The Great Depression - Carlisle Willi Lyrics
The Great Depression
There is trouble in the darksome sky, he saw it as a boy
From great-grandad's covered wagon, from the crux of Illinois
For the promise of the daffodils amongst the hard limestone
They carved the die of fortune out of buffalo bones
[Chorus]
They all wandered o'er the salty seas the prairies wide and more
Just to make a foolish man like me that's darkenin' your door
If the Great Depression made us, therе is no need to despair
[Verse 2]
From the needle-prickin' mothers who were never taught to read
To the barefoot hungry soldiers that enlisted at sixteen
Oh in my dumb debasement, I still find great relief
That on the lam and on the dole they counted themselves free
[Chorus]
I have hustled towards the overpass to sleep there in the rain
I have settled with my pocketknife and carved out all their names
If the Great Depression made us, there is no need to despair
I won't waste a single moment of the work that brought me here
[Verse 3]
From the jailhouse on the border, to the hold beneath the ship
To the weed-fields out in Oregon, to the first night that we kissed
From the dungeon of the coalmine to the brightest factory floor
To win our kin a better life is still worth dying for
[Chorus]
I still cry my eyes out every time I dare to touch the spirit
And if this is our small lot in life I'll love it like I mean it
The blood is strong with victory that brought us our despair
I won't waste a single moment of the love that's buried here
If the great depression made us, there is no need to despair
I won't waste a single moment of the love that brought me here