Back Where I Come From

There's a song that was written about the place where I grew up by a man named Mac McAnally. Mac grew up in the same little town as me, but it was about 30 years earlier.

He recorded this song first, I believe, but Kenny Chesney made it popular just a few years ago. Every time I hear this song, I'll admit that I get a little choked up because I can envision everything that Mac was talking about when he put those words down on paper. And while I can admit that I was glad to get out of that stifling, small-town mentality…well, there's always something special about going back.

I am going there today…back to where I come from. I haven't been in months, and it is weird to me that for the first time in years, I really miss that little dot on the map. Oddly enough, I am learning to appreciate the quirks and the narrow minded viewpoints that reside there. This little town has such a simple way of life and the important things are really important.

Now, I am sure I'll have at least one heated discussion with at least one family member about politics or religion or money--I always do. However, these are the people who made me who I am today. This is the place where I learned right from wrong and where all the foundations of my life were established.

Back where I come from is such a special place. I am proud to say that's where I come from.

The words below are the original lyrics to the song:

Back Where I Come From
Written by: Mac McAnally

In the town where I was raised
The clock ticks and the cattle graze
Time passed with Amazing Grace
Back where I come from

Now you can lie on a riverbank
Paint your name on a water tank
Or miscount all the beers you drank
Back where I come from

Back where I come from
Where I'll be when it's said and done
I'm proud as anyone
Back where I come from

We learned in Sunday school
Who made the sun shine through
I know who made the moonshine, too
Back where I come from

Blue eyes on a Saturday night
Tan legs in the broad day light
TV's, they were black and white
Back where I come from

Back where I come from
Where I'll be when it's said and done
I'm proud as anyone
Back where I come from

Some say it's a backward place
Narrow minds on a narrow way
I make it a point to say
That that's where I come from

That's where I come from
Where I'll be when it's said and done
I'm proud as anyone
That's where I come from

Back where I come from
I'm an old Mississippian
And I'm proud as anyone
That's where I come from
That's where I come from
That's where I come from