My Little Town ( Steve Dickson )

My Little Town

«  Steve Dickson  »

I left town at seventeen

 Went far away to war

 Never made it back this way

 My family was no more

Parents died while I was gone

 None left to run the farm

 I stayed on in the service

 So none would come to harm

I married and had children

 Kids asked where I was from

 we drove in just yesterday

 To see what has become

Main street was plumb deserted

 The shops were all shut down

 I drove on to the feed store

 Out at the edge of town

Hollis was at the counter

 He’d been a friend to dad

 His big old hands were shaking

 His face looked tired and sad

He told us all the story

 Of what had come to pass

 In this town not long ago

 Out on the prairie grass

“Folks were forced to sell their land

 When big boys moved on in

 They’re growin crops unheard of

 I tell ya it’s a sin

Usin’ all them chemicals

 Folks was gettin’ real sick

 Killed off lots of their livestock

 It’s just a mean ol’ trick

 

They want to do this frackin’

 Promise life much higher

 Others say it’s no darn good

 Claim water lights on fire

I’ve been here all my life, boy

 This town gave me a start

 People had small businesses

 Replaced by a Walmart

Our little town is hurtin’

 Won’t ever be the same

 All across America

 And greed is what’s to blame