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I had this one on an eight-track tape since the early '70s. Can't remember who sung it. Maybe some one can help. Tape wore out years ago and label is gone. Player hadn't worked in years either. Several years ago just as everything was wearing out I decided to put the words on paper and under glass for special keeping. It's called The Great American Farmer. But I believe this could describe every farmer no matter which country he's from. THE GREAT AMERICAN FARMER
Through the heartland of America he travels.
Through the summer sun the winter snow and rain,
with the golden grain a flowing, and the big combines a rolling, always moving with the harvest of our land.
Proud of living free and proud of this great country, as he looks out from beneath his sun tanned brow.
Reaching out to feed the people of America, the world, moving to the beat of his own country drum.
He's everywhere in this great land. He holds the good earth in his hand.
He's a friend. He's the great American farmer.
You'll find him on his way to the field before the hot summer sun touches the morning. He'll still be out there with the last daylight. Working that piece of ground that lives in his mind forever. It's a permanent part of his soul.
You'll find him pumping fuel into his tractor, or setting fence post for his electric fence to keep his cattle in.
You'll find him cutting cane in Oklahoma, picking cotton in Texas, bailing hay in New York and California, cutting wheat in Kansas and the Dakotas, combining corn in Ohio, Nebraska, and the Carolinas.
He's got dirt on his big calloused hands and a sweat stained straw hat and a heart as big as this big land he works. He's got a country girl for a wife and kids like everybody else.
You'll find him in town visiting on Saturday afternoon, and sitting in church on Sunday morning.
He listens to the world through his radio and TV, and he's always at the mercy of the weather that guides his fortunes forever.
He's humble. He loves his neighbors. He knows what friendship is really means. He's a good man. He loves this great country of ours.
He knows the pride of standing at the end of a field and looking at the even furrows that move out to the ends of the world. Watching that bumber crop stretch up to touch the sky. He knows the beauty of a soft gentle rain and how to break that top crust so that mother earth can enjoy a refreshing drink.
You'll find him sweating from the hot summer sun and the exhaust from his big four wheeler and sometime you'll see him crying inside as he looks out on a hail stripped stalk that put his whole years work to death. The night before he was to have reaped the harvest of his dreams. You'll find him leaning on the kitchen table late in the evening, weary from the labors of the day, happy that his farm is bedded down for another night. He's got dirt on his face and his hair's mussed, his shirt's unbutton and his shoes off. A glass of iced tea in his hand, and he's layin down a few soft words to his wife about the country, politicians, and next year. You can count on him when the chips are down. His word is his bond and his honor.
In the winter time you'll find him out in the shed working on his tractor, combine, or one-way. Getting it ready for the spring time and the long hard summer ahead.
He knows the excitement that comes from watchin the yellow school bus kicks up dust as it goes down a country road with a load of happy kids.
He lives knowing that his crops can burn up in the summer sun and his house burn down on a winter night and help could never get there in time.
And you'll find him on a winter evening sitting by the fire with his hands wrapped around a hot cup of coffee. Yes he's more than a friend. He's the great American farmer. He takes time to thank the lord on Sunday morning.
He finds beauty in the gentle spring time rain.
He believes in this great country and his neighbors and his friends,
and he knows just where America begins.
He's everywhere in this great land. He holds the good earth in his hand.
He's a friend. He's the great American farmer.
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