Nine

I remember nine As if it were yesterday I can hear my friends outside of my window Say, "Can you come out and play?" Anna brought a bag of her mama's cooking spoons So we could dig a big hole, to try to reach China And get there by early noon Our imaginations soared on golden wings Across a sky filled with dreams Any child could wear a paper crown And be a king or queen at nine I remember days of playing without a care Then coming home with sniffles and clothes hanging off me With leaves in my hair Everybody's child belonged to the neighborhood You could tell your troubles to old Aunt Savannah Cause she always understood Running endless through a field Of emerald green beneath a broad Open sky I will treasure all my days when I was innocent and free at nine Runnin' and jumpin' and skippin' and laughin' Rollin' and shakin' and jokin' and hidin' Mother may I, Simon says, you're it, you spit Hide and seek, you peeked, no I didn't, yes you did You're not fair, I don't care, I saw Sammy's underwear Double dutch, kick ball, hop scotch, bobby socks Mary Mack all dressed in black Who is that? Can she play jacks? I'm the doctor, you're the nurse Whatchu' mean, I was first Shovin' and pushin' Cryin' and screamin' Dreamin' and beamin' and dancin' in a line You show me yours, I'll show you mine Ah uh I'm going home it's dinner time... nine