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Most of my relatives are Iowa farmers. As a young teen, I spent several summers working on my grampa's farm - which was actually run by Uncle Paul and his sons (my cousins). My grampa, Eben, worked that farm every day of his 92 years. The last few years, he was nearly blind, but you could not have gotten him off that tractor. He plowed and cultivated fields knowing when to turn from memory... This is his story and the story of what happened the most of the family farms. I wrote this song 35 years ago. Before recording it recently, I rewrote a few lines and turned what had been the 3rd verse into a bridge (rearranging things and cutting it in half). I hope you enjoy it. EBEN did you forget to lock the barn door again the herefords have wondered back into the yard has the 1024 been repaired, have you fixed the bailer when will you admit that this life has grown too hard the combine and the diesel have rusted with the years and been discarded in a field that's overgrown a lifetime of dreams, blood, sweat and tears on the line with every seed you've thrown (chorus) eben, you're no longer young don't take on the fields today pulling on his working boots, he says "you can take an interest, but don't take my life away please don't take my life away" the silage should have been cut a week ago before it dried you won't get the oats in before they fall the ad for the hired man just won't be answered the rewards for an honest day's work has grown too small your brothers to the south of you, the neighbors to the north found the land just won't support them anymore so they sold out to the big man, the mass production farm but eben's on his way to do the chores repeat chorus bridge old friends gone to the earth that they lived for the few that have survived have moved to town but eben's out revving up that old john deere no sign of ever slowing down repeat chorus Here are the RealTracks: RealDrums in style: NashvilleSkip^01-a:SideStick, HiHat , b:Snare, Ride RealTracks in style: ~520:Bass, Electric, Pop HalfNotes Ev 165 RealTracks in song: 378:Guitar, Acoustic, Strumming DoubleTime Ev 088 RealTracks in song: ~407:Guitar, Acoustic, Fingerpicking Ev 165 RealTracks in song: ~589:Banjo, Bluegrass Doc Ev 100 (Rhythm) RealTracks in song: 377:Guitar, Resonator, Background Trav Ev 088 RealTracks in song: ~615:Harmonica, Background HeeHaw Sw 165 As always... comments encouraged. floyd
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cool tune....
nice clean sound to the mix.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both. The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
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Hi, Floyd !
This tune should be on the C&W chart
if it ain´t already ?
Superb in every aspect! I enjoyed it
very much !
Cheers
Dani
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Hi Floyd,
I love the way you tell your stories.
Vocals and Biabettes strong as always.
Another enjoyable listen (three times so far).
Guenter
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Hi Floyd.
Very moving and thought provoking lyrics, together with a beautiful soulful delivery. Very professional package, as always.
I particularly liked the stereo balance.
ROG.
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Yay! Another Floyd Jane song for my listening pleasure! It doesn't happen very often, but this song actually choked me up a bit. I work with several people who also farm on the side. Through the years of working beside them, learning the names of their family members and hearing stories of the events that formed their lives, I've come to respect the farmers more than just about any other profession. And you nailed it. The devotion to task (to them, its not just a job, they see themselves as caretakers of the earth) creates a unique breed of person. your lyrics: " take an interest... but don't take my life away" <--interesting parallel structure "the rewards for an honest day's work has grown too small" <--sad but true "old friends gone to the earth that they lived for..." <--my favorite line One line that made me think of my best friend: "the combine and the diesel have rusted with the years..." my friend has so much arthritis that he often comments that he's rustier than his plow Floyd, I can never find words to adequately praise your songs... but that doesn't stop me from rambling in search of them. Thanks for the inspiration you provide to me (and I suspect to many others) edit: "The last few years, he was nearly blind, but you could not have gotten him off that tractor." I've seen a lot of people like this in the local WalMart parking lot... 
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Floyd, Very enjoyable! Another excellent song from "The Floyd Library".  Great job on the mix, and a really fine "tasty" use of the dobro & harmonica. Greg
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Herb - thanks.
Dani - Appreciate the thought!...
