Walking The Beans - Greg Brown

Last fall it was dry, oh my, oh my

You could ask the smartweed;

maybe the smartweed knows why

And then Mr. Corn Borer, he brought his whole family

And they laid the corn low when it got windy

Well now there’s corn in the bean fields, persnickety once it clings

I got these blisters on my fingers;

I got these cockleburs in my dreams

I been walkin' the beans, been walkin' the beans

I been bendin' low, no, no

I been rippin' my jeans

Been walkin' the beans in the burnin' sun

And it looks like I ain’t ever ever gonna get done

Well, it’s a mile-long row;

that’s a lotta room to grow

For the nightshade and the thistles and that miserable so and so

Two miles around;

more like 10, I think

You know I would just put all four up, but I gotta have a drink

'Cause

I been walkin' the beans, been walkin' the beans

I been bendin' low, no, no

I been splittin' my seams

Been walkin' the beans in the burnin' sun

And it looks like I ain’t ever ever gonna get done

Bandana on my head, I got a long-handled hoe in my hand

You know people are afraid of hell and now I understand

'Cause I can picture some devil from that land below

And he’s a-pushin' pigweed up from under every row I just hoed

And

I been walkin' the beans, been walkin' the beans

I been bendin' low, no, no

I been rippin' my jeans

Been walkin' the beans in the burnin' sun

And it looks like I ain’t ever ever gonna get done

Let’s walk now

Pretty little girl in not too much just about two rows over

When it’s hotter than fire, I guess you don’t need much cover

Sure I would like to get closer, but ain’t it just my luck

You know I got such a crick in my back, I can’t even stand up

'Cause

I been walkin' the beans, been walkin' the beans

I been bendin' low, no, no

I been rippin' my jeans

Been walkin' the beans in the burnin' sun

And it looks like I ain’t ever ever gonna get done

I’ll never get done;

I know I’ll never get done;

I’ll never get done, never

Gonna get done… I'll always be out here;

I’m always gonna be walkin' the

Beans;

I might live to be 85 — I’ll still be out here, walkin', walkin'