William J. Hall, Lyrics 1999, Farmer's Son

Farmer's Son William J. Hall - March 28, 1999
	1	I was born a farmer's son
	2	So a farmer I would be
	3	But I work the red steel by the ton
	4	For this big steel company
	5	Crops were scarce in fourty-four
	6	Poster said they needed men
	7	I was too young to go to war
	8	So I came to Bethlehem
	9	Stoked the ovens and greased the gears
	10	Sent home half my wage
	11	Worked harder shifts despite my years (alt. 2016 - Longer shifts for my short years)
	12	Than grown men twice my age
	13	We served it up, we rolled it long
	14	We built our towers high
	15	We swore to God we were so strong
	16	That we could never die
	17	So it was I met Grace Green
	18	She became my bride
	19	Sooner than soon or so it seemed
	20	Our boy, Gordey arrived
	21	Worked my fingers to the bone
	22	For Gracie and that boy
	23	Built us a life - made this our home
	24	My heart and pride and joy
	25	Through winters long and summers fast
	26	Mill grumbling below
	27	So slow to come so quick to pass
	28	And Gordey barely grown
	29	We watched him march, we let him go
	30	And still I don't know why
	31	For all our dreams all that came home
	32	This flag to remember by
	33	Me and Gracie living here
	34	Took the silver with the rust
	35	We learned to laugh, we shed our tears
	36	We did what people must
	37	All the things that we went through
	38	The good times and the bad
	39	Sometimes with all you thought you knew
	40	You don't know what you had
	41	For the gears fell silent, ovens cold
	42	They put chains across the gate
	43	They sold us out for foreign gold
	44	No one to blame or hate
	45	Say farewell to yours and you
	46	Goodbye to all our friends
	47	What's a soul supposed to do
	48	When a way of living ends
	49	Take my true love by the hand
	50	Lead her through the town
	51	Goodbye these towers made of sand
	52	I'm still a farmer's son
© William J. Hall 1999 all rights reserved ASCAP