They Took It Away

Lyrics

[Verse 1] My kin come to Texas from Tennessee with Davy Crockett a long time ago I guess it's pretty lucky for me they didn't all go to The Alamo They fought to make Texas free from the armies of old Mexico They must've thought it was somethin' to be in a land where a family could grow [Chorus 1] So they took it away They took it away again I wonder what those brave women and men Would do if they could come back around What would they say About the way everything has been? I don't think they were tryin' to win A place to put poison in the ground [Verse 2] Now I live on an Oklahoma hill; it ain't Texas but it used to be Back before Jackson signed the deal to make it indian territory In the winter that was freezin' cold they marched the Cherokee In the land rush the settlers stole every place that they could be [Chorus 2] They took it away They took it away again They had the sword and they had the pen Worse than Spaniards come for gold They took it away They took it away again Now they poison the lakes and the lands That their great-grandfathers stole [Verse 3] Somethin' happened in between the time it was home for the outlaw man And the time I like to think is mine; it's just where all the oil money's been How can anybody make a meal from what they can't afford to grow? And what's gonna to be left to steal when there are no more free souls? [Chorus 3] They took it away They took it away again How much time do you have to spend Just to get them to let you be? Take it away Take it away again I always want to be livin' in The land of the free The land of the free