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Rain Follows the Plow

from Earthly Pursuits by Harley String Band

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about

“Rain Follows the Plow” expresses the hubris and hucksterism that propelled the actions that led to the Dust Bowl. It is the title song to Steve Coffee’s song cycle of the same name. See rainfollowstheplow.com

lyrics

Come Hendersons and Heinrichs,
MacAllens and O’Malleys
We’re living off the fat of the land
Our progress won’t be hindered by no
mountains or valleys
for it’s flat as your mama’s frying pan
I like this country fine, I like it mighty good
the wind pumps all the water
and the cow chops all the wood
people try to tell you it’s been dry up till now
but the rain follows the plow
The Great American Desert it soon will be defeated
I heard the Agriculture man say
the soil is the one thing that cannot be depleted
and the climate grows wetter by the day
Don’t listen to the Indians,
they’re a superstitious lot
don’t listen to the cowboys,
they’re a bunch of drunken sots
We’re next year people living in the here and now
and the rain follows the plow
Just use your common sense (the lord shall provide)
the end of innocence (the lord shall provide)
locusts plague and pestilence (the lord shall provide)
and the lord shall provide
and the rain follows the plow
and the rain…
The railroad pushes west, you can ride it for free
sending smoke and steam up to the sky
The nesters break the soil,
plant their crops and trees
and the clouds roll in by and by
Fortune favors folks that roll up their sleeves
next thing you know we’ll bringing in the sheaves
it’s our destiny to take all that nature will allow
and the rain follows the plow
Looks like it might could rain
Sure enough feels like rain
I’d swear I can smell the rain
and the lord shall provide
and the rain follows the plow
and the rain follows the plow

credits

from Earthly Pursuits, released April 1, 2015
©2013 Stephen R Coffee (ASCAP)
Steve Coffee: Guitar, Lead Vocal
Jim Johnson: Banjo, Vocals
Jim Clark: Irish Bouzouki, Vocals

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Harley String Band Fairfax, Virginia

The Harley String Band is a trio of bold singer-songwriters who just happen to favor banjo, mandolin, and bouzouki in support of their adventurous songscapes. Jim, Jim, and Steve are old enough to remember when folk music was considered important and relevant, and they work to meet that expectation. ... more

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