Trouble In The Fields
Words & Music By Nanci Griffith & Rick West
Baby I know that we've got trouble in the fields
When the bankers swarm like locust out there turning away our yield
The trains roll by our silos, silver in the rain
They leave our pockets full of nothing
But our dreams and the golden grain
Have you seen the folks in line downtown at the station
They're all buying their ticket out and talking the great depression
Our parents had their hard times fifty years ago
When they stood out in these empty fields in dust as deep as snow
Chorus:
And all this trouble in our fields
If this rain can fall, these wounds can heal
They'll never take our native soil
But if we sell that new John Deere
And then we'll work these crops with sweat and tears
You'll be the mule I'll be the plow
Come harvest time we'll work it out
There's still a lotta love, here in these troubled fields
There's a book up on the shelf about the dust bowl days
And there's a little bit of you and a little bit of me
In the photos on every page
Now our children live in the city and they rest upon our shoulders
They never want the rain to fall or the weather to get colder
(Repeat chorus)
You'll be the mule I'll be the plow
Come harvest time we'll work it out
There's still a lotta love, here in these troubled fields
2 comments:
How about instead of finding everything we can to complain about and predicting doom and gloom, we admit that we have a lot to be thankful for? Some of us who experienced life in other countries can probably appreciate the safety, acceptance and love we have found here more than those of you who never had it any other way.
Happy Birthday, Edmonton
Happy Thanksgiving, Aaron
Me
I agree with you completely. The reason I posted the lyrics to this song (and find it if you can, it's beautiful!) is because it is filled with quiet hope. Despite whatever comes around, despite the fact that life may be hard or looks to be getting tougher, we can work through it.
A lot of people in the song are packing in, getting outta Dodge, but the "voice" in the song says, "let's hold on. We can work through this."
Obviously the song is also talking about relationships and cultivating love.
This is a time of year to cultivate an attitude of thankfulness, and you bring up a good point: we live in a land of plenty, security, and peace. We have the freedom to express ourselves and make choices about our lives. There is much to be grateful for.
Happy thanksgiving to you and yours.
Aaron
Post a Comment