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 [Chorus:] She's taken sons to foreign shores Brought some back home to their front porch She' how we come together when the church bell rings A quarter inch on a fold out map Where 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 My first memory is wrapped around Momma walkin' me to my first bus route She thought I didn't notice but 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 [Chorus] [Bridge:] 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 Riding the blacktops hot heatwaves Black boots marchin' through ticker tape A boy from overseas came back to town Today old highway three is hallowed ground [Instrumental fade out ]