Capo: 4th fret

[Intro]
Em D
Em D C
Em D C
Wo o o

[Verse 1]
Em D C Em D
For sale by owner sign on Highway fifty-nine
Em D C Em D
A signal of the times, a turning of the page
Em D C Em D
There used to be nothing here, but that nothing disappeared
D Em D C Em D
The pond, the barn, the farm, the fields have long since been replaced
C Am Em
Asphalt parking where that ten pew Pentecostal stood
C Am Em
Fast food, four lanes, and a subdivided neighborhood

[Chorus]
G Em
The walls of the world are closin’ in
C
The spreadin’ city spreads us thin
G Am Em D
Till we can’t seem to make our ends meet in the black
G Em
I never would’ve thought it wouldn’t last
C
A way of life that time moved past
G Am Em G
What I wouldn’t give to have… the back forty back

[Instrumental]
Em D
Em D C
Em D C

[Verse 2]
Em D C Em D
Maybe I’m a sucker for knowing who lives next door
Em C Em D
A view from my back porch, a pinch of peace and quiet
Em D C Em D
I can’t get back the used to be’s, so I hang on to the memories
Em C Em D
Of when I could still look up and see the stars not street lights shining

[Chorus]
G Em
The walls of the world are closin’ in
C
The spreadin’ city spreads us thin
G Am Em D
Till we can’t seem to make our ends meet in the black
G Em
I never would’ve thought it wouldn’t last
C
A way of life that time moved past
G Am Em G
What I wouldn’t give to have… the back forty back

[Post-Chorus]
G Em
Now, I get that progress has its place
C
And no regard for what it takes
G Am Em D
Wish it would slow its pace, and cut us all some slack
G Em
‘Cause it’s all changing way too fast
C
A way of life that time moved past
G Am Em G
What I wouldn’t give to have… the back forty back

[Outro]
D C
Em D C
Em D C