Mrs. Abernathy Drew the Map

Lyrics

Third-grade room, the radiator ticked
A map pulled down across the board
Mrs. Abernathy tapped a line
Said "Honey, there's a world to explore"
I was the kid who stared out windows
Counting clouds instead of sums
She never said to pay attention
She just said "Show me where you're from"

She drew the map, she drew it wide
Past the fence and the county line
She said "A road is just a promise
You can make it yours in time"
Now I've crossed a thousand borders
And I still hear her voice
Mrs. Abernathy drew the map
And gave a small town girl a choice

She slipped me books with cracked-up spines
Said "Keep them till you're done"
I read them in the pickup bed
Till the last light of the sun
She never asked me where I'd go
Just made me think I could
Some people hand you a compass
And never leave the neighbourhood

She drew the map, she drew it wide
Past the fence and the county line
She said "A road is just a promise
You can make it yours in time"
Now I've crossed a thousand borders
And I still hear her voice
Mrs. Abernathy drew the map
And gave a small town girl a choice

I went back last September
The school was painted blue
Her name was on a plaque
And the plaque was dusted too
I stood there in the hallway
With the dust and the afternoon light
And whispered thank you to the wall
And it felt almost right

She drew the map, she drew it wide
Past the fence and the county line
She said "A road is just a promise
You can make it yours in time"
Now I've crossed a thousand borders
And I still hear her voice
Mrs. Abernathy drew the map
And gave a small town girl a choice

Show me where you're from
Now show me where you'll go