Natalie Merchant – Dust Bowl

Dust Bowl

I should know to leave them home. They follow me through the store with

these toys I can’t afford. “Kids, take them back, you know better than that.”

Dolls that talk, astronauts, T.V. games, airplanes, they don’t understand and

how can I explain? I try and try but I can’t save. Pennies, nickels, dollars

slip away. I’ve tried and tried but I can’t save.

My youngest girl has bad fever, sure. All night with alcohol trying to

cool and to rub her down. Ruby, I’m tired, try and get some sleep. I’m adding

doctor’s fees to remedies to the cost of three day’s work lost. I try and try

but I can’t save. Pennies, nickels, dollars slip away. I’ve tried and tried but

I can’t save. The hole in my pocketbook is growing.

There’s a new wind blowing they say, it’s gonna be a cold, cold one. So

brace yourselves my darlings, it won’t bring anything much our way but more

dust bowl days.

I played a card in this weeks game. Took the first and the last letters

in three of their names. This lottery’s been building up for weeks. I could be

lucky me with the five million prize, tears of disbelief spilling out of my

eyes. I try and try but I can’t save. Pennies, nickels, dollars slip away. I’ve

tried and tried but I can’t save. The hole in my pocketbook is growing.

There’s a new wind blowing they say, it’s gonna be a cold, cold one. So

brace yourselves my darlings, it won’t bring anything much our way but more

dust bowl days.