Back in the 80's, when unemployment in this country was running at around 15% - ah, those wonderful Thatcher years! - I spent a couple of weeks as a casual labourer on a farm when I couldn't find anything in my chosen field....no pun intended. It turned out to be back-breaking work for a pittance of pay, and I lasted a day less than two weeks....I couldn't afford bus fares, so I ended up walking to work and walking home every night after spending the day working in the fields in the pouring rain. 18 miles walk every day and ten hours hard labour....and they think they have it tough in prison!
A Farmer's Life.
Well dad left home a while ago,
Seems he ain't coming home,
The crops are ripe and ready for reaping,
And the bank's foreclosing our loans.
Seven of us pulling together,
Trying to keep things straight,
Four brothers and three sisters,
Aged between eighteen and eight.
When grandad died he left this farm,
To mum in his will,
She's struggled like a fish out of water,
To pay the mortgage and bills.
Seven of us pulling together,
Trying to help our mum,
Seems the more we try to do,
The less we get done.
I'm ten years old and I don't know,
Just what I want to be,
But there's one thing I know for sure,
The farmer's life ain't for me.
The weeds are strangling the corn,
And the tractor's broken again,
The hay is rotting in the fields,
And we're struggling in the rain.
Seven of us trying hard,
To keep our family afloat,
We're losing faith and shipping water,
Be lucky to keep our coats....
Well there's nothing more that we can do,
The crops failed once again,
The bank's foreclosed as promised,
Our loss is their gain.
They'll sell our home and throw us out,
The bailiff's due today,
No point standing on our rights,
And nothing more to say.
Except...I'm just turned eleven years old,
and I don't know what I want to be,
But there's one thing I know for sure,
The farmer's life ain't for me.
Gonna work real hard, gonna make some money,
Got to help my family,
Got to get through school and get a job,
But one thing I know.......
A farmer's life aint for me.
"Sometimes the beauty of music can help us all find strength to deal with all the curves life can throw us." (D. Hodge.)
My first job was picking radishes on what we call a truck farm. Took home about $20 a week and worked pretty hard.
Nice read. Please put it to music.
I agree that it's a nice read. I wouldn't change anything unless the lyrics get in the way of the tune.
Renee
Hi Vic,
Nice work on the details. :D
Suggestion: Switch verse 1 and 2 so it fits better chronologically (grandpa giving land before dad leaves)......either that, or cut out v2 completely.....which might help the timing; depending on the tempo.
Thanks for sharing. :wink:
James
Suggestion: Switch verse 1 and 2 so it fits better chronologically (grandpa giving land before dad leaves)......either that, or cut out v2 completely.....which might help the timing; depending on the tempo.
Good idea, James, and thank you....I've taken you up on that, and also moved the 2nd chorus....as follows....I think it reads better now.
A Farmer's Life. (revised version.)
When grandad died he left this farm,
To mum in his will,
She's struggled like a fish out of water,
To pay the mortgage and bills.
Seven of us pulling together,
Trying to help our mum,
Seems the more we try to do,
The less we get done.
Well dad left home a while ago,
Seems he ain't coming home,
The crops are ripe and ready for reaping,
And the bank's foreclosing our loans.
Seven of us pulling together,
Trying to keep things straight,
Four brothers and three sisters,
Aged between eighteen and eight.
I'm ten years old and I don't know,
Just what I want to be,
But there's one thing I know for sure,
The farmer's life ain't for me.
The weeds are strangling the corn,
And the tractor's broken again,
The hay is rotting in the fields,
And we're struggling in the rain.
Seven of us trying hard,
To keep our family afloat,
We're losing faith and shipping water,
Be lucky to keep our coats....
Well there's nothing more that we can do,
The crops failed once again,
The bank's foreclosed as promised,
Our loss is their gain.
They'll sell our home and throw us out,
The bailiff's due today,
No point standing on our rights,
And nothing more to say.
Except...I'm just turned eleven years old,
and I don't know what I want to be,
But there's one thing I know for sure,
The farmer's life ain't for me.
Gonna work real hard, gonna make some money,
Got to help my family,
Got to get through school and get a job,
But one thing I know.......
A farmer's life aint for me
:D :D :D
Vic.
"Sometimes the beauty of music can help us all find strength to deal with all the curves life can throw us." (D. Hodge.)
