Definitely a song about the plight of migrant farm workers (surplus cheaper hands) how merchants take advantage of the cheap labor and screw the American farm worker (the wheelbarrow's fallen) reaping in huge profits (amber waves of gain).
Never before or since has a protest song been so jangly, melodic, and beautiful, yet at the same time, so very sad. They duplicated this same feat in Lifes Rich Pageant with "Flowers of Guatemala".
Definitely a song about the plight of migrant farm workers (surplus cheaper hands) how merchants take advantage of the cheap labor and screw the American farm worker (the wheelbarrow's fallen) reaping in huge profits (amber waves of gain).
Never before or since has a protest song been so jangly, melodic, and beautiful, yet at the same time, so very sad. They duplicated this same feat in Lifes Rich Pageant with "Flowers of Guatemala".
REM's albums with IRS were incredible.