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Credits

PERFORMING ARTISTS
Reba McEntire
Reba McEntire
Performer
Larry Paxton
Larry Paxton
Bass Guitar
Paul Leim
Paul Leim
Drums
John Hobbs
John Hobbs
Piano
B. James Lowry
B. James Lowry
Nylon-String Guitar
John Jorgenson
John Jorgenson
Electric Guitar
The Nashville String Machine
The Nashville String Machine
Strings
COMPOSITION & LYRICS
Barry Dean
Barry Dean
Composer
Larry Paxton
Larry Paxton
String Arranger
Kristin Wilkinson
Kristin Wilkinson
String Arranger
PRODUCTION & ENGINEERING
Reba McEntire
Reba McEntire
Producer
Buddy Cannon
Buddy Cannon
Producer
Norro Wilson
Norro Wilson
Producer
Billy Sherrill
Billy Sherrill
Recording Engineer
Todd Tidwell
Todd Tidwell
Assistant Recording Engineer
J.R. Rodriguez
J.R. Rodriguez
Assistant Recording Engineer
Tony Castle
Tony Castle
Recording Engineer
John Guess
John Guess
Mixing Engineer

Lyrics

[Verse 1]
Moving Oleta was the hardest thing he'd done
The nurse's saw an old woman crying
But he saw the love of his life
She don't know where she is
But she knows this isn't home
Love is a hard, hard road
[Verse 2]
He met her in the summer of '37
In a brush harbor down on the Rush Creek shore
He loved her black hair and the mischief in her smile
But she won him with her eyes
All the years and children grow
He still sees her the same
Love is a hard, hard road
[Verse 3]
He woke up each morning and drove into town
He stayed all day until her dinner came
Then he took her to her room
Leaned on her wheelchair like a walker
And covered her with a quilt that she made
Only God and a couple of nurses
Helped the old man shoulder the road
Love is a hard, hard road
[Verse 4]
And he said
They tell me this is all that's left
Say this hell on earth is best
I list all those reasons and I still don't understand it
He cursed his body old and weak
Tears of failure burned his cheek
And he said
Oh, don't you know I prayed to die before this day
Love is a hard, hard road
[Verse 5]
There's a shadow much darker than the valley of death
When you fear the reaper might not come today
They line them up in La-Z-Boys out in the sun-room
The TV keeps the quiet away
She can't recall his name
And she's the only love he's known
Love is a hard, hard road
Love is a hard, hard road
[Verse 6]
Moving Oleta was the hardest thing he'd done
Written by: Barry Dean
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