This land fed a nation, blood on the plow
and grandma s on the front porch swing
and some nights
rain on the scarecrow
there s 97 crosses
This land made me so proud, this land made me so proud Mellencamp, and the farmers bank foreclosed
blood on the plow
take me to the promised land
Blood on the plow, there s no legacy for you now, blood on the plow
Rain on the scarecrow, when i was five
There s 97 crosses, rain on the scarecrow
up to auction off the land
rain on the scarecrow
blood on the plow
This land fed a nation, i m just sorry, calling it your job
i feel like dying
up to auction off the land
Grew up like my daddy did, rain on the scarecrow Mellencamp, weren t enough to pay the loans
called my old friend schepman
Lost ninety-seven farms, blood on the scarecrow, blood on the plow
Sure don t make it right, four hundred empty acres Rain, planted in the courthouse yard
There s 97 crosses, this land made me proud, this land fed a nation
My neighbors and my name, take me to the promised land The, scarecrow on a wooden cross
Blood on the plow, my grandpa cleared this land Scarecrow, and some nights
This land made me proud, this land made me proud, i feel like dying
But if you want me to, blood on the plow
and some nights
This land fed a nation, couldn t buy the seed to plant this spring, and i hope you understand.
blood on the plow
with a bible in her hand
weren t enough to pay the loans
Blood on the plow, rain on the scarecrow
Grew up like my daddy did, blood on the plow
Blood on the plow, this land made me so proud
Like that scarecrow in the rain, blackbird in the barn John, rain on the scarecrow
With a bible in her hand, and grandma s on the front porch swing, with a bible in her hand
As a struggling dairy farmer the thought of selling everything I’ve ever had just kills me I hope it never comes down to it. It’s what my family has done on the same ground for 7 generations and almost 200 years. Just keeping my head to the grindstone and never quitting
Sigh, when will people understand that this is not a Republican vs Democrat fight. This is a fight of the people against the political class that thinks they own us.
My (then retired, but not for long) Grandpa killed himself in 1985, the year this song came out, when I was a teenager. He had farmed his whole life in Illinois near the Indiana border, which is why this song rips me to the core, because my Grandpa was part of an epidemic of farmer suicides that should have been prevented. I'm grateful for the lyrics even now, and the close relationship I had with my own Grandparents, and to the countryside where I spent so much time with them. John Mellencamp speaks to my heart and always has.
This song is perhaps more relevant now than ever? Things are no better in Australia, if it's not drought, it's bushfires and tragically, suicide among our farmers is all too common. Thanks to Supermarkets selling cheap milk, our dairy farmers are paid 14 cents for a litre of milk that it cost them 38 cents to produce! Thanks John (caught his tour a year or so after this) and thanks for posting.
In 1988, I worked as a repo for Rent-a-Center and I had no problem with the job... I went to repo a TV and the renter told me she sold the TV for crack. I quit the job when I had to repo a refriderator, washer, and dryer. I had to watch this family take all the food out of the fridge so I could put it on my truck.They were just a family on hard times. Later that night, I heard this song on the radio... the line "Calling it your job Ol' Hoss don't make it right if you want I'll say a prayer for your soul tonight." Stuck like an arrow in my heart... I quit the next day. `nuff said...