It was one lane in and one lane out
A country road they built around
A general store and last stop for gasoline
A paved carpet where we rode our bikes
How the mail came in and how our town survived
A hundred miles from the city's cold concrete
Yeah, 'round here old rural route number three
Is more than just a crossing for tumbleweeds
She's taken sons to foreign shores
Brought some back home to their front porch
She's how we come together when the church bell rings
A quarter inch on a fold-out map
How we live, love, cry and laugh
I hope my kids can grow up just like me
On a country road like rural route number three
The first memory I do recall
Is momma walkin' with me to my first bus stop
She thought I didn't notice but I saw her cry
A place we parked and fogged windows
A way to college and Christmas back home
The shoulder I broke down on when a good friend died
She's taken sons to foreign shores
Brought some back home to their front porch
She's how we come together when the church bell rings
A quarter inch on a fold-out map
How we live, love, cry and laugh
I hope my kids can grow up just like me
On a country road like rural route number three
The sun is hot, our flag it waves
We've dreamed for years about this day
When we'd take those five yellow ribbons down
And riding the blacktops hot heatwaves
Black boots marchin' through ticker tape
Our boys from overseas are back in town
Yeah, today old highway three is hallowed ground
