Verse: 1 
     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 


[Refrão]
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 


[Refrão]
 
   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 


[Refrão]
 
   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 


[Refrão]

   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