Ella Mae

My grandparents on my father's side had a strawberry farm. It's a
 beautiful thing, a beautiful occupation... a strawberry farm. We
 always used to try to go down there at just the right time of year.
 "Oh, are the, are the berries ready? Oh. Good!"
 Ella Mae - the redwings returned today
 A little rain fell in the morning
 The afternoon was clear
 An' that song you loved to hear
 Was filling up the fence row where the birds all go
 To talk over their long journey and sing.
 Ella Mae - all the gifts you gave
 Tremble in my life like a startled deer
 You gave me my Pa
 Who is in me as you are
 And the southern piney hills
 The clear water and the running rills
 That tumbled through the lives of us all.
 Six big men and one big strong woman
 You and little Granpa David raised up there
 They all had families
 We all come back to see you
 You hugged us all in turn
 Cocked you head and said we'd grown
 And touched us with your hands
 That smelled like bread
 Ella Mae - it's a clear warm summer's day
 The young birds are trying out their wings
 Ah it's something to see them try
 To get up there and fly
 And my own child is bound to do the same
 Today she learned three birds' names.
 Ella Mae - I can see you plain as day
 Sailing out like a ship to your garden
 In your old wide-brim straw hat
 With a long handled hoe in your hand.
 pausing at the gate I see you look south to the pond
 A long time quiet smile on your face.
 Ella Mae - when your David went away
 After cutting brush all day long
 Well, your life just slowly closed
 Like a worn out autumn rose
 You could not find the bread
 You could not make your lonesome bed
 Or really do a thing but rise and go.
 Ella Mae - the redwings left today
 Passing in a long cloud of wings
 They're headed down your way
 They'll be there in a couple of days
 They'll sing that song you loved
 As they fly above
 Your resting place by David in the pines.