[Verse 1]
"For sale by owner" sign on Highway 59
A signal of the times, a turning of the page
There used to be nothing here but that nothing disappeared
The pond, the barn, the farm, the fields have long since been replaced
Asphalt parking where that ten pew, Pentecostal stood
Fast food, four lanes and a subdivided neighborhood
[Chorus]
The walls of the world are closin' in
The spreadin' city spreads us thin
We can't seem to make our ends meet the black
Nеver would've thought it wouldn't last
A way of life that timе moved past
What I wouldn't give to have the back forty back
[Verse 2]
Maybe I'm a sucker for knowing who lives next door
A view from my back porch, a pinch of peace and quiet
I can't get back the used to bes, so I hang on to the memories
Of when I could still look up and see the stars not street lights shining
[Chorus]
The walls of the world are closin' in
The spreadin' city spreads us thin
We can't seem to make our ends meet in the black
Never would've thought it wouldn't last
A way of life that time moved past
What I wouldn't give to have the back forty back
[Instrumental Bridge]
[Outro]
Now I get that progress has its place
And no regard for what it takes
Wish it would slow its pace and cut us all some slack
'Cause it's all changing way too fast
A way of life that time moved past
What I wouldn't give to have the back forty back