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Owensboro Lyrics
Well, I lived in a town
Way down south
By the name of Owensboro
And I worked in a mill
With the rest of the "trash"
As we're often called
As you know
Well, we rise up early
In the morning
And we work all day real hard
To buy our little meat and bread
Buy sugar, tea, and lard
Well, our children
Grow up unlearned
With no time to go to school
Almost before they learn to walk
They learn to spin and spoon
Well, the folks in town
They dress so fine
And spend their money free
But they would hardly look
At a factory hand
Who dresses like you or me
Would you let them wear
Their watches fine
Let them wear their gems
And pearly strings
But when that day
Of judgement comes
They'll have to share
Their pretty things
Way down south
By the name of Owensboro
And I worked in a mill
With the rest of the "trash"
As we're often called
As you know
In the morning
And we work all day real hard
To buy our little meat and bread
Buy sugar, tea, and lard
Grow up unlearned
With no time to go to school
Almost before they learn to walk
They learn to spin and spoon
They dress so fine
And spend their money free
But they would hardly look
At a factory hand
Who dresses like you or me
Their watches fine
Let them wear their gems
And pearly strings
Of judgement comes
They'll have to share
Their pretty things
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Almost before they learn to walk They learn to spin and spool
~Not spoon but spool~
This is in reference to weaving
At the end when she repeats But when that day Of judgement comes she says "They'll Learn to share their pretty things" Listen attentively:
But when that day Of judgement comes They'll have to share Their pretty things
But when that day Of judgement comes They'll Learn to share their pretty things
I found this on the Putumayo collection "American Folk".
The stanza "But when that day/Of judgement comes/They'll have to share/Their pretty things" reminds me of Woody Guthrie's "Unwelcome Guest" (as sung by Billy Bragg & Wilco).
"And they'll take the money and spread it out equal/ Just like the Bible and the prophets suggest. But the man that go riding to help these poor workers/ The rich will cut down like an unwelcome guest."
Viva Occupy Wall Street!