[Verse 1]

Six long weeks at Fort Polk grindin’ through the pain

Mud on my boots, sweat fallin’ like rain

Drill sergeant barkin’, sun beatin’ down hard

But I earned that badge, yeah, I earned those scars

Graduation day, heart poundin’ with pride

Threw my gear in the trunk, took that Mustang for a ride

[Verse 2]

Rolled into Leesville, neon buzzin’ low

Local bar lit up like a backwoods rodeo

Laid some quarters down for a game of pool

Didn’t take long ‘fore tempers lost their cool

Pool cue cracked across my back, fight broke free

Then a voice shouted, “Come on, soldier, run with me!”

[Chorus]

Now I’m runnin’ with the moon down a backroad line

Engine roarin’ loud, whiskey leavin’ my mind

Hit the Lake Vernon spillway under starlit skies

Two girls laughin’, shinin’ in the water’s light

And that’s when I first saw those blue eyes shine

Lord, I love that Ana-coco girl of mine

[Verse 3]

Miracle—yeah, that’s what they call her name

Golden hair and a smile that could tame a flame

We talked ‘til dawn, then the next day flew

Waterskiin’, laughin’, skies so blue

Three more weekends, my heart gave in

Dropped to one knee — she gave me a grin

[Chorus]

Now I’m holdin’ her hand in the sweet sunshine

Feelin’ like I crossed that finish line

She whispered “yes,” and the stars aligned

But I shipped out fast to Saudi in no time

Wrote her letters every night from the front line

Thinkin’ ‘bout that Ana-coco girl of mine

[Bridge]

Six months of sand, six months alone

But her words felt like I’d never left home

She said, “I’ll wait, no matter how far”

Love don’t fade when it’s written in the stars

Came home in dress blues, heart beatin’ fast

Met her at the gates — no lookin’ back

[Verse 4]

We wed at St. Michael’s, the pews all full

Her daddy cried, said, “Boy, treat her beautiful”

A year went by, heard a newborn cry

Blond curls, blue eyes, just like her mama’s smile

Built a house in Ana-coco by the pine

And every day I thank the Lord she’s mine

[Final Chorus – Emotional Swell]

Yeah, I’m sittin’ on the porch as the sun unwinds

Rockin’ that baby girl to sleep in time

Got a heart full of peace and a life that shines

Because I married that Ana-coco girl of mine

Through the fire, the distance, and the sands of time

I’ll always love that Ana-coco girl of mine

[Outro – Soft Instrumental Fade with Repeat Line]

I’ll always love… that Ana-coco girl of mine.

Copyright July 31, 2025, by Stephen Craig Whitley – All Rights Reserved