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 i nthis weeks 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. 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



In the quiet morning 

There was much despair 

And in the hours that followed 

No one could repair 



That poor girl 

Tossed by the tides of misfortune 

Barely here to tell her tale 

Rolled in on a sea of disaster 

Rolled out on a mainline rail 



She once walked tight at my side 

I'm sure she walked by you 

Her striding steps could not deny 

Torment from a child who knew 



That in the quiet morning 

There would be despair 

And in the hours that followed 

No one could repair 



That poor girl 

She cried out her song so loud 

It was heard the whole world round 

A symphony of violence 

The great southwest unbound