Battle Hymn of the Republic
Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored,
He has loosed the fateful lightening of His terrible swift sword
His truth is marching on.
I have seen Him in the watch-fires of a hundred circling camps
They have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and damps
I can read His righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps
His day is marching on.
I have read a fiery gospel writ in burnished rows of steel,
“As ye deal with my contemners, so with you my grace shall deal;”
Let the Hero, born of woman, crush the serpent with his heel
Since God is marching on.
He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat
He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment-seat
Oh, be swift, my soul, to answer Him! be jubilant, my feet!
Our God is marching on.
In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,
With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me:
As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free,
While God is marching on.
Talking Dust Bowl Blues by Woody Guthrie
Back in Nineteen Twenty-Seven,
I had a little farm and I called that heaven.
Well, the prices up and the rain come down,
And I hauled my crops all into town -I got the money, bought clothes and groceries,
Fed the kids, and raised a family.
Rain quit and the wind got high,
And the black ol' dust storm filled the sky.
And I swapped my farm for a Ford machine,
And I poured it full of this gas-i-line -And I started, rockin' an' a-rollin',
Over the mountains, out towards the old Peach Bowl.
Way up yonder on a mountain road,
I had a hot motor and a heavy load,
I's a-goin' pretty fast, there wasn't even stoppin',
A-bouncin' up and down, like popcorn poppin' -Had a breakdown, sort of a nervous bustdown of some kind,
There was a feller there, a mechanic feller,
Said it was en-gine trouble.
Way up yonder on a mountain curve,
It's way up yonder in the piney wood,
An' I give that rollin' Ford a shove,
An' I's a-gonna coast as far as I could -Commence coastin', pickin' up speed,
Was a hairpin turn, I didn't make it.
Man alive, I'm a-tellin' you,
The fiddles and the guitars really flew.
That Ford took off like a flying squirrel
An' it flew halfway around the world -Scattered wives and childrens
All over the side of that mountain.
We got out to the West Coast broke,
So dad-gum hungry I thought I'd croak,
An' I bummed up a spud or two,
An' my wife fixed up a tater stew -We poured the kids full of it,
Mighty thin stew, though,
You could read a magazine right through it.
Always have figured
That if it'd been just a little bit thinner,
Some of these here politicians
Coulda seen through it.
Hard Travelin' by Wood Guthrie
I've been havin' some hard travelin', I thought you knowed
I've been havin' some hard travelin', way down the road
I've been havin' some hard travelin', hard ramblin', hard gamblin'
I've been havin' some hard travelin', lord
I've been ridin' them fast rattlers, I thought you knowed
I've been ridin' them flat wheelers, way down the road
I've been ridin' them blind passengers, dead-enders, kickin' up cinders
I've been havin' some hard travelin', lord
I've been hittin' some hard-rock minin', I thought you knowed
I've been leanin' on a pressure drill, way down the road
Hammer flyin', air-hose suckin', six foot of mud and I shore been a muckin'
And I've been hittin' some hard travelin', lord
I've been hittin' some hard harvestin', I thought you knowed
North Dakota to Kansas City, way down the road
Cuttin' that wheat, stackin' that hay, and I'm tryin' make about a dollar a day
And I've been havin' some hard travelin', lord
I've been working that Pittsburgh steel, I thought you knowed
I've been a dumpin' that red-hot slag, way down the road
I've been a blasting, I've been a firin', I've been a pourin' red-hot iron
I've been hittin' some hard travelin', lord
I've been layin' in a hard-rock jail, I thought you knowed
I've been a laying out 90 days, way down the road
Damned old judge, he said to me, "It's 90 days for vagrancy."
And I've been hittin' some hard travelin', lord
I've been walking that Lincoln highway, I thought you knowed,
I've been hittin' that 66, way down the road
Heavy load and a worried mind, lookin' for a woman that's hard to find,
I've been hittin' some hard travelin', lord
The Ballad of Tom Joad by Woody Guthrie
Tom Joad got out of the old McAlester Pen;
There he got his parole.
After four long years on a man killing charge,
Tom Joad come a-walkin' down the road, poor boy,
Tom Joad come a-walkin' down the road.
Tom Joad, he met a truck driving man;
There he caught him a ride.
