Emily’s Barn

     You know the phrase: “Were you born in a barn?” Well I wasn’t, quite, but I was sure raised in one.
     With their big timbers and high lofts, southern Ontario’s barns are wonderful and unique, but unfortunately disappearing. Time and neglect are taking their toll, along with changing patterns in farm life. And they’re being replaced with ugly steel sheds and fabric shelters.
     But my mother and grandmother told me stories of their childhood, and the fun they had. And I remember when my own friends would visit and we’d spend a whole day making elaborate forts out of hay-bales, with tunnels and rooms and traps and escapes. Great fun!
     This song is about farm life, and farm people, but it’s impossible to imagine either without there being a barn.

 

Emily’s Barn          112                © 1997 by Dave Hadfield

 

C                                                           F                                                                            

Emily’s barn was up on a hill — to explore the place was a great big thrill

           G                                                              C           G

‘Cause I was still quite young and somewhat quite curious.

          C                                                         F

We’d chase the calves into the stalls, and practice silly rooster calls

        G                                                  C                                                       

And tease the bull until he got quite furious.

        F                                                           C 

And when it rained we’d go upstairs and spend a perfect day

F                                              Dm                 G

Playing tag or making giant castles in the hay,

       C                                            F

But even back at 12 years old, I did not need much to be told

               G                                                                  C                                                                                    

That the best darn thing about Emily’s barn was Emily.

 

                                    [short instr]

 

Emily’s barn was where I’d go when I was old enough to throw

The bales up over my head to those who’d stack them.

We’d clean the barn and spread it wide, ripen up the world outside,

And flex new muscles at all those who lacked them.

Once a year they’d hold a dance upstairs on a Friday night,

And the action there was half of what was going on outside.

Though I found her hard to chase, I never did give up the race,

‘Cause the best darn thing about Emily’s barn was Emily.

 

[short instr]

 

Well here I am a Daddy now, still chasin’ steers and milkin’ cows,

And I just never seem to make much money.

But that’s okay I’ve work to do and though I’d like to make a few

More dollars, every day spent here is honey.

And though my kids come out to help me here or on the land,

What I like is when my sweetie lends a helping hand,

‘Cause when she helps me doin’ chores we lose the kids & lock the doors

And the best darn thing about Emily’s barn’s still Emily.

When she helps me doin’ chores we lose the kids & lock the doors

And the best darn thing about Emily’s barn’s still Emily.

 

 

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