This is the first song I wrote since the age of 12. The lyrics mirror some true stories of some of the farmers I know. It is a hard look at the realities of farming. There is a saying "Never have so few fed so many for so little". This is the gospel truth. When you're counting your blessings, don't forget all of the very skilled, hardworking farmers who give up riches to be able to work closely with the earth - we owe them a lot! - N.
Vs. 1:
This old house broke down
Ah but the stories it could tell
Of happiness and heartbreak
And sometimes living hell
Of family once gathered round
The kitchen table nights
Of good natured arguments
And dinners by candlelight
Vs. 2:
With children and with animals
Horses, cows and dogs
They strove to raise their family
Contained within these walls
Outside they did work the land
They plowed, they mowed, they hayed
At the mercy of the weather
For rain often they'd pray
Chorus 1:
With broken windows in the barn
The cows they still come home
Putting countless hours in the farm
They're weary to the bone
Vs. 3:
Both farmer and mechanic,
Welder and a vet,
Magician and a weatherman
A hundrend thousand bucks in debt
The well pump's fried needs to be pulled
The house roof it still leaks
The cows are out in the road
And a heiffer's wrecked a jeep
Vs. 4:
With broken down equipment
And trying to make things right
Their daughter ran off drinking
With a boy one Friday night
The phone call said "an accident"
Though it looked like she'd survive
Their hearts were pounding frantically
Thank God she was alive
Chorus 2:
Putting countless hours in the farm
they try to make a go
in rain and snow and wind and sleet
in the fields at 20 below
Vs. 5:
Looking through the curtains
As folks they drive right past
Imagine peaceful country life
And times that aren't so fast
What they see is all imagined
Pretty pictures so unreal
Gives a false sense of security
'Cause all they know is what they feel
Chorus 3:
Ah but they don't know of hay lung
From all the dust the farmers breath
All they know is that they like
Fresh milk and cream and cheese
Vs 6:
This old house broke down
Ah but the stories it could tell
Of happiness and heartbreak
And sometimes living hell
Of family once gathered round
The kitchen table nights
Of good natured arguments
And dinners by candle light