Blue Ridge Mountain Home

To listen to the song
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I’ve written more songs about my son, Jesse, than for anyone else. Jesse and I were living alone in the Blue Ridge Mountains at the time (it was 1981, and he was five), and this song is a snapshot of our life at the time. Even though we were on tour about five months each year at that time, our life at home was easily as stimulating and satisfying.

It’s early in the morning, and I can’t get out of bed
Blankets piled high, they cover over my head
There’s ice inside the windows, frost inside my shoes
It’s another winter morning in my Blue Ridge Mountain Home

Twilight’s fading quickly, and a morning sun will shine
And the smell of buckwheat pancakes to a little boy of five
Lulls him out of sleep, and down the stairs he glides
We’re sitting at the table, so glad to be alive

Little boy be free, someday you will see
That the world outside our windows was made for you and me

I wonder as I start to do my morning chores
How the world can look so simple to this little boy of mine
His dreams are filled with wonder, his days are met with joy
As he runs along beside me as I haul our water home

Little boy be free, someday you will see
That the world outside our windows was made for you and me

As I watch him wander in the forest now alone
I can see that he is thinking about making this world his home
And being in the moment, a place right out of time
I know it won’t be long now that he’ll need my hand to hold

Little boy be free, someday you will see
That the world outside our windows was made for you and me

Later, we’re inside, and our day’s work is done
I’m sittin’ by the fire, just singing out my songs
He’s singing there beside me, right there where he belongs
These days he knows the words, and his voice is getting strong

So, I will keep of working for what I think is right
Sometimes you know it means putting up a fight
And someone always asks me “What are you fighting for?”
And I think about an answer, and it’s coming to me more and more

Little boy be free, someday you will see
That the world outside our windows was made for you and me