Don't Fence Me In

I shot this picture early in the morning while the sun was rising just between the barn across from my house and House Mountain. I focused in on a strand of barbed wire just to see what kind of photo it would make. Looking at it reminds me of the many times in life that a fence has stood in my way.

Growing up in rural East, TN, I saw more than my fair share of fences. Seems I was always going over, under, or in-between one of some kind. My papaw kept cows, horses, and mules, so all of his property was fenced in. I was taught the art of fence crossing at a very early age. I can still remember my dad showing me how to properly push down the middle strand of wire, slightly bend down, throw one leg through and then follow with the other, all without getting caught up in a barb or cutting myself. I was pretty doggone good at it too!

As I got older I started climbing the fence and jumping from the top strand. I always climbed close to the post, holding onto it as I ascended and pushing myself off. Eventually I got too heavy to climb the wires because they would break. Take it from the voice of experience, you don't want to be on the top strand of a barbed wire fence when it breaks...

Some of my least favorite fences to cross were electric fences. Papaw had a few of those up too. There was usually a place designated with a piece of rubber hose that you would hold onto in order to cross over. I can remember one time I was walking with papaw through a field and we came upon an electric fence. He just stepped over it without any problem. Well, I decided to imitate his actions. So, I grabbed ahold of the metal fence post and threw my right leg over the thin strand of metal wire. Needles to say, my short little fat legs weren't long enough to clear the fence and I straddled it. You talk about going for a ride! I was holding onto that metal pole with all of my might and that electric fence was just eating me up between the legs. My papaw was standing there laughing at me like it was the funniest thing he had ever seen in his life, and it probably was. But, it was none too funny to me! Finally I either fell off or he pulled me off, but I remember sitting on the ground on the other side of that fence, thinking that I had just narrowly escaped death. I remember papaw saying, "you won't do that anymore." Wow, what words of wisdom...

There is an old song that I remember my dad singing when I was a kid, called, "Don't Fence Me In." I never gave that song much thought until I got older and actually listened to the lyrics. It's not real deep or anything but it sure rings true with me.

Don't Fence Me In
Words and music by Cole Porter© & Robert Fletcher

"Oh give me land, lots of land under starry skies above...Don't fence me in
Let me ride through the wide open country that I love...Don't fence me in
Let me be by myself in the evening breeze, Listen to the murmur of the cottonwood trees, Send me off forever but I ask you please...Don't fence me in"

"Just turn me loose, let me straddle my old saddle, underneath the western skies
On my cay-use, let me wander over yonder, till I see the mountains rise.
I want to ride to the ridge, where the West commences, gaze at the moon till I lose my senses; Can't look at hobbles and I can't stand fences...Don't fence me in."