Dust Bowl Lyrics

(music: Robert Buck, words: Natalie Merchant)

  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 in this 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.