Fifty Miles Of Elbow Room - Iris DeMent

Twelve-hundred miles, it’s length and breadth

That four-square city stands

It’s gem-set walls of jasper shine

They’re not made by human hands

One-hundred miles, it’s gates are wide

Abundant entrance there

With fifty miles of elbow room

On either side to spare

When the gates swing wide on the other side

Just beyond the sunset sea

There’ll be room to spare as we enter there

There’ll be room for you and room for me

For the gates are wide on the other side

Where the fairest flowers bloom

On the right hand and on the left hand

Fifty miles of elbow room

Sometimes I’m cramped and I’m crowded here

And I long for elbow room

Now I long to reach for altitude

Where the fairest flowers bloom

It won’t be long before I pass

Into that city fair

With fifty miles of elbow room

On either side to spare