An American Tale

Once upon a time in America
In the green, rolling hills of southwestern Iowa
Where the tall corn grows for as far as you can see
And the sweet smell of hay travels on the breeze

Two farm kids met and they fell in love
They didn't have much but what they had was enough
They cruised down Main Street, they burned up the gravel roads
They rocked and rolled to Elvis on the radio.

Theirs is a story that's a thousand times told
The changing of our lives, a generation old
The farm life abandoned as the cities prevail
Their lives are an American Tale

He went off and joined the Air Force, left his farm and girl behind
But before the year was out, he had made her his bride.
As they drove to California, their apprehension grew
Was surviving in the city something they could really do

Two daughters came along, both in different states
He did his time in Vietnam; she sold real estate
From time to time, they'd go back, but somehow things had changed
The farm and family were still home, but their paths were not the same

Theirs is a story that's a thousand times told
The changing of our lives, a generation old
The farm life abandoned as the cities prevail
Their lives are an American Tale

They rode the crest - the waves of change
They see how far they've come
The dream is real, the price is paid
They're united as one

Now the legacy I never knew is the legacy I seek
To trade the trappings of success for a simpler way to be
To live the life they came from, to be closer to the land
Generations come from full circle - I've come to understand

Ours is a story that's a thousand times told
The changing of our lives, a generation old
The farm life abandoned as the cities prevail
Our lives are an American Tale
Our lives are an American Tale