Lyrics

Independence Day

Words and Music by Amanda Birdsall © 2008 ASCAP



I was born a poor girl on the 4th day of July

Nothing to look up to but that eagle in the sky

Mama took in laundry and Daddy hoed a field

We had a little wood shack with a john out back and a beat up Oldsmobile

Daddy liked his whiskey, and Mama loved to dance

Between the booze and the fightin’ and the runnin’ ‘round at night

Lord I never stood a chance



And it’s a long way back to Redbird

If you want to, you can go

If you ask me, you’re just wasting your time

But what the hell do I know



I was held by hard hands, red and cracked as that Colorado dirt

Seems we should’ve had it better, long and hard as Mama and Daddy worked

But Josie had a TV and we watched it late at night

Seein’ all the fancy people doin’ fancy things under them neon lights

Swore that we’d get outta this town before we turned 18

Just a couple of starry-eyed country girls in dollar-store blue jeans



And it’s a long way back to Redbird

If you want to, you can go

If you ask me, you’re just wasting your time

But what the hell do I know



Now I’ve been waitin’ tables, and I’m still waitin’ for my piece of the pie

But it looks like it passed me over, like that eagle in the sky

Mama calls me up sometimes and asks me to come home,

Sayin’ “Your pop’s a sorry shit, and I’ve been sick, and I never felt so alone

Baby come home and take care of us, that’s what a daughter’s for”

But I got plans, you gotta take a chance,

And make your own way in this world



And it’s a long way back to Redbird

And I have no desire to go

If you ask me, you’re just wasting your time

But what the hell do I know