we packed our few belongings and we moved across the ocean
to start a new life in this land so bold and vast
dispersed from Ellis island, my distant Irish kin
eyes cut to the future, hearts tied to the past
we held tight to our loved ones and we held on to the promise
and scraped our meager living hand to mouth
we prayed to what would have us, every doubting John Thomas spread through Appalachia ever south
spread through Appalachia ever south
and I hear we weren't welcomed here at least not in those days
noone needs our drunken fighting theiven kind
but we settled in this new place and we worked it in our ways
and we spread our kin upon it in due time
spread our kin upon it in due time
and we fought our losing battles and we held on to our ways
and we talk about how we left behind our better days
some were livin lives of leisure some surviving through hand to mouth
bashed our heads against the future ever south
bashed our heads against the future ever south
when i set my sights upon you we were both still in our prime
we were moving in big circles that I sought out to combine
and I held you in my arms and swore eternal love this time
tried to lasso brighter futures, let it drag us both behind
lasso brighter futures n let it drag us both behind
so we aimed our sights westward like so many did before
expanding our horizons to some distant shore
well everyone takes notice of the drawl that leaves our mouth
so no matter where we are we're ever south
no matter where we are we're ever south
and my christian southern bretheren will all tell you all what for
to keep your heathen ways up in you and your shoes outside the door
take your stand for noble causes till you just can't stand no more
and surrender to some savior praise the lord
surrender to some savior praise the lord
but despite our best intentions it pains me to report
we keep swinging for the fences coming up a little short
we sure can get it wrong for someone so devout
I hear you whistling past the graveyard lookin down
whistling past the graveyard lookin down
ever southern in my carriage, ever southern in my stance
from the Irish of my complexion, in the Scottish in my dance
in the way I bang my head against my daily circumstance
let this blue-eyed southern devil take you out upon the prowl
with decadance and the charm, we'll take it into town
tell you stories of our fathers and the glories of our house
always told a little slower ever south
always told a little slower ever south