Ellsworth

grandma burned the biscuits
nearly took the house down with 'em
now she's in assisted living
we all knew that day would come
we knew she was too gone to drive
the day she parked on I-65
found her on the shoulder cryin'
she didn't know where she was
it's like her mind just quit
oh but bring up grandpa
it's like someone flipped a switch

front porch light and a blue DeSoto
a couple of straws and a coca cola
you can see it all goin' down
a handsome boy in army green
a tear on his face,
down on a knee, shaky voice, a diamond ring
she'll put you in that town
tomorrow she won't remember what she did today
but just ask her 'bout ellsworth, kansas, 1948

she takes out his medals
a cigar box of letters
sits and scatters pictures
black and whites of days gone by
we started losin' her when she lost him
but to hear her carry on
you'd swear she's seventeen again

football games and leaves a'cracklin'
walkin' her home in his letter jacket
you can see it all goin' down
a perfect night on a front porch glider
saying goodnight for the next three hours
her tired eyes go wide and bright
when she talks about that town
tomorrow she won't remember what she did today
but just ask her 'bout ellsworth, kansas, 1948

while the world is fading all around her
sharing a sundae at the counter
he's going on and on about her
but she's right there right now
tomorrow she won't remember what she did today
just ask about ellsworth, kansas, 1948...