(Spoken, with rhythmic meter & chords in background)
I've [C]always loved to garden, to see the flowers grow
The [Em]fragrances and colors are miracles you know
Through [F]every passing season, so much for one to do
[G]Prune and weed, fertilize, replant and water too
My [C]husband, may he rest in peace, he dug these beds for me
The [Em]kids were little babies then, just 5 and 4 and 3
Our [F]Junior he is a hero, he died upon a beach
The [G]girls have their own babies now, young helpers I can teach
Our [C]home beside the highway has seen the passing years
The [Em]trees so big and sturdy now were watered by our tears
[F]Joyous tears, tears of pride, tears of woe an pain
[G]Tears so bitter, tears so sweet, tears that fell like rain
Our [C]home beside the highway, well now it is just me
Just [Em]me and my memories and my poodle Miss Fifi
[F]Both of us are getting on, a little hard to get around
But she [G]helps me in the garden helps me dig into the ground
(Sung)
It was [C]2 in the morning, I was [Em]probably snoring
My [F]poodle she [G]started to [C]growl
Miss [C]Fifi was a-barking, a-[Em]jumping and a-snarling
Like the [Dm]world was [G]ending some-[C]how.
. . .
[C7]Through the [F]blinds I did peer, [C]trembling with fear
A [F]widow afraid all a-[G]lone
Out-[C]side there was danger, some [Em]stumbling stranger
Pickin' [F]flowers in [G]front of my [C]home
And I [Bb]pray every [F]day for [C]sinners astray
For-[Bb]giveness for [F]those who re-[C]pent
Our [Bb]Savior [F]died for [C]all of our sins
But that [Bb]drunk he was [G]hurting my [C]plants . . . [G7]
He was [C]dressed all in black, his [Em]hair was slicked back
Like a [F]hoodlum all [G]chiseled and [C]hard
He was [C]staggering around, then he [Em]fell to the ground
In my [Dm]perfectly [G]manicured [C]yard
. . .
[C7]My [F]precious little flowers, I [C]tend them for hours
[F]Pruning and weeding each [G]day
My [C]garden is so splendid, so [Em]perfectly tended
Now [F]ruined by such [G]tomfooler-[C]y
And I [Bb]pray every [F]day for [C]souls gone astray
We're [Bb]sinners the [F]same every-[C]one
Sweet [Bb]Jesus he [F]died for [C]all of our sins
And it's a [Bb]good thing I [G]don't have a [C]gun
Miss [C]Fifi was yapping, [Em]snarling and snapping
As I [F]dialed the [G]Starkville Po-[C]lice
I [C]told them some drunk, some [Em]trespassing skunk
Was [Dm]scaring the [G]wits out of [C]me
. . .
[C7]They [F]came straightaway and [C]hauled him away
So [F]proud to protect and to [G]serve
That [C]hoodlum was mean, de-[Em]structive, obscene
And he [F]got just [G]what he de-[C]served
And I [Bb]pray for [F]those who have [C]lost their way
The [Bb]pathway I [F]hope they shall [C]see
The [Bb]Road to [F]Salvation is [C]open to all
Our [Bb]Lord gave us [G]wills that are [C]free
. . .
And I [Bb]pray for [F]those who have [C]lost their way
The [Bb]decadent, the [F]careless, un-[C]kind
The [Bb]Road to [F]Salvation is [C]open to all
Re-[Bb]demption I [G]hope they shall [C]find
(Spoken)
That [C]man out in my garden, whoever he may be
Well [Em]when he sobers up, I hope that he can see
He [F]is somebody's precious, some loving mother's boy
He [G]is a child of God, and that life can be a joy
This [C]home beside the highway, shall stand for many years
New [Em]families will live here, find their joys and tears
The [F]trees will keep on growing, long after I am gone
And the [G]flowers by the highway, will sing their fragrant song
(Sung)
And I [Bb]pray for [F]those who have [C]lost their way
The [Bb]pathway I [F]hope they shall [C]see
The [Bb]Road to [F]Salvation is [C]open to all
Our [Bb]Lord gave us [G]wills that are [C]free
. . .
And I [Bb]pray for [F]those who have [C]lost their way
The [Bb]decadent, the [F]careless, un-[C]kind
The [Bb]Road to [F]Salvation is [C]open to all
Re-[Bb]demption I [G]hope they shall [C]find
Re-[Bb]demption I [G]hope they shall [C]find