C         F         G                  C
Just me and my sister, a dog and a piece of land
   C                F                                 G
My sister’s name is Darlene and the dog is called Cheyenne
    F                  G                    C           F
Our folks both passed away last fall in the fire at the mill
   F           C              G           C
We get by on a garden and whatever we can kill

[Verse 2]
        C                   F             G           C
On the land there stands a cabin that our grandfather built
     C            F                        G
When I’m away to hunt, I feel overrun with guilt
      F              G                   C             F
Cause Darlene’s all alone except for the dog and awful dreams
      F              C               G          C
She’s seven years my younger and I’m only seventeen

[Chorus]
   F                C           F              C
We need to fill the smokehouse, winters coming on
  C       C/B   Am          F                G
I know it isn’t easy, since mom and dad been gone
F               C            F               Am
We will keep on growing, two branches of the tree
C              F                G        C
Hard times are relative when it comes to family

[Verse 3]
       C              F             G                  C
In the morning I was off before the sun had kissed the ridge
 C                  F                                       G
Whistling new Jimmy Rogers tune as I crossed the coal train bridge
 F                G              C          F
Two good days of hunting and an evening all alone
F                    C                 G               C
I’ll quarter up what I take down then pack it all back home

[Verse 4]
   C              F              G         C
My head up in the clouds walking on uneven ground
   C                 F                                G
My boots slipped out beneath me and I came a crashing down
          F          G                        C          F
To the entrance of a cavern, its walls all were wet with moss
   F              C                 G                C
My rifle up there on the ledge said hope was looking lost

[Chorus]
   F                C           F              C
We need to fill the smokehouse, winters coming on
  C       C/B   Am          F                G
I know it isn’t easy, since mom and dad been gone
F               C            F               Am
We will keep on growing, two branches of the tree
C              F                G        C
Hard times are relative when it comes to family

[Verse 5]
      C             F            G                 C
Three nights nearly frozen, my head filled up with doubt
   C                  F                          G
No matter how hard I tried there was no climbing out
   F                   G                   C                F
I yelled for help then prayed the same and even yelled some prayers
F                 C          G                   C
Tears fell at the thought of Darlene with no one there

[Verse 6]
   C             F                 G           C
My mind began to flutter, like the wings of a dove
   C                    F                              C
Coulda sworn that I was dreaming when Darlene appeared above
    F              G          C                      F
She lowered down a rope then tied it to a blackjack tree
F                     C                   G                       C
Cheyenne had found my drag rack trail and brought her straight to me

[Chorus]
   F                C           F              C
We need to fill the smokehouse, winters coming on
  C       C/B   Am          F                G
I know it isn’t easy, since mom and dad been gone
F               C            F               Am
We will keep on growing, two branches of the tree
C              F                G        C
Hard times are relative when it comes to family

[Verse 7]
   C            F              G               C
As proud as any father of this fearless little one
C               F                                 G
Caring for a homestead while most kids are having fun
F              G                        C                F
Smiling on the way back home there were no words I could say
F                  C                  G                           C
Till we stopped to dress the 10 point buck she had shot along the way

[Chorus]
   F                C           F              C
We need to fill the smokehouse, winters coming on
  C       C/B   Am          F                G
I know it isn’t easy, since mom and dad been gone
F               C            F               Am
We will keep on growing, two branches of the tree
C              F                G        C
Hard times are relative when it comes to family