Driving through the land of Lincoln always gets me thinking Of the flatlands where I come from and the life I left behind The corn grew high on Grandpa's farm Now they boarded up the barn That way of life from long ago just withered on the vine You can take a girl out of the heartland But you can't take the heartland from the heart Of a flatland girl You can plant your dreams in God's green acre Send 'em to Heaven in a green elevator But prayers don't run a tractor Don't promise the summer rain And I found out when I was young No farmer's day is never done And when the hard times hit the heartland And I had to move away You can take a girl out of the heartland But you can't take the heartland from the heart Of a flatland girl ♪ Then one day from the Windy City In blew a man who could talk too pretty Had a long look and Grandpa shook That's been five years ago Nowadays when I'm up in the land of Lincoln I ask myself, "What were they thinking?" All that's left is a photograph of the flatland fields of home You can take a girl out of the heartland But you can't take the heartland from the heart You can take a girl out of the heartland But you can't take the heartland from the heart Of a flatland girl