWX2632099
ASCAP: 935049060