He said, "I just got loose from McAlester Pen
On a charge called homicide,
A charge called homicide."
That truck rolled away in a cloud of dust;
Tommy turned his face toward home.
He met Preacher Casey, and they had a little drink,
But they found that his family they was gone,
He found that his family they was gone.
He found his mother's old fashion shoe,
Found his daddy's hat.
And he found little Muley and Muley said,
"They've been tractored out by the cats,
They've been tractored out by the cats."
Tom Joad walked down to the neighbor's farm,
Found his family.
They took Preacher Casey and loaded in a car,
And his mother said, "We've got to get away."
His mother said, "We've got to get away."
Now, the twelve of the Joads made a mighty heavy load;
But Grandpa Joad did cry.
He picked up a handful of land in his hand,
Said: "I'm stayin' with the farm till I die.
Yes, I'm stayin' with the farm till I die."
They fed him short ribs and coffee and soothing syrup;
And Grandpa Joad did die.
They buried Grandpa Joad by the side of the road,
Grandma on the California side,
They buried Grandma on the California side.
They stood on a mountain and they looked to the west,
And it looked like the promised land.
That bright green valley with a river running through,
There was work for every single hand, they thought,
There was work for every single hand.
The Joads rolled away to the jungle camp,
There they cooked a stew.
And the hungry little kids of the jungle camp
Said: "We'd like to have some, too."
Said: "We'd like to have some, too."
Now a deputy sheriff fired loose at a man,
Shot a woman in the back.
Before he could take his aim again,
Preacher Casey dropped him in his track, poor boy,
Preacher Casey dropped him in his track.
They handcuffed Casey and they took him in jail;
And then he got away.
And he met Tom Joad on the old river bridge,
And these few words he did say, poor boy,
These few words he did say.
"I preached for the Lord a mighty long time,
Preached about the rich and the poor.
Us workin' folkses, all get together,
'Cause we ain't got a chance anymore.
We ain't got a chance anymore."
Now, the deputies come, and Tom and Casey run
To the bridge where the water run down.
But the vigilante thugs hit Casey with a club,
They laid Preacher Casey on the ground, poor Casey,
They laid Preacher Casey on the ground.
Tom Joad, he grabbed that deputy's club,
Hit him over the head.
Tom Joad took flight in the dark rainy night,
And a deputy and a preacher lying dead, two men,
A deputy and a preacher lying dead.
Tom run back where his mother was asleep;
He woke her up out of bed.
An' he kissed goodbye to the mother that he loved,
Said what Preacher Casey said, Tom Joad,
He said what Preacher Casey said.
"Ever'body might be just one big soul,
Well it looks that a-way to me.
Everywhere that you look, in the day or night,
That's where I'm a-gonna be, Ma,
That's where I'm a-gonna be.
Wherever little children are hungry and cry,
Wherever people ain't free.
Wherever men are fightin' for their rights,
That's where I'm a-gonna be, Ma.
That's where I'm a-gonna be."
The Ghost of Tom Joad by Bruce Springsteen
Men walkin' 'long the railroad tracks
Goin' someplace there's no goin' back
Highway patrol choppers comin' up over the ridge
Hot soup on a campfire under the bridge
Shelter line stretchin' 'round the corner
Welcome to the new world order
Families sleepin' in their cars in the Southwest
No home no job no peace no rest
The highway is alive tonight
But nobody's kiddin' nobody about where it goes
I'm sittin' down here in the campfire light
Searchin' for the ghost of Tom Joad
He pulls a prayer book out of his sleeping bag
Preacher lights up a butt and takes a drag
Waitin' for when the last shall be first and the first shall be last
In a cardboard box 'neath the underpass
Got a one-way ticket to the promised land
You got a hole in your belly and gun in your hand
Sleeping on a pillow of solid rock
Bathin' in the city aqueduct
The highway is alive tonight
Where it's headed everybody knows
I'm sittin' down here in the campfire light
Waitin' on the ghost of Tom Joad
Now Tom said "Mom, wherever there's a cop beatin' a guy
Wherever a hungry newborn baby cries
Where there's a fight 'gainst the blood and hatred in the air
Look for me Mom I'll be there
Wherever there's somebody fightin' for a place to stand
Or decent job or a helpin' hand
Wherever somebody's strugglin' to be free
Look in their eyes Mom you'll see me."
