THE BARN CAT

[Intro]
Been watchin.
Been watchin the whole time.
You just didn't see me.

[Verse 1]
Sittin on the beam like I paid off the mortgage
Silhouette against the loft, dust in the storage
Barn kids call me Ghost but that ain't quite right
I'm the shadow of the barn, brother, I am the light
Mice hold a meeting, I'm already at the door
Rat gets religion the second he hits the floor
Rancher comes in whistlin, I don't lift a lash
He don't own the barn, I do, I let him crash

[Pre-Chorus]
He puts a bowl down like a peace offering
I don't ever say thanks, I don't say anything
I look at him twice, one for the food, one for the fool
I go back to my beam and I keep it cool

[Chorus]
Barn cat, barn cat
Bootless, badgeless, seven-year contract
Do the collie's job on a quarter of the pay
Rancher counts the herd and forgets my name every day
Barn cat, barn cat
Every farm's got one and every farm's a fact
I'm the reason your grain still exists
So how 'bout a little respect from your beam-blind list

[Verse 2]
Ranch dog's got a name, I got a job description
Farmer's daughter's got a phone with my picture in it
That's the only place I show up soft
Everywhere else I'm the boss of the loft
Coyote come sniffin round the calving pen
I'm the first thing move and the last thing seen
Owl got the daylight, I got the night
Fox got the sneaky, I got the fight

[Pre-Chorus]
Rancher trips on a boot in the tack room floor
I saw it comin, I ain't gonna warn no more
He shoulda listened when I meowed by the door
Now his coffee's cold and his hand's still sore

[Chorus]
Barn cat, barn cat
Bootless, badgeless, seven-year contract
Do the collie's job on a quarter of the pay
Rancher counts the herd and forgets my name every day
Barn cat, barn cat
Every farm's got one and every farm's a fact
I'm the reason your grain still exists
So how 'bout a little respect from your beam-blind list

[Bridge]
You'll bury me under the tree by the creek
'Cause even the men who don't say much know what to keep
And every farm