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Andrew Bird – How You Gonna Keep 'Em Down on the Farm Lyrics 16 years ago
Errr, 20+ years, not 30 years. I'm not a stalwart of arithmetic.

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Andrew Bird – How You Gonna Keep 'Em Down on the Farm Lyrics 16 years ago
Asdfaeou,

Whilst the spirit of your comment is correct, the facts are wrong. The song was actually written some 30+ years prior to WWII by Joe Young, Sam M. Louis and Walter Donaldson (music). It is actually commenting on post WWI troops returning home.

The original adaptations were jolly bandstand ensembles. Which is why Bird's interpretation and arrangement is so interesting.

http://www.library.jhu.edu/collections/specialcollections/sheetmusic/musictours/singingwar/farm.html

Notice Paris is spelled "Paree," which, I imagine is a sort of mocking.


"Absolutely love this song. It's about a post WWII farm couple discussing whether or not their sons will be returning to life on the farm. Lots of funny lines, my favorite being "and who the deuce can parle-vous a cow?" excellent song."

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