posted by Helen

There is a song running through my brain this morning that our friend Kerry brought to our attention last year. It is called "Trouble in the Fields" by Nanci Griffith and Rick West. It starts out:

"Baby, I know that we've got trouble in the fields
When the bankers swarm like locusts
out there turning away our yield."

The only recorded version I've heard of it is by Griffith and she sings it quickly and lightly. When Kerry sings it at the Acoustic Coalition, the sound is so much more soulful.

Dave and I sing it together, too, generally in private or for my mom (she and Dave share a love of the guitar). I can't match the richness of Kerry's voice. And I have this little problem where parts of it bring tears to my eyes.

I suppose I'm feeling sorry for myself. I haven't blogged much because I still feel there is just one topic -- that business is hard and getting harder. How many times can I say that without beginning to feel like I am creating it just by giving voice to it?

But there is a part of this song that gives me comfort and hope that we can work our way out of this. We're strong enough and we have the will to do it. It is in the refrain:

"And all this trouble in our fields,
If this rain can fall, these wounds can heal.
They'll never take our native soil.
But if we sell that new John Deere
Then we'll work this farm with sweat and tears.
You'll be the mule, I'll be the plow,
Come harvest time we'll work it out.
There's still a lot of love,
here in these troubled fields"

These are the images in my mind as I start my day -- images of working steadfastly together as best we can, with hope and love, sweat and tears.