Well the highway is alive tonight
But nobody's kiddin' nobody about where it goes
I'm sittin' down here in the campfire light
With the ghost of old Tom Joad
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime, lyrics by Yip Harburg, music by Jay Gorney
(1931)
They used to tell me I was building a dream, and so I followed the mob,
When there was earth to plow, or guns to bear, I was always there right on the job.
They used to tell me I was building a dream, with peace and glory ahead,
Why should I be standing in line, just waiting for bread?
Once I built a railroad, I made it run, made it race against time.
Once I built a railroad; now it's done. Brother, can you spare a dime?
Once I built a tower, up to the sun, brick, and rivet, and lime;
Once I built a tower, now it's done. Brother, can you spare a dime?
Once in khaki suits, gee we looked swell,
Full of that Yankee Doodly Dum,
Half a million boots went slogging through Hell,
And I was the kid with the drum!
Say, don't you remember, they called me Al; it was Al all the time.
Why don't you remember, I'm your pal? Buddy, can you spare a dime?
Once in khaki suits, gee we looked swell,
Full of that Yankee Doodly Dum,
Half a million boots went slogging through Hell,
And I was the kid with the drum!
Say, don't you remember, they called me Al; it was Al all the time.
Say, don't you remember, I'm your pal? Buddy, can you spare a dime?
Barbara Ellen by Mrs. Mary Sullivan (5th of 5)
AFS 4121a3
Mrs. Sullivan
Shafter, 1940
All in the merry month of May
When the green buds they were swellin'
Young Jimmy Gray on his deathbed lay
For love of Barbrew Ellen.
He sent his men unto them then
To the town where she was dwellin'
Saying, you must to my master come
If your name be Barbrew Ellem.
For death is printed on his face
And o'er his heart is stealin'
Oh you must you must come to him
Oh lovely Barbrew Ellen.
Nine Little Devils by Estella Spurlock (2nd of 4)
AFS 4090b1
Estella Spurlock
Arvin, 1940
Early one morning I went out to plow
(Yodel) I went out to plow
With an old blind ox and an old blind cow
(Yodel) an old blind cow.
Ol' daddy, the devil, he came to my plow
(Yodel) he came to my plow
Says one your family I'm after right now
(Yodel) I'm after right now.
Oh, leave my oldest son to plow
(Yodel) my son to plow
It's the wife of yours I'm after right now
(Yodel) I'm after right now.
He slung her over acrost his back
(Yodel) acrost his back
Her old long legs went wiggledy-wack
(Yodel) went wiggeldy-wack.
He carried her on and sat down to rest
(Yodel) and sat down to rest
She up with her foot and kicked him her best
(Yodel) and kicked him her best.
He carried her 'bout half of the road
(Yodel) 'bout half of the road
And says, Old woman you're a heavy load
(Yodel) you're a heavy load.
He carried her on to the devil's den
(Yodel) to the devil's den
There was her prisoner tied up with a chain
(Yodel) tied up with a chain.
The nine little devils peeped over the wall
(Yodel) peeped over the wall
Says, Take her back daddy she'll murder us all
(Yodel) she'll murder us all.
Early one morning I peeked out a crack
(Yodel) peeked out a crack
And saw the old devil come wagging her back
(Yodel) come wagging her back.
Oh, Daddy why did you return so soon
(Yodel) return so soon
She swept up hell and burnt up the broom
(Yodel) and burnt up the broom.
Now men you see what women can do
(Yodel) what women can do
They murder their men and the devil too
(Yodel) and the devil too.
Old Sunny Cal
Jack Bryant
Firebaugh, 1940
You've all heard the story
Of old Sunny Cal
The place where it never rains
They say it don't know how.
They say, "Come on, you Okies,
Work is easy found
Bring along your cotton pack
You can pick the whole year round.
Get your money ever' night
Spread your blanket on the ground
It' s always bright and warm
You can sleep right on the ground."
But listen to me Okies
I came out here one day
Spent all my money getting here
Now I can't get away.
