The Roots Beneath the Nine

Lyrics

[Verse 1] There's a scent of pine on the winter wind And a dirt road climbing where the hills begin Some men build a life with their own two hands Up in Schuylkil l County on Knittle's land They called him Sonny, Harry's son And that name fit him like the morning sun [Chorus] Daddy, you gave us shelter Gave us room to grow and climb Your quiet strength, your sacrifice Built the Council of Nine We each hold you our own way But we hold you all the same [Verse 2] He worked with Butch before the dawn Rows of spruce till the light was gone Hauled that anthracite through Pottsville streets Black dust on his hands, cold beneath his feet Every load was God's own training For the bigger road ahead [Chorus] Daddy, you gave us shelter Gave us room to grow and climb Your quiet strength, your sacrifice Built the Council of Nine We each hold you our own way But we hold you all the same [Bridge] Then came Pottstown, a house so full Six girls, three boys, three sets of twins He never asked for a lighter load He just found more strength within [Verse 3] Now we're grown and scattered wide But we carry you inside In a quick joke and a steady hand In the way you taught us how to stand Every Christmas tree we trim Brings us back to you again [Chorus] Daddy, you're still our shelter Still the hand that helped us climb Your quiet strength, your sacrifice Lives on in the Council of Nine We each hold you our own way But we hold you all the same [Outro] Rest now, Sonny, the work is done Your trees still reach up toward the sun And we'll carry you, every one