we were supposed to sing the song as a duet, Pa and me
he is a rooster, which means cocky and ornery as can be
I did my best on this song, starting out on the low C key
Pa sang it double time as if we were flying to Kentucky
I got louder, my way of getting back at this pompous he
Pa got louder, stunning radio people in WH3
My mother had seen this as she watched our eggs three
You two need a vacation she said, get on to Tennessee
Why that state? Asked Pa, who was irritated with me
Isn’t that your home state? answered my mother to he
Kentucky, he said. Let’s go, he added, nodding to me.
we came home with a basket full, egg count twenty-three.
We had heard of this anomaly who out-sang the stars.
The ones in the cosmos? Asked my slow cousin, Lars.
No, the movies stars, the ones you see sing on tee vee.
He’s a rooster though, how can he carry a melody?
We were not sure, but this was a rare, bold, proud bird.
He could sing the phone book, to the point of being absurd.
The rest of the neighborhood knew about his antics too.
He mastered the chicken dance, a tango, and an old soft shoe.
In blue jeans and a sweatshirt,
tousled hair, a cheeky grin,
she whistles and the birds sing back,
she puts a load of laundry in.
A country girl with country manners,
"Thanks so much!" blesses her lips,
her daughter shares her airs and graces,
dancing now, mom sways, she dips.
Dressing up for Church on Sunday,
mom and Peanut looking fine,
mom's pleasant voice outsings the others
with mellifluence divine.
Skipping home from God's Communion,
licking ice cream cones they smile,
playing Hopscotch on the corner,
laughing, leaping all the while.
A six-year-old with imitations
of an adult's ways and means,
she's the Perfect Little Lady
sharing Mommy's hopes and dreams!
In blue jeans and a sweatshirt,
tousled hair, a cheeky grin,
she whistles and the birds sing back,
she puts a load of laundry in.
A country girl with country manners,
"Thanks so much!" blesses her lips,
her daughter shares her airs and graces,
dancing now, mom sways, she dips.
Dressing up for Church on Sunday,
mom and Peanut looking fine,
mom's pleasant voice outsings the others
with mellifluence divine.
Skipping home from God's Communion,
licking ice cream cones they smile,
playing Hopscotch on the corner,
laughing, leaping all the while.
A six-year-old with imitations
of an adult's ways and means,
she's the Perfect Little Lady
sharing Mommy's hopes and dreams!
In blue jeans and a sweatshirt,
tousled hair, a cheeky grin,
she whistles and the birds sing back,
she puts a load of laundry in.
A country girl with country manners,
"Thanks so much!" blesses her lips,
her daughter shares her airs and graces,
dancing now, mom sways, she dips.
Dressing up for Church on Sunday,
mom and Peanut looking fine,
mom's pleasant voice outsings the others
with mellifluence divine.
Skipping home from God's Communion,
licking ice cream cones they smile,
playing Hopscotch on the corner,
laughing, leaping all the while.
A six-year-old with imitations
of an adult's ways and means,
she's the Perfect Little Lady
sharing Mommy's hopes and dreams!
...for Juvie and Tarah
In blue jeans and a sweatshirt,
tousled hair, a cheeky grin,
she whistles and the birds sing back,
she puts a load of laundry in.
A country girl with country manners,
"Thanks so much!" blesses her lips,
her daughter shares her airs and graces,
dancing now, mom sways, she dips.
Dressing up for Church on Sunday,
mom and Peanut looking fine,
mom's pleasant voice outsings the others
with mellifluence divine.
Skipping home from God's Communion,
licking ice cream cones they smile,
playing Hopscotch on the corner,
laughing, leaping all the while.
A six-year-old with imitations
of an adult's ways and means,
she's the perfect little lady
sharing momma's hopes and dreams.