Wine Colored Dress

She wore the wine colored dress with the collar ruched high
With the basque knife pleating on the skirt on the side
It wasn't a new dress, just the best one she had
Anna stood in in the field where she'd soon marry Fred

They were witnessed by royalty, an old Ioway Chief
With Two braves and two girls and a guy with no teeth
And families and singles from townships around
It was wonderfully simple, it was simply profound

Will you keep my heart, for the rest of my life
When the world treats us hard, or our load becomes light
With friends like we have, and the Lord up above
Our days won't be easy, but we'll always have love

From Eldora they left for a small house and farm
A half mile from Hubbard on the north edge of town
On a spring seated buggy hauling all that was theirs
A bed and a washstand, a table and chairs

They started with little, so light was their load
Just three hens and a rooster, from the folks down the road
And a horse bought by Fred just few weeks before
And three cows from her mother, though she wished she had more

Will you keep my heart, for the rest of my life
When the world treats us hard, or our load becomes light
With friends like we have, and the Lord up above
Our days won't be easy, but we'll always have love

Anna's mother was widowed and lost her leg to disease
But she was always as cheerful as a cool summer breeze
The Chief loved her dearly and watched over the farm
From protect her strangers who might do her harm

So strong was his love that he ask her to wed
"I am honored you ask," were the words that she said
"It pains me to tell you that I must say no"
She never explained, so we'll never will know

Will you keep my heart, for the rest of my life
When the world treats us hard, or our load becomes light
With friends like we have, and the Lord up above
Our days won't be easy, but we'll always have love