(The) Migrant Worker

Pickin’ wasn’t easy

Kept you brown and thin

Been a child for every season

that the fruit was on the limb

Pack the truck Maria,

tell the kids we’re off again

Cross a dozen states or more,

we’ll teach em’ what we can.

Teach ‘em what we can,

we can’t do more

The land is good but still the livin’s poor

Harvest in September, drought in mid-July

January’s peekin’

through a white lace gypsy sky

March rolls in to April,

then plant and pray for rain

Sweat like hell in August,

run the circle once again

Run the circle once again and then once more

The land is good but still the livin’s poor

Oregon in August, Michigan in May

Tryin’ to make enough

to keep my family on its way

And you buy the pickin’ boss a drink,

to keep workin’ every day

You know it isn’t honest,

but you do it anyway

Do it any way to keep alive

Do it anyway to keep alive