Busted
Harlan Howard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But I'm busted
Cotton is down to a quarter a pound
But I'm busted
I got a cow that's gone dry and a hen that won't lay
A big stack of bills that get bigger each day
The county's gonna haul my belongings away
I called brother Bill, thought I'd get me a loan
I was busted
Lord, I hate to beg like a dog for a bone
But I'm busted
But Bill said that "There ain't a thing I can do,
My wife and my kids are all down with the flu,
And I was just thinkin' about callin' on you,
I'm busted."
Now Lord, I'm no thief, but a man can go wrong
When he's busted
The food that we canned last summer is gone
I'm busted
The fields are all bare and the cotton won't grow
Me and my family's gotta pack up and go
Where I'll make a living, the Lord only, knows
I'm busted
The song "Busted" by Harlan Howard is about a man who is struggling to make ends meet. The singer is broke and in debt. He is unable to pay his bills or buy new shoes for his baby. He is a farmer who is struggling to survive due to the low price of cotton, and he has a cow that has stopped giving milk and a hen that has stopped laying eggs. He is unable to pay his bills, and the county is threatening to seize his possessions. In desperation, he calls his brother Bill for a loan, but his brother is unable to help him since his family is sick with the flu.
The singer is disillusioned and feels trapped in his circumstances. He is not a thief but feels that he has no choice but to consider it. He realizes that he and his family will have to leave their home and find a new place to live where he can earn a living. The song is a poignant lament about the hardships of poverty and the struggle to stay afloat in tough times.
The lyrics of the song are simple yet powerful and capture the essence of the struggles of working-class people. The use of the word "busted" ties together the various threads of the story, from the singer's financial troubles to his emotional state. The song has been covered by several artists, including Ray Charles, Johnny Cash, and Willie Nelson.
Line by Line Meaning
The bills are all due and my baby needs shoes
I have many financial obligations and my baby needs new shoes.
But I'm busted
Unfortunately, I have no money to meet these obligations and buy my baby a new pair of shoes.
Cotton is down to a quarter a pound
The cost of cotton has fallen drastically.
But I'm busted
Even though the cost of cotton is low, I cannot afford to grow it.
I got a cow that's gone dry and a hen that won't lay
My livestock is not producing any milk or eggs.
A big stack of bills that get bigger each day
I have many bills to pay, and they keep accumulating.
The county's gonna haul my belongings away
The county will seize my property if I can't pay off my debts.
I'm busted.
I am completely broke and have no way to pay off my debts.
I called brother Bill, thought I'd get me a loan
I asked my brother Bill for a loan.
I was busted
I was broke and in need of help.
Lord, I hate to beg like a dog for a bone
I feel ashamed to ask for help like a beggar.
But Bill said that "There ain't a thing I can do,
My brother Bill couldn't help me, even if he wanted to.
My wife and my kids are all down with the flu,
Bill's family is sick with the flu and he cannot help me financially.
And I was just thinkin' about callin' on you,
Ironically, Bill was considering asking me for a loan himself.
I'm busted."
I am broke and without any options for financial help.
Now Lord, I'm no thief, but a man can go wrong
I am an honest man, but financial struggles can lead to desperation and poor decisions.
When he's busted
When a man is broke, he may do things out of desperation that he would not otherwise do.
The food that we canned last summer is gone
Our preserved food from last summer has run out.
I'm busted
I have no food and no money to buy more.
The fields are all bare and the cotton won't grow
The land is barren and the crops are unproductive.
Me and my family's gotta pack up and go
My family and I must leave this place and find a new home.
Where I'll make a living, the Lord only knows
I have no idea where we will go or how we will make a living.
I'm busted
I am broke and without any clear path forward.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ROB THOMAS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Barbara LaBarca
Great song. Imagine what it feels like when you get broke. No food. Money no job. Yes we are busted
sparkescadman
Thanks for Harlan's version... one of my favorite singers as well as songwriters... he helped define "modern" country in the 1960's !
Jacquelyn Skye
Awesome!!
hbrookes
Best country music writer ever period!!
John Morris
I love Harlan and he wrote this, but I think Ray Charles had the definitive cut on this record. Thanks for the mem'ries and the post.
Marvin Thayer
@Green Gecko The rock group Nazareth sings this. This I gotta hear.
Drew Bludd
Wanda Jackson does a sick version on her new album.
john sandiford
Nice song,thanks for sharing
Steven Giraud
Good simple song, good one.
BobSeger1981
They wrote it together