Image  Tracy (vicinity), California. Missouri family of five who are seven months from the drought area on U.S. Highway 99. “Broke, baby sick, and car trouble!”  Farm Security Administration/Office of War Information Black and White Negatives, U.S. Library of Congress, LC-USF34- 016453-E

Lyrics

In our rusty old truck alongside of the highway
In the Devil’s own corner of the USA
It’s down to fuel or food with our last dollar:
Darling I don’t think we’re having supper today
No darling I don’t think we’re having supper today
Now it’s three weeks gone since we left Muskogee County
Once the locusts finished eating what the sun didn’t fry
We up and hit the road when the banker came a’knocking:
Sorry Mister Banker but the well’s run dry
I’m sorry Mister Banker but the well’s run dry

‘Cause when there ain’t no work and there ain’t no rain
Can you tell me what the hell a simple man’s supposed to do?
When you’re just another wanderer in this ragged wagon train–
Strung out along this highway like a hurricane’s torn through
Strung out along this highway like a hurricane’s torn through

Last night around the fire a preacher said the Bible says
“The Lord insists on kindness for the humble and the sick”
Well I appreciate the sentiment but when I meet my maker, I’ll say:
“Give you A for effort but you didn’t make it stick”
“’ll give you A for effort Lord but you didn’t make it stick”

‘Cause where there ain’t no love and there ain’t no justice
Can you tell me where the hell a simple man’s supposed to go?
When every town is sending cops and Pinkertons to bust us–
Tearing down our camp to send us packing down the road
Tearing down our camp to send us packing down the road

A crying child, a kerosene smell
Driving through these croplands baked into a dusty hell
Broke and sick and hungry, tired to the bone
Just a simple farming family searching for a home
We’re just another simple farming family searching for a home

Copyright 2013 Bryan Kirschner