Walking the Beans Greg Brown

Last fall it was dry, oh my, oh my
You could ask the smartweed; maybe the smartweed knows why
And then Mr. Corn Borer, he brought his whole family
And they laid the corn low when it got windy
Well now there's corn in the bean fields, persnickety once it clings
I got these blisters on my fingers; I got these cockleburs in my dreams

I been walkin' the beans, been walkin' the beans
I been bendin' low, no, no
I been rippin' my jeans
Been walkin' the beans in the burnin' sun
And it looks like I ain't ever ever gonna get done

Well, it's a mile-long row; that's a lotta room to grow
For the nightshade and the thistles and that miserable so and so
Two miles around; more like 10, I think
You know I would just put all four up, but I gotta have a drink
'Cause

I been walkin' the beans, been walkin' the beans
I been bendin' low, no, no
I been splittin' my seams
Been walkin' the beans in the burnin' sun
And it looks like I ain't ever ever gonna get done

Bandana on my head, I got a long-handled hoe in my hand
You know people are afraid of hell and now I understand
'Cause I can picture some devil from that land below
And he's a-pushin' pigweed up from under every row I just hoed
And