| Levon Helm – Growing Trade Lyrics | 12 years ago |
| Back in the 1980's, the Crop Insurance Act was passed into law in the US. Ever since then, outlaw farmers have realized that a great way to make money is to take out a federally subsidized insurance policy against a crop that isn't grown yet, and then start a "wildfire" in the crops that destroys the entire harvest. They get to keep their guaranteed money from the government without having to produce any crops. However, if they're caught doing this, severe jail time, land seizure, and paying back all of the money they essentially stole is all that waits for them. Hence the lines "And the feds may be watchin' me, I gotta quit this eventually" and "Helicopters in the distance, Coming closer everyday." There's also obvious concern, but the speaker also knows that his mind is made up to do what he does, and hence he carries a shotgun on his shoulder. He'd rather commit suicide by cop than lose his land out from underneath his family. | |
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