Pope County Blues

From the Single: Pope County Blues & The Band Played The Beer Barrel Polka

Pope County Blues
From my pa I got this farm
He got it from my grandpa
What can a poor man do
It ain’t much but 500 acres
Lots of beef and potaters
Giving me them Pope County Blues

Got me a barn and got me some chickens
Got me a wife and five children
What can a poor man do
The fifth was born just yesterday
The sixth one now is on it’s way
Giving me them Pope County Blues

With each year that passes
Up and up goes my taxes
What can a poor man do
Now they come along with a big old plan
They want to survey my land
Giving me them Pope County Blues

They want to build a powerline from North Dakota
Straight through my farm in Minnesota
What can a poor man do
But I told ‘em they better hit the road
This farm of mine is all I own
Giving me them Pope County Blues

Now they want to call out the National Guard
Kick me off my own front yard
What can a poor man do
But when they called up the Governor
He was too busy becoming our next Senator
Giving me them Pope County Blues

So he told the Sheriff it’s up to you
You make a point that powerline gets through
What can a poor man do
But the Sherriff said, “Why me?”
While the Governor’s sitting in Washington DC
Giving me them Pope County Blues

Now he’s supposed to deputize
One hundred men to make the farmers abide
What can a poor man do
Gonna pay ‘em seventy five bucks a day
Not to bad for Christmas pay
Giving me them Pope County Blues

Now the President talks about the common man
While meeting with the big corporation heads
What can a poor man do
Says he’s going to boost up our economy
Get a job for you and me
Giving me them Pope County Blues

I got a feeling what’s on his mind
Corporate farms and powerlines
What can a poor man do
If that drought keeps coming you just wait
Trouble is it might be too late
Giving me them Pope County Blues

Cause that farmer out there grows the food
That feeds both me and you
What can a poor man do
So I looked at my watch read a quarter to nine
Stole the quarter and saved some time
Giving me them Pope County Blues

Words & music by Larry Long
Copyright Larry Long 1976; renewed 2025 | BMI

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