The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #10451   Message #72441
Posted By: Jon W.
21-Apr-99 - 11:41 AM
Thread Name: ADD: We're Up against It Now (Uncle Dave Macon?)
Subject: Lyr Add: WE'RE UP AGAINST IT NOW
I'm submitting this song because every time I read the paper or watch the news, the first verse and chorus of this go through my mind.

WE'RE UP AGAINST IT NOW
From Mike Seeger: Southern Banjo Sounds

The world is turned upside down, it surely must be true
The way that things are running now proves that to me and you.

Chorus:
We're up against it now,
There's no use to raise a row,
But of all the times I've ever seen
We're sure up against it now.

Since the highway's come, they've taxed the farmer down
The road's so slick his team can't travel and he has to walk to town.

Since the auto's come, mules and horses won't sell,
The farmer's land is mortgaged down and the country's gone to (strum)

A farmer bought him a tractor, he raised quite an alarm,
He only broke one little piece and he had to sell his farm.

(alt chorus:)
We're up against it now,
There's no use to raise a row,
But the safest rig I've ever seen
Is a mule and a bull-tongue plow.

He once was happy as a lark, but now he's down and out.
The auto is the thing they say, that brought this all about.

The farmer who's the one we know, on whom we must depend.
Is up against it with the rest, with troubles to amend.

Mike Seeger indicates in the liner notes that he believes this song was written by Uncle Dave Macon. He (Seeger) got it from a 1920's recording by Macon.