Dust Bowl - Natalie Merchant

I should know to leave them home

They follow me through the store

With these toys i can’t afford

«kids, take them back

You know better than that»

Dolls that talk, astronauts, t.V.

Games, airplanes

They don’t understand

And how can i explain?

I try and try but i can’t save

Pennies, nickels, dollars slip away

I’ve tried and tried but i can’t save

My youngest girl has bad fever, sure

All night with alcohol

To cool and rub her down

Ruby, i’m tired

Try and get some sleep

I’m adding doctor’s fees to remedies

With the cost of

Three day’s work lost

I try and try but i can’t save

Pennies, nickels, dollars slip away

I’ve tried and tried but i can’t save

The hole in my pocketbook is growing

There’s a new wind blowing they say

It’s gonna be a cold, cold one

So brace yourselves my darlings

It won’t bring anything much our way

But more dust bowl days

I played a card

In this week’s game

Took the first and the last letters

In three of their names

This lottery’s been building up for weeks

I could be lucky me

With the five million prize

Tears of disbelief spilling out of my eyes