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It Takes A Worried Mind

from 이​산​: This Mountain by 이산 / Seth Martin

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Based on the folk standard "Worried Man's Blues".

lyrics

1.
Well, thirty golden chains of debt hang round me like a bell (x3)
I'm sorry kids, you'll still be paying

When daddy's gone to jail.




Chorus:

Well, it takes a worried mind

To sing a worried rhyme (x3)

I'm worried now, but if you ask,

I'll say I'm doing fine!




2.

Working hard on Freedom's farm

When it's dry and when it's wet (x3)

Paid off a bit of interest

But I haven't met her yet.




3.

And I got an Uncle Sam,

He's a pretty nice old man (x3)

He cooks me breakfast when I'm sick,

Then steals my frying pan.





Chorus:

Well, it takes a worried mind

To sing a worried rhyme (x3)

I'm worried now, but if you ask,

I'll say I'm doing fine!




4.

He loves to save his money

And he loves to spend mine too (x3)

And normally I wouldn't mind,

But my rent is due.




5.

He's trigger happy when he drinks,

And sometimes he gets mean (x3)

If you're red, black, yellow, poor or woman,

You know what I mean.





Chorus:

Well, it takes a worried mind

To sing a worried rhyme (x3)

I'm worried now, but if you ask,

I'll say I'm doing fine!




6.

Well, I know you're on vacation, boss,

I'm sorry to be rude (x3)

But I gotta say, could you raise my pay?

My kids don't have no food.




7.

And not a friend in sight to come and pay my bail,

Not a friend in sight, oh Lord! To come and pay my bail.

Not a friend in sight to come and pay my bail.

But I don't mind three meals a day

And a comfy bed in jail.




8.

And it takes a mountaintop to fill a valley in (x3)

I still believe in God--

These days, I think Her patience wearing thin.




BRIDGE:

It takes a desperate plan to plow a burnt out land,

It takes a mother's hand to hold a broken man,

Takes more than Uncle Sam to guide a rebel band,

It takes a ton of cash to wipe the bosses' tables,

And it takes an awful heart to let it fall apart,

It takes an education to learn to love this nation,

And it takes a shining soul to fight the undertow,

And it takes more than I know to watch a garden grow,

It takes a broken mind to always get in line,

And it took a few black eyes to see through all the eyes,




(Altered chorus)




It takes a worried mind to sing a worried rhyme,

And it takes a worried rhyme to understand these times,

It takes a worried mind to sing a worried rhyme,

I'm worried now, but if you ask,

I'll say I'm doing fine.




9.

(Well) I used to own a farm (oh Lord), but now I've got a car (x3)

And it hauls me from my home to work,

Then drags me to the bar.




10. I used to grow my food, now I buy it from the store,

Used to grow my food myself, now I buy it from the store,

I used to grow my food, now I buy it from the store--




Wake up the kids, don't make a fuss,

Get dressed and go wait for your bus,

I nuke my gruel, flush down my stool,

Dispose my plate, I can't be late,

I got a job, I ain't no slob,

I take one last quick glance around,

The concrete jungle where I'm bound,

Then I throw away this cigarette,

Although I haven't finished yet,

And then I lock the door.

Off to work once more.

Thank god that I'm not poor!

credits

from 이​산​: This Mountain, released November 7, 2016

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Seth Mountain 이산 image

Seth Mountain 이산 South Korea

Seth Martin (aka Seth Mountain or 이산), is a roots musician originally from the Pacific Northwest (US).

Continuing in the radical tradition of artists like Pete Seeger, Woody Guthrie, and Utah Phillips, Martin has been living in Seoul since 2015. He regularly performs with Korean and foreign folk, indie and rock acts.

"Quite possibly the closest thing we have to Woody Guthrie."
--Bill Mallonee ... more

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