Grandma’s Penny Sale (Give a Prayer for the Farmer)

Unpublished

Grandma was born and raised
On a farm in Iowa
When I was young she would pray
For those who work the soil
Oldest one of seven kids
Helped her mom raise each of them
Shucking corn and slopping pigs
Chickens in the yard
Fetching water from the well
In two five gallon pails
Carving out a well-worn trail
To the kitchen door

Give a prayer tonight for the farmer
Give a word of thanks for their labor

Days of drought, sleet, and hail
Grandma would often tell
Me about the Penny Sale
That saved the family farm
Friends and neighbors gathered round
Buyers who came from town
Peacefully stripped them down
Naked in the barn
Upon a bale of hay they sat
Nothing on but their hats
I can still hear Grandma’ laugh
Speaking of those times

Give a prayer tonight for the farmer
Give a word of thanks for their labor

Standing by the auction man
Taking bids on her land
Grandma looked down at her hands
Dryer than the soil
A penny here, a nickel there
Celebration filled the air
Grandma’ raised her eyes in prayer
Thankful for that day
When the auctioneer was done
The country folk they had won
Without spilling any blood
They saved the family farm

Give a prayer tonight for the farmer
Give a word of thanks for their labor
Yesterday I read the news
About a family farmer who
Was told that she might lose
The title to her land
Just like this story told
Neighbors came to her home
Stopped it from being sold
With a Penny Sale

Give a prayer tonight for the farmer
Give a word of thanks for their labor

When I laid the paper down
Thoughts of Grandma’ circled round
Filled me with that peaceful sound
Of her voice again

Give a prayer tonight for the farmer
Give a word of thanks for their labor

Words & music by Larry Long
Copyright Larry Long 1982; Renewed 2025 | BMI

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