Meaning of "Sixty Acres" by James McMurtry

The lyrics of "Sixty Acres" explore themes of legacy, inheritance, and the passing of time. The sudden death of the grandmother brings up questions of what to do with the land she left behind. The disparity between the narrator's inherited sixty acres of farmland and their cousin's valuable commercial property highlights the arbitrary nature of inheritance and the feeling of being shortchanged. The narrator's dissatisfaction with farming and the slow rural life speaks to a desire for more excitement and opportunities in life. Overall, the song paints a picture of the complexities and emotions that come with familial legacies and the choices we make in dealing with them.