Listen to Our Song (2024 Remastered Version) by Joe Henry

Our Song (2024 Remastered Version)

Joe Henry

Singer/Songwriter

Apple Music Note

OVERVIEW

LYRICS

Featured In

Listen to Our Song (2024 Remastered Version) - Single by Joe Henry

ALBUMOur Song (2024 Remastered Version) - SingleJoe Henry

Listen to Joe Henry Essentials featuring Joe Henry

PLAYLISTJoe Henry EssentialsApple Music Americana

Credits

PERFORMING ARTISTS

Joe Henry

Acoustic Guitar

David Piltch

Double Bass

Jay Bellerose

Drums

Patrick Warren

Piano

Loudon Wainwright The 3rd

Loudon Wainwright The 3rd

Background Vocals

Greg Leisz

Mandolin

Bill Frisell

Electric Guitar

Eric Gorfain

First Violin

Daphne Chen

Second Violin

Leah Katz

Viola

Richard Dodd

Cello

COMPOSITION & LYRICS

Joe Henry

Songwriter

Patrick Warren

Arranger

PRODUCTION & ENGINEERING

Ryan Freeland

Mixing Engineer

Gavin Lurssen

Mastering Engineer

Lyrics

I saw Willie Mays

At a Scottsdale Home Depot,

Looking at garage door springs

At the far end of the 14th row.

His wife stood there beside him

She was quiet and they both were proud,

I gave them room but was close enough

That I heard him when he said out loud:

This was my country,

This was my song,

Somewhere in the middle there

Though it started badly and it's ending wrong.

This was my country,

This frightful and this angry land,

But it's my right if the worst of it might still

Somehow make me a better man

The sun is unforgiving and

There's nobody who would choose this town,

But we've squandered so much of our good will

That there's nowhere else will have us now.

We push in line at the picture show

For cool air and a chance to see

A vision of ourselves portrayed as

Younger and braver and humble and free

This was our country,

This was our song,

Somewhere in the middle there

Though it started badly and it's ending wrong.

This was our country,

This frightful and this angry land,

But it's my right if the worst of it might still

Somehow make me a better man

I've started something I can't finish

And I barely leave the house it's true,

I keep a wrap on my sores and joints

But I've guess I've had my blessings too:

I've got my mother's pretty feet,

And a factory keeps my house in shade,

My children they've both been paroled

And we get by on the peace we've made.

I feel safe so far from heaven

From towers and their ocean views,

From here I see the future coming across

What soon will be beaches too…

But that was him, I'm almost sure-

The greatest centerfielder of all time

Stooped by the burden of endless dreams

- His and yours and mine.

He hooked each spring beneath his feet

He leaned over then he stood upright,

Testing each against his weight

For one that had some play and some fight.

He's just like us I want to tell him,

And our needs are small enough:

Something to slow a heavy door,

Something to help us raise one up

This was my country,

This was my song,

Somewhere in the middle there

Though it started badly and it's ending wrong.

This was God's country,

This frightful and this angry land,

But if it's his will the worst of it might still

Somehow make me a better man

If it's his will

The worst of it might still

Somehow make me a better man

Written by: Joe Henry