Lyr Req: Old Time Farmer

Subject: Lyr Req: Old Time Farmer
From: SueB
Date: 13 Apr 04 - 05:38 PM

I think this might be a Norman Blake song -

"oh he does the best he can
he's a hardworking man,
the sweat of his brow and the hoe"

that's all I have - any one have the rest?

Thanks in advance,

Suzanne

Subject: Lyr Add: THE BROTHERS (Al Boyce)
From: GEST
Date: 13 Apr 04 - 07:16 PM

Sorry to say, Suzanne, I do not have the rest, but while searching, I came across a very obscure PDF file containing a speech with a song and seven of the same words you referenced buried half way through it. I couldn't help but translate the file into text and put it here for posterity. Who knows? Someday, someone may ask for it and here it will be, thanks to you. :-)

The Brothers by Al Boyce (2002)



There was once a rancher who lived on a stream,
Oh, you seasons roll over.
There was once a rancher who lived on a stream,
With his wife and fine sons he was living a dream;
And the wind will forget why they came.

His cattle were many, his lands they were great,
Oh, you seasons roll over.
His cattle were many, his lands they were great,
With wine in his goblet, and meat on his plate;
And the wind will forget why they came.


Across the wide river, his brother did farm,
Oh, you seasons roll over.
Across the wide river, his brother did farm,
With the sweat of his brow and the strength of his arm;
And the wind will forget why they came.


Oats, hay and barley he drew from the land,
Oh, you seasons roll over.
Oats, hay and barley he drew from the land,
Sold as feed for the cows for sparse tuppence in hand;
And the wind will forget why they came.


He said to his brother, "My babies are wan."
Oh, you seasons roll over.
He said to his brother, "My babies are wan,
With milk from your cows they would grow well again."
And the wind will forget why they came.


"No," the rancher replied, "my milk is for sale."
Oh, you seasons roll over.
"No," the rancher replied, "my milk is for sale,
If you raised cows like me, your child would not grow pale."
And the wind will forget why they came.


"Then your cows shall not eat - I'll not sell you my crop."
Oh, you seasons roll over.
"Then your cows shall not eat - I'll not sell you my crop,
Bugger all with your cows, I shall pray they all drop."
And the wind will forget why they came.


"By God," cried the rancher, "you won't starve my cows."
Oh, you seasons roll over.
"By God," cried the rancher, "you won't starve my cows,
I'll away with my sons and possess all you plow."
And the wind will forget why they came.


So the farmer, by night, crossed the river in plot,
Oh, you seasons roll over.
So the farmer, by night, crossed the river in plot,
And he searched out the herd and he poisoned the lot;
And the wind will forget why they came.


When the rancher discovered his brother's black deed,
Oh, you seasons roll over.
When the rancher discovered his brother's black deed,
He burned all the crops and destroyed all the seed;
And the wind will forget why they came.


They met on the bridge with their hearts filled with dread,
Oh, you seasons roll over.
They met on the bridge with their hearts filled with dread,
They levelled their guns and shot each other dead;
And the wind will forget why they came.


Let us put down our hatred, be brothers instead,
Oh, you seasons roll over.
Let us put down our hatred, be brothers instead,
And in peace live together with milk, meat and bread;
And the wind will forget why they came.

With his wife and fine sons he was living a dream;
And the wind will forget why they came.

edited at request of poster - additional linebreaks removed - joeclone

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Old Time Farmer
From: SueB
Date: 14 Apr 04 - 01:30 PM

Not what I was looking for, no, but I like it. Anybody have a tune for this one?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Old Time Farmer
From: MMario
Date: 14 Apr 04 - 01:44 PM

see also here!

Subject: Lyr Add: OLD TIME FARMER (from Norman Blake)
From: SueB
Date: 14 Apr 04 - 03:41 PM

Okay, I've got it now, but let me just warn you this is a hang down your head and slit your wrists kind of song, so don't read on unless you've taken your medication...

On a poor farm west of town
Charlie Dalton can be found
Living on the land his daddy owned
With his mule team going round
working in hard rocky ground
Just following the plough is all he knows

Chorus:
Oh he does the best he can
He's a hardworking man
By the sweat of his brow and by the hoe
All he really owns is time
In his pockets not a dime
He's an old time farmer

When the summer's hot and dry
And the children they all cry
and the water in the well is getting low
Guess there's cause for alarm
There's a mortgage on his farm
And disappointment everywhere he goes
(Chorus)

Greasy biscuits and black coffee
his wife Kate does provide
In that fading homemade dress that she's sewed
Guess there's not much left to chew
With the children needing shoes
and the winter coming with ice and snow
(chorus)

Now the weathered barn is leaning
there's rust upon the tin
the old home place looks lonesome
in the January wind
Sitting by the dying fire
In his rocking chair
Charlie bows his head and prays to God
for a better crop next year



See what I mean? Love the tune, though.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Old Time Farmer
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 16 Apr 04 - 07:57 AM

Title? Author? Source?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Old Time Farmer
From: SueB
Date: 16 Apr 04 - 09:05 AM

I'm usually wrong about these things, so don't hold me to it, but I believe this is a Norman Blake song - transcribed from a copy of a copy of Blind Dog, so no liner notes to confirm origin, sorry.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Old Time Farmer
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 17 Apr 04 - 04:24 PM

Yes, there is a song called OLD TIME FARMER on the album "Blind Dog" by Norman and Nancy Blake.

I can't find any website that tells me who wrote it, though, or whether it is traditional. The web site of the record label, Rounder Records, seems to be down right now.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Old Time Farmer
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 19 Apr 04 - 09:56 AM

Well, the Rounder site is up now, and it contains a track list for Blind Dog, as well as sound samples, but it doesn't say who wrote OLD TIME FARMER.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Old Time Farmer
From: SueB
Date: 19 Apr 04 - 01:52 PM

According to a search at Amazon.com, Old Time Farmer appears in
The Norman Blake Anthology: Deluxe Edition of Original Songs & Tunes by Old Time Country Musician Norman Blake.

This would appear to suggest that Old Time Farmer was written by Norman Blake himself - maybe in the anthology it tells when, or gives more information.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Old Time Farmer
From: Stewie
Date: 20 Apr 04 - 02:52 AM

I have the 'Blind Dog' album. The insert attributes 'Old Time Farmer' to 'Norman Blake/Nannor Music BMI'.

--Stewie.