Buy Dirt

‘Cause the truth about it is

It all goes by real quick

You can’t buy happiness

But you can buy dirt

– Luke Bryan and Jordan Davis

A couple of months ago my sister Lisa called. Uncle Paul was ready to sell his land in Hankamer which he had lived forever. For many years I would drive Grandmother out there weekly to visit with her twin sister, Beverly. I was kind of sad because I always loved driving out there and being away from everything.

Then a couple of weeks later, Lisa called again. Martin and I were sitting in our living room chairs watching TV. She says “I am tired of doing this.” I asked what she meant. She explained that she was tired of driving to Hankamer and showing people Uncle Paul’s place when she was really wanting to buy it. I half laughed because I mean this place is in the middle of NOWHERE! What would she do with it??? Then came… “I want to buy the 10 acres with the house and pond but only if you will buy the other 15 acres.” Before I could laugh again, Martin said, “get the paperwork written up.” And he was serious.

It had always bothered Martin that we didn’t have land that we could leave to the kids. Why did that bother him so? Is that a man thing?? But this eased his mind tremendously. He wanted to drive out there and sit in the car while we walked around. He just wanted to be there. Christmas came and the best gift we could think of was game cameras so he could see everything going on out there. Too bad his mental capacity was starting to leave him by the time Christmas day came around.

One day in January when mom came to sit with him to give me a break, Lisa and I drove out there to move one of the cameras. Our place is really wooded and that is good so we can have a timber exemption on the tax rolls. Lisa and I were trying to walk over to the bayou which runs on the east side of our land. There was a clearing of trees that I just sat and stared and let the wind hit my face. A peaceful sense of being away from everything. I took a picture of it so that I can show Martin.

When I returned to the hospital I told him about it. I showed him the picture and told him that he would have loved to be there and see it. He immediately started crying. Then I felt terrible. Maybe he knew at that point that he would never have the opportunity to be out there to experience it?

The words to the Buy Dirt song, boy that is hard to listen to. They are all very true to Martin’s life. He worked so hard to make sure we had everything, even the things we didn’t need. He loved what he did and he did call it work. And that allowed me to do my job – which is work but the fun work. We worked hard but we played harder.

I miss him so much. Love you, Martin.

Lyrics

A few days before he turned 80
He was sittin’ out back in a rocker
He said, “What you been up to lately?”
I told him, “Chasing a dollar”
And in between sips of coffee
He poured this wisdom out
Said, “If you want my two cents on making a dollar count

Buy dirt
Find the one you can’t live without
Get a ring, let your knee hit the ground
Do what you love but call it work
And throw a little money in the plate at church
Send your prayers up and your roots down deep
Add a few limbs to your family tree
And watch their pencil marks
And the grass in the yard all grow up”

‘Cause the truth about it is
It all goes by real quick
You can’t buy happiness
But you can buy dirt

Before you get caught on that ladder
Let me tell you what it’s all about
Find you a few things that matter
That you can put a fence around
And then he laid it out

Buy dirt
Find the one you can’t live without
Get a ring, let your knee hit the ground
Do what you love but call it work
And throw a little money in the plate at church
Send your prayers up and your roots down deep
And add a few limbs to your family tree
And watch their pencil marks
And the grass in the yard all grow up

‘Cause the truth about it is
It all goes by real quick
You can’t buy happiness
But you can buy dirt

You can buy dirt
And thank the good Lord for it
‘Cause He ain’t makin’ any more of it

So buy dirt
Find the one you can’t live without
Get a ring, let your knee hit the ground
Do what you love but call it work
And throw a little money in the plate at church
Send your prayers up and your roots down deep
Add a few limbs to your family tree
And watch their pencil marks
And the grass in the yard all grow up

‘Cause the truth about it is
It all goes by real quick
You can’t buy happiness
But you can buy dirt

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Matt Jenkins / Jordan Davis / Joshua Cole Jenkins / Jacob J. Davis

Buy Dirt lyrics © Universal Music Corp., Smackworks Music, Jordan Davis Music, Combustion Five, Big Blue Nation Music, Follow Me Where I Go, Jenktown, Anthem Music Publishing Ii, Bentprop Pub.