Hard Times Are Relative

It's just me and my sister

Dog and a piece of land

My sister's name is Darlene

And the dog is called Cheyenne

Our folks both passed away last fall

In the fire at the mill

We get by on a garden

And whatever we can kill

On the land there stands a cabin

That our grandfather built

When I'm away a huntin'

I feel overrun with guilt

'Cause Darlene's all alone except for

The dog and awful dreams

She's seven years my younger and

I'm only seventeen

We need to fill the smokehouse

Winter's comin' on

I know it isn't easy

Since mom and dad been gone

We will keep on growin'

Two branches of the tree

'Cause hard times are relative

When it comes to family

In the mornin' I was gone

Before the sun had kissed the ridge

Whistlin' the new Jimmie Rodgers tune

As I crossed the blank old bridge

Two good days of huntin'

And an evening all alone

I quarter up what I take down

And pack it all back home

My head up in the clouds

Walkin' on uneven ground

My boot slipped out beneath me

And I came a crashing down

Into the entrance of a cavern

It's walls all were wet with moss

My rifle up there on the ledge

Said hope was lookin' lost

We need to fill the smokehouse

Winter's comin' on

I know it isn't easy

Since mom and dad been gone

We will keep on growin'

Two branches of the tree

Hard times are relative

When it comes to family

Two nights nearly frozen

A head filled up with doubt

No matter how hard I tried

There was no climbin' out

I yelled for help the same

Then even yelled some prayers

Tears fell at the thought of Darlene

With nobody there

My mind began to flutter

Like the wings of a dove

Coulda swore that I was dreamin'

When Darlene appeared above

She lowered down a rope

Then tied it to a blackjack tree

Cheyenne had found my dragged rack trail

And brought her straight to me

But we need to fill the smokehouse

Winter's comin' on

I know it isn't easy

Since mom and dad been gone

But we will keep on growin'

Two branches of the tree

'Cause hard times are relative

When it comes to family

As proud as any father

Of this fearless little one

Carin' for a homestead

While most kids are havin' fun

Smilin' all the way back home

There were no words I could say

Till we stopped to dress the ten point buck

She had shot along the way