Bruce Springsteen
“Old Dan Tucker”
Old Dan Tucker was a fine old man,
Washed his face in a fryin' pan,
Combed his head with a wagon wheel,
Died with a toothache in his heel
So get out the way, old Dan Tucker,
It's too late to get your supper
Supper's over and dinner is cookin',
Old Dan Tucker just standin' there lookin'
Old Dan Tucker come to town
Swingin' the ladies round and round
First to the right, then to the left,
Then to the one that you love best
Old Dan Tucker clumb a tree
His Lord and master for to see
The limb it broke and he had a fall,
Never got to see his Lord at all
Old Dan Tucker come to town,
Riding a billy goat, leading a hound
The hound dog barked and the billy goat jumped
And it threw old Dan right over a stump
Old Dan Tucker was a fine old man,
Washed his face in a fryin' pan,
Combed his head with a wagon wheel,
Died with a toothache in his heel
So get out the way, old Dan Tucker,
It's too late to get your supper
Supper's over and the dishes are washed
All that's left is a piece of squash
MY OKLAHOMA HOME
When they opened up the strip I was young and full of zip
I wanted some place to call my home
And so I made the race and I staked me out a place
And settled down along the Cimarron
It blowed away (blown away), it blowed away (blown away)
My Oklahoma home, it blown away
Well it looked so green and fair when I built my shanty there
My Oklahoma home, it blown away
Well I planted wheats and oats, got some chickens and some shoats
Aimed to have some ham and eggs to feed my face
Got a mule to pull the plow, I got an old red muley cow
And I also got a fancy mortgage on this place
Well it blowed away (blown away), it blowed away (blown away)
All the crops that I've planted blown away
Well you can't grow any grain if you ain't got any rain
Everything except my mortgage blown away
Come on!
Well it looked so green and fair when I built my shanty there
I figured I was all set for life
I put on my Sunday best with my fancy scalloped vest
Then I went to town to pick me out a wife
She blowed away (blown away), she blowed away (blown away)
My Oklahoma woman blown away
Mr. as I bent to kiss her, she was picked up by a twister
My Oklahoma woman blown away
Well then I was left alone just listening to the moan
Of the wind around the corners of my shack
So I took off down the road, yeah, when the south wind blowed
I traveled with the wind upon my back
I blowed away (blown away), I blowed away (blown away)
Chasin' that dust cloud up ahead
Well once it looked so green and fair and now it's up in the air
My Oklahoma farm is over head
Come on!
And now I'm always close to home, it don't matter where I roam
For Oklahoma dust is everywhere
Makes no difference where I'm walkin', I can hear my chickens squawkin'
I can hear my wife a-talking in the air
It blowed away (blown away), it blowed away (blown away)
Yeah my Oklahoma home is blown away
But my home Sir, is always near, it's up here in the atmosphere
My Oklahoma home is blown away
Come on!
Well I'm a roam'n Oklahoman but I'm always close to home
And I'll never get homesick until I die
'Cause no matter where I'm found, my home's all around
My Oklahoma home is in the sky
It blowed away (blown away), it blowed away (blownd away)
And my farm down on Cimarron
But now all around the world wherever the dust is swirled
There is some from my Oklahoma home
It blowed away (blown away), it blowed away (blown away)
Yeah my Oklahoma home is blown away
Yeah it's up there in the sky in that dust cloud over n' by
My Oklahoma home is blown away
Yeah!
Let me see that horn now, thank you!
Come on one more time!
Well it's blown away (blown away), blown away (blown away)
Oh my Oklahoma home is blown away
Yeah it's up there in the sky in that dust cloud over n' by
My Oklahoma home is the sky
Yeah!
(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66
If you ever plan to motor west,
travel my way, take the highway that is best.
Get your kicks on Route sixty-six.
It winds from Chicago to LA,
more than two thousand miles all the way.
Get your kicks on Route sixty-six.
Now you go through Saint Looey
Joplin, Missouri,
and Oklahoma City is mighty pretty.
You see Amarillo,
Gallup, New Mexico,
Flagstaff, Arizona.
Don't forget Winona,
Kingman, Barstow, San Bernandino.
Won't you get hip to this timely tip:
when you make that California trip
Get your kicks on Route sixty-six.
Won't you get hip to this timely tip:
when you make that California trip
Get your kicks on Route sixty-six.
Get your kicks on Route sixty-six.
Get your kicks on Route sixty-six.