Merle Haggard

^D I left the four lane highway took a ^G blacktop seven ^D miles
^D Down by the old country school I ^E7 went to as a c ^A hild
^D Two miles down a gravel road, I could ^G see the proud old ^D home
^D A tribute to a way of life that's a ^A lmost come and ^D gone
(Chorus)
^G The roots of my raising run ^D deep
I come back for the ^E7 strength that I ^A need
^G And hope comes no matter ^D how far down I ^A sink
^G The roots of my r ^A aising run ^D deep
(Spoken verse)
^D I pulled into the driveway Lord it s ^G ure was good to be ^D there
^D And I could see through the open door that Dad was ^E7 asleep in his favorite ^A
chair
^D In his hand was a picture of Mom and I re ^G membered how close they ^D were
^D So, I just turned away I didn't want to wake him and ^A spoil his dreams of ^D
her
^D A Christian Mom who had the strength for ^G life the way she ^D did
^D Then to pull that apron off and do the C ^E7 harleston for us ^A kids
^D Dad a quiet man who ^G gentle voice was seldom ^D heard
^D Who could borrow money at the bank s ^A imply on his ^D word.
(Repeat Chorus)