Guenter - thank you... the BAIBettes actually sat this one out - so I had to do all the harmonies myself...
ROG - appreciate the kind remarks...
Greg - thanks for the listen and the nice comments...
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Pat,
It is nice when you know that a song that you have written actually "touches" someone. Particularly if it involves a subject/topic with which they are familiar/involved. The details of this were easy... they all played out in front of me as a kid.
Farmers are a unique breed. They work every day, all day - the milk cows don't take a day off. They have millions in land and equipment and are basically "dirt poor". They don't complain about the work or the circumstances because it is their life and they would seldom choose any other...
Thanks for the listen... and your "rambling" comments - they are much appreciated.
floyd
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A very moving story Floyd. I have always been a city dweller but I know some farmers and can relate to the words. Well done.
Last edited by jo131; 08/18/13 08:57 AM.
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Expert
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Floyd,
You've done it once again! Another fine song, with poignant, touching lyrics. Your harmonies on this one are superb. Reminds me a little of the Gatlin Brothers. My dad was the son of a sharecropper farmer, and he grew up in the Great Depression. I have never lived on a farm, but have relatives that are farmers, and I have heard all the stories. This song really touches my heart.
Thanks for sharing it.
Steve
Steve Young Music"In order to compose, all you need to do is remember a tune that nobody else has thought of." - Robert Schumann
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Floyd,
What can I say that hasn't been said before.
An excellent country tune with a wonderful story and I do like songs with a story.
and written 35 years ago eh... When you find the words for songs like that it's "BANG" and you are back in the day you wrote it. I find it amazing how then you remember the tune and chords ... almost!
Well done
Alyn
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Floyd, Love a good story song. Also reminds me of the Gatlins. This song is a shining example of the plight of America's small farmers. Well Done! I must say the bridge is great and really important to the structure as it adds something different to lead into the chorus again. Thanks for posting. I am going back for another listen. Tom
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Hey Floyd,
This is my new fav of yours. Really touching song from start to finish and I especially like the bridge. The banjo adds a nice flavor too.
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Beautifully written and performed, outstanding!
Later,
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Floyd, its all been said so all I can add is WOW!
This story is so true! I really like the line ‘Don’t take my life away! I think that speaks for a lot of us senior citizens!
Back in my day the only time we started panic buying was when the bartender shouted "last call"!
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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Joanne - glad you liked it...
Steve - thanks for the kind words. Always good when a song hits home...
Alyn - always nice to have you drop by for a listen... 35 years is a long time, but this was one of the few decent ones I did back then - you have a tendency to remember those the best, I think.. there are many that were lost (with brain cells along the way) - and that is probably for the best (the songs, not the brains cells)...
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Tom - thanks for that. 2 votes for the Gatlins... maybe I should head to Myrtle Beach  Good to know the bridge did what it should. When I originally wrote this, most songs were just 3 verses and 3 choruses. And I followed that formula. I don't think I've written a 3 verse song in 25 years. Replacing the last verse with a bridge seemed the right thing to do to "modernize" this. Kind of like swapping out those gold and olive appliances in your kitchen.... Josie - thanks for the listen and the comments. The trick is to try to make each new one a "new favorite"! Danny - thanks for dropping by for a listen! Mario - appreciate it... who would have thought we would still be doing this when we got to the point where we were eligible for "that discount"...
Last edited by floyd jane; 08/22/13 12:03 PM. Reason: 'Cause Pat is making me forget things...
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maybe I should head to Myrtle Beach if you ever do, let the Carolina forum members know
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It's all been said Floyd since your productions always feature superior song writing, singing and use of RTs. This song really struck a responsive note with Janice as it reminded her of her uncle who kept working the cows well after most would have given it up. And it reminds me of my step father who after essentially giving up farming due to economic conditions continued to keep a few cattle -- just for the ambience.
Also, Mellencamp or Young ought to sing this song at Farm Aid. And I sincerely mean that.
Our albums and singles are on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Pandora and more. If interested search on Janice Merritt. Thanks! Our Videos
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