Shannon and Heather’s dad, Terry, watched a PBS special on “The Dust Bowl” and Shannon got inspired to write this tune that tells a story of survival during this era in U.S. history. What it says to us is that many of our forebears were tough people that pushed through tough times with an indomitable spirit that is rarely seen anymore. Thanks to Mike Bentley and Dale Felts for assisting Shannon on this one with some really cool lines!! Heather’s tenor singing here is AWESOME!!!

Lyrics

Daddy Killed the Calf Shannon Slaughter © 2012
Mike Bentley
Dale Felts
Boise City Oklahoma 1934
Black cloud of swirling sand gonna rob the land to give no more
Hundred acre waves of dust breaking cross the plains
Nowhere to go no one but God knows when it’ll rain

Blue flames on the barbed wire, dancing all around,
We could only watch, as our corn crops lay buried in the ground,
Black rollers kept a coming on, each and every day
High and dry, nothing left to try; the farm was blowing away

My Daddy was a good plowhand, Mama kept us fed
Barn and plow, draft bull and cow, on a little farming stead

The bull walked miles with Daddy, pulling on the share
The cow gave birth, and it wasn’t worth another mouth for him to care
We were starving, dying, suffering, needing milk and mighty bad
No time to cry, it was live or die, so Daddy killed the calf
Daddy killed the calf

My Daddy fought the Dust Bowl, lost and headed west
Did what he could, we understood, tried to give us all the best
You never should say never, what you will do or don’t
Desperate needs cause dreadful deeds; see if you will or won’t

We were starving, dying, suffering, needing milk and mighty bad
No time to cry, it was live or die, so Daddy killed the calf (repeat)