I used to work for Harvester harvester
I used to use my hands
I used to make the tractors and the
combinesCombines that plowed and harvested thisenter deleted
great landenter added
Now I see my handiwork on the block
everywhereEverywhere I turn
And I see the clouds cross the weathered
facesFaces and I watch the harvest burn
I quit
Quit the plant in '57
Had some time for farmin' then
Banks back then was lendin' money
The banker was the farmer's friendenter added
I've seen dog days and dusty days; days
Late spring snow and early fall sleet; sleet
I've held the leather reins in my hands
I'vefelt the soft ground under my feetenter added
Between the hot, dry weather and the taxes
andAnd the Cold War cold war it's been hard to makeenter deleted
ends meet
But I always put kept the clothes on their backs; out backs
Ialways put the shoes on their our feetenter added
My grandson, he comes home from college
He says, "We get the government we deserve"
deserve."
son-in-law Son-in-law just shakes his head and says, says
"That little punk, heenter deleted
never had to serve." serve"

And I sit here in the shadow of suburbia the suburbs
andAnd look out across these empty fields
I sit here in earshot of the bypass and all
nightNight I listen to the rushin' of the wheels
The big
Big boys, they all got computers: computers
gotGot incorporated, too
Me, I just know how to raise things
That was all I ever knewenter added
Now, it all comes down to numbers
Now I'm glad that I have quit
Folks these days just don't do nothin'
simplySimply for the love of itenter added
I went into town of the Fourth fourth of July
Watched 'em parade past the The Union Jack
Watched 'em break out the brass and beatenter deleted
on the drum
One step forward and two steps backenter added
And I saw a sign on Easy Street, easy street
saidSaid, "Be Prepared prepared to Stop." stop"
Pray for the Independent independent, little man
I don't see next year's cropenter added
And I sit here on the back porch in theenter deleted
twilight
And I hear the crickets hum
I sit and watch the lightning in the distance
butBut the showers never comeenter added
I sit here and listen to the wind blow
I sit here and rub my hands
I it here and listen to the clock strike, strike
andAnd I wonder when I'll see myenter deleted
companion again