Farmer Joe is a song I wrote several years ago and is featured on my album Twelve Keys as an acoustic-driven track. This record -- the Electric Version -- is more true to how the song is performed live. Lyrically, it's a song for the working class, describing the work ethic of a stereotypical worker who breaks his back for his family. Lots of things get in his way, including the temptation to rush through his obligations like a robot (verse 1), bad weather, and other excuses to quit early (verse 2), and the temptation to work through rest (verse 3). So it ends with this idea that work needs balance, but Joe gets this right. It's a fun song, not too serious, and full of energy.
lyrics
Long, long time ago (way back when the earth was flat)
Lived a man named Farmer Joe (worked all day and broke his back)
In the morning, the sky was lit
The strawberries glowed scarlet
If he harvests now, he’ll have an early quit
But instead, he’ll take his time and enjoy it
Whoa whoa whoa
Long, long time ago (way back when the earth was flat)
Lived a man named Farmer Joe (worked all day and broke his back)
Then it rained down and made him wet
So he stood around and thought a tick
If he goes inside, he’ll dry in a bit
But instead, he’ll stay outside and work through it
Whoa whoa whoa
He built his family farmhouse bit by bit
And room by room, he made the most of it
Each wing was a different shade of grit
The wooden claps were weathered and looked sick
The grays of his brick and weathered wood don’t fit
Nor the greens and reds and blues of his land befit
But he worked all day and broke his back over it
Put his Wellies on and got right back in the thick
Long, long time ago (way back when the earth was flat)
Lived a man named Farmer Joe (worked all day and broke his back)
In the evening, the sky was drawn
With soup on the coals, he gave a yawn
If he stays awake, he’ll miss the dawn
So alone he hits the hay then his day was gone
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