Verse 1: Male

That orange cat came limping up the gravel drive

One torn ear, one green eye, still proud to be alive

He stole a piece of cornbread from the windowsill

Then curled beside the woodstove like he owned the hill

Verse 2: Female

I called him Rusty, though he never came on cue

He slept in Dad’s old tackle box and watched the morning dew

When the feed-store truck rolled past, he’d race it to the gate

Like every road in Tennessee was his to navigate

Chorus: Duet

Hey, Rusty, keep your wild heart

You found our porch and made it home

Through the hard rain and the long miles

You were never ours alone

Hey, Rusty, when the day turns cold

There’s a place beside the stove

You came in from the county road