Nickel a Pound”

Just a freckled face tag-along.
Too young to be pulling them bolls.
Mama pulls them bolls singing a song.
With baby brother riding on her sack in toll.

Hear me Jesus in heaven above why must I toil for a nickel a pound,
Stoop and pull them bolls for little pay we can’t stop ‘til the cotton trailers filled.

Cotton bolls up three feet high.
Sis and I are working hard to fill our sacks.
This is the last rows mama says.
Little brother eating a sweet potato.

Hear me Jesus in heaven above why must I toil for a nickel a pound,
Stoop and pull them bolls for little pay we can’t stop ‘til the cotton trailers full.

It’s been a long day for little pay.
Evening fades watching the sun go down.
To the house for a bath before we hit the hay
A bowl of red beans to fill this hollow sound.

Hear me Jesus in heaven above why must I toil for a nickel a pound,
Stoop and pull them bolls for little pay we can’t stop ‘til the cotton trailers full.

Snug in bed with little brother.
Sister’s listens to the radio
I hear Daddy’s telling mother.
It looks like this month we’ll be okay.

New shoes for the kids and a rug for you
A bicycle for Jim and wagon for Dee
For sis a record player and a record or two
We’re blessed to have kids like these.

Daddy turned out the light and went to bed.
Mama comes and gives us each a kiss.
“Goodnight,” she says, “I love you.”

Hear me Jesus, now I know why I toil for a nickel a pound.