Farmer's Daughter
Ben & Ellen Harper Lyrics
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But it's no joke we're always broke, can't live on dirt and water
Can't live on dirt and water.
We can't plant and we can't grow. We can't reap and we can't sow
Don't own the seed can't plant our rows, it all belongs to Monsanto
All belongs to Monsanto.
They own the pollen own the seeds, own us from head to feet
Own the air we breath.
Sister shed her overalls, put on heels and skirt
City bound she fled the ground to strike her own pay dirt
Strike her own pay dirt
My brother donned a uniform, to keep us safe from harm
But terror is as terror does, the bank foreclosed our farm
Foreclosed the family farm.
Jesse James he robbed the banks, they shot that boy to death
Now the banks are robbing us we got nothing left,
We got nothing left,
We got nothing left.
The song "Farmer's Daughter" by Ben and Ellen Harper is a poignant commentary on the state of modern farming and the difficulties faced by farming families. The title of the song serves as an introduction to the singer of the song who is the daughter of a farmer, a solid and hard-working man who toils endlessly to support his family. Despite his best efforts, the family is broke, and the daughter laments the fact that they can't live on dirt and water. The chorus of the song is a cynical reference to the farmers' inability to plant, grow, reap, and sow due to their befitting lack of seed ownership. The reference to Monsanto is significant as it speaks to the powerful grip big corporations have on the farming industry, and their ability to monopolize the necessary resources for sustenance.
The song then takes a more significant political turn, referencing DuPont and Dow Chemicals, and how such companies have dominated the industry. These companies have played a significant role in shaping and genetically modifying crops, potentially having long-term environmental and health effects on the population. The following stanza addresses the fact that we are what we eat, and these companies effectively own us from head to toe. This situation is made even more precarious by the fact that these companies also own the air that we breathe, pointing to their extensive and immersive reach.
The song ends on a dark note, with the daughter revealing her brother donned a uniform to keep them safe, and her sister abandoning the farm for life and survival in the city. The family was then subjected to foreclosure, and the banks that lent them money robbed them of all that they had. The references to terror, like those to Jesse James, speak to the predatory nature of big banks and corporations, who can leave the most vulnerable completely destitute.
Line by Line Meaning
My daddy is a farmer, that makes me the farmer’s daughter
I come from a family of farmers.
But it’s no joke we’re always broke, can’t live on dirt and water
Farming is not a profitable business and we struggle to make ends meet.
We can’t plant and we can’t grow. We can’t reap and we can’t sow
We are unable to plant crops and harvest them.
Don’t own the seed can’t plant our rows, it all belongs to Monsanto
We can't even plant the crops we want because the seed production is controlled by big corporations like Monsanto.
Dupont, Dow and Monsanto, We are what we eat
The food we consume is heavily influenced by big corporations like Dupont, Dow, and Monsanto.
They own the pollen own the seeds, own us from head to feet
These corporations control the entire food production process, from owning the seeds to the final product, therefore controlling the health of the consumer.
Own the air we breath
Big corporations are responsible for polluting the environment and affecting our air quality.
Sister shed her overalls, put on heels and skirt
My sister gave up farming and moved to the city to pursue a different career.
City bound she fled the ground to strike her own pay dirt
She hoped to make a comfortable living in the city.
My brother donned a uniform, to keep us safe from harm
My brother joined the military to provide for our family and protect their future.
But terror is as terror does, the bank foreclosed our farm
Unfortunately, the bank took action by foreclosing our family farmland that we were working so hard for.
Jesse James he robbed the banks, they shot that boy to death
Jesse James tried to fight the banks, but was killed. This shows how the banks have a lot of power.
Now the banks are robbing us we got nothing left
The banks that we trusted have taken everything from us, leaving us with nothing.
We got nothing left, We got nothing left, We got nothing left.
We have lost everything and have nothing to show for all of our hard work and effort.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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