Scarecrow on a wooden cross Blackbird in the barn Four hundred empty acres that used to be my farm I grew up like my daddy did My grandpa cleared this land When I was five I walked the fence while grandpa held my hand
Rain on the scarecrow Blood on the plow This land fed a nation This land made me proud And Son I'm just sorry there's no legacy for you now Rain on the scarecrow Blood on the plow Rain on the scarecrow Blood on the plow
The crops we grew last summer weren't enough to pay the loans Couldn't buy the seed to plant this spring and the Farmers Bank foreclosed Called my old friend Schepman up to auction off the land He said John it's just my job and I hope you understand Hey calling it your job ol' hoss sure don't make it right But if you want me to I'll say a prayer for your soul tonight And grandma's on the front porch swing with a Bible in her hand Sometimes I hear her singing 'Take me to the Promised Land' When you take away a man's dignity he can't work his fields and cows
There'll be blood on the scarecrow Blood on the plow Blood on the scarecrow Blood on the plow
Well there's ninety-seven crosses planted in the courthouse yard Ninety-seven families who lost ninety-seven farms I think about my grandpa and my neighbors and my name And some nights I feel like dyin' Like that scarecrow in the rain
Rain on the scarecrow Blood on the plow This land fed a nation This land made me proud And Son I'm just sorry they're just memories for you now Rain on the scarecrow Blood on the plow Rain on the scarecrow Blood on the plow
Rain on the scarecrow Blood on the plow This land fed a nation This land made me proud And Son I'm just sorry they're just memories for you now Rain on the scarecrow Blood on the plow Rain on the scarecrow Blood on the plow