You come in the house for dinner and you wash your face and hands in a pan
Throw the water out the backdoor and you throw in on a chicken if you can
Smellin' all the cookin' and wishin' that the blessin' would end
Oh I wish that I could smell it but you can't go back again

Sittin' on the front porch listenin' to the katydids sing
The kids are catchin' lightin' bugs and make little shiny diamond rings
The folks are tryin' to figure how the Wheelers and Higgins are kin
Wish that I could hear 'em tell it but you can't go back again

Oh the kindlin's all cut and it's stacked there a waitin' to burn
There's a ring on the floor where the cream leaked out of the churn

Everybody's talkin' bout the news that's a goin' around
Charlie Finch's daughter got in trouble and she had to leave town
Mama's washin' dishes and she's got a pair of britches to mend
Wish that I could watch her do it but you can't go back again

Oh the kindlin's all cut and it's stacked...
Everybody's talkin' bout the news...
Oh I wish that I could watch her but you can't go back again