Monroe's Mule
by John Cowan & Fred Koller



Monroe's mule is packed and loaded
Everybody 'round here knows he's on his way
You'd better make hay while the summer sun still shines
Monroe's mule is good and ready
Everybody in the cafe tells the owner
That they'll pay him if he waits till harvest time

Monroe's family worked tobacco
Dusk till dawn until their hands were worn
40 years of desperation, the banker's always been there waitin'
Since the days before the boy was born
Listenin' to the auction prices on the radio
He knew he'd better find himself a money crop to grow
When that stranger offered him those pretty little seeds
Monroe knew he'd never have to watch his fingers bleed

Chorus

Monroe's on his front porch wavin'
Watchin' cars with one eye on the sky
Don't go sneakin' through his corn, let me tell you, you've been warned
Monroe's got his shotgun by his side
Monroe knows the government is bound to come around
He's heard those people whisper every time he goes to town
"Where'd he get that money?" I guess everybody knows
But only fools would talk about that stuff that Monroe grown

Chorus

Listenin' to the auction prices on the radio
He knew he'd better find himself a money crop to grow
When that stranger offered him those pretty little seeds
Monroe knew he'd never have to watch his fingers bleed