Dust Bowl Lyrics

Dust Bowl

[ music: Robert Buck/words: Natalie Merchant ]

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 to cool and rub her down. 
Ruby, I`m tired, try and get some sleep. 
I`m adding doctor`s fees to remedies with 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.