Busted
Tompall And The Glaser Brothers Lyrics
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Cotton is down to a quarter a pound but I'm busted
I got a cow that went dry and a hen that won't lay
A big stack of bills that gets bigger each day
The county will haul my belongings away I'm busted
[ guitar ]
I hate to beg like a dog for a bone but I'm busted
My brother said there ain't a thing I can do
My wife and my kids are all down with the flu
And I was just thinking of calling on you I'm busted
[ guitar ]
Lord I'm no thief but a man can go wrong when he's busted
The food that we canned last summer is gone and I'm busted
The fields are all bare and the cotton won't grow
Me and my family gotta pack up and go
But I'll make a living the Lord only knows but I'm busted
The lyrics of "Busted" by Tompall and the Glaser Brothers tell a story of financial struggle and desperation. The singer is facing a range of challenges that have left him unable to make ends meet. He is behind on his bills and his livestock isn't producing, leading to a mounting stack of bills that he can't pay. This culminates in the threat of having his possessions taken away by the county.
The second verse adds to the bleakness of the situation, as the singer turns to his brother for help but is turned away due to his brother's own family struggles. The chorus repeats the title phrase "I'm busted" to hammer home the sense of defeat the singer is experiencing.
In the final verse, the singer contemplates turning to theft as a last resort, but ultimately decides to move on in the hopes of finding a way to make a living. The sense of desperation and hardship that runs throughout the song creates a poignant portrait of the human toll of financial hardship and the struggles that come with it.
Line by Line Meaning
My bills are all due and the babies need shoes but I'm busted
I am broke and cannot pay my bills. My children need new shoes, but I cannot afford them.
Cotton is down to a quarter a pound but I'm busted
The market price for cotton is low, and I cannot make a good profit. I am in financial trouble.
I got a cow that went dry and a hen that won't lay
I am experiencing a lack of income due to my cow not producing milk and my hen not laying eggs. I am unable to make money from selling these products.
A big stack of bills that gets bigger each day
I have many bills that need to be paid, and they only continue to accumulate, making my financial situation worse each day.
The county will haul my belongings away I'm busted
If I cannot pay my debts, the county will take away my possessions as payment. I am at risk of losing everything I own.
I went to my brother to ask for a loan I was busted
Due to my financial troubles, I asked my brother for a loan. I did not have enough money to support myself.
I hate to beg like a dog for a bone but I'm busted
I feel ashamed to ask for help, but I have no other options. I am desperate and need assistance.
My brother said there ain't a thing I can do
My brother was unable to provide me with the financial help I needed. He cannot change my situation.
My wife and my kids are all down with the flu
My family is sick, which is causing additional financial strain. Medical bills and lost wages are making my situation worse.
And I was just thinking of calling on you I'm busted
I had hoped to rely on my brother for assistance, but he was unable to help. I am left with no other options and am still struggling financially.
Lord I'm no thief but a man can go wrong when he's busted
Although I have not resorted to stealing, financial struggles can lead people to make poor decisions. I am in a difficult situation that is causing me stress and anxiety.
The food that we canned last summer is gone and I'm busted
We have run out of the food we preserved from last summer, and we cannot afford to buy more. This situation has left us without a source of food and in a dire financial situation.
The fields are all bare and the cotton won't grow
My crops are not yielding a good harvest, leaving me without an income from farming. I am struggling to make ends meet.
Me and my family gotta pack up and go
Due to my financial difficulties, my family and I need to leave our home and find a new place to live. We cannot afford to stay where we are.
But I'll make a living the Lord only knows but I'm busted
Although I am unsure of how I will do it, I am determined to find a way to support my family and make a living. My financial troubles are causing me stress, but I will persevere despite them.
Contributed by Connor V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.