Sarah Binks, A Musical Tribute - Library2

34
(LIGHTS UP ON JACOB.)
MUSIC II:6
SARAH:
“TO MY FATHER, JACOB BINKS”
"To My Father, Jacob Binks".
I USED TO THINK THE CUT-WORM AND THE WEEVIL,
WERE THINGS THAT BLINDLY COME AND GO BY CHANCE,
AND HESSIAN-FLY AN UNDILUTED EVIL,
TO MAKE THE FARMER SHUDDER IN HIS PANTS;
BUT NOW I KNOW THEY HOLD HIM TO HIS ACRE,
FOR COULD HE EVER WIN AND TAKE HIS EASE,
HE'D UP AND LEAVE HIS BINDER AND HIS BREAKER,
AND GIVE THE PRECIOUS LAND BACK TO THE CREES.
ALL:
WOMEN:
MEN:
ALL:
ALTO:
BASS:
ALTO:
BASS:
HIEBERT:
SARAH:
TO THE CREES, TO THE CREES,
AND GIVE THE PRECIOUS LAND BACK TO THE CREES.
HE'D UP AND LEAVE HIS BINDER AND HIS BREAKER,
AND GIVE THE PRECIOUS LAND BACK TO THE CREES.
I USED TO THINK THE BEETLE AND THE HOPPER
WERE BUT A PEST, BUT NOW I REALIZE
THAT FRENCH-WEED AS A YIELD IS RIGHT AND PROPER,
AND CUT-WORMS ARE A BLESSING IN DISGUISE;
THAT RUST AND HAIL AND STEM-ROT ARE PROTECTION,
AND WHAT WE CALL THE DROUGHT YEAR IS A MEANS
TO KEEP THE FARMER ON HIS QUARTER-SECTION,
ALTHOUGH IT MAKES HIM TREMBLE IN HIS JEANS.
IN HIS JEANS, IN HIS JEANS,
ALTHOUGH IT MAKES HIM TREMBLE IN HIS JEANS.
TO KEEP THE FARMER ON HIS QUARTER SECTION,
ALTHOUGH IT MAKES HIM TREMBLE IN HIS JEANS.
THE THINGS THAT WE CALL TRIALS ARE A WARNING,
THE THING WE CALL THE GOPHER IS A BOON,
FOR SHOULD A CROP APPEAR SOME EARLY MORNING,
THE FARMER WOULD BE GONE BY AFTERNOON;
THE HOPPER SHOULD BE CHERISHED AND BE SHIELDED,
AND HESSIAN FLY IS SOMETHING WE SHOULD TRUST--
IF WHAT WE CALL THE CROP IS EVER YIELDED,