Rough Harvest

John Mellencamp Rough Harvest Lyrics
1.Between A Laugh And A Tear

When paradise is no longer fit for you to live in
And your adolescent dreams are gone
Through the days you feel a little used up
And you don't know where your energy's gone wrong
It's just your soul feelin' a little downhearted
Sometimes life is too ridiculous to live
You count your friends all on one finger
I know it sounds crazy just the way that we live

Chorus:
Between a laugh and a tear
Smile in the mirror as you walk by
Between a laugh and a tear
And that's as good as it can get for us
And there ain't no reason to stop tryin'

When this cardboard town can no longer amuse you
You see through everything and nothin' seems worthwhile
And hypocrite used to be such a big word to you
And it don't seem to mean anything to you now
Just try to live each and every precious moment
Don't be discouraged by the future forget the past
That's old advise but it'll be good to you
I know there's a balance see it when i swing past

Chorus:
Between a laugh and a tear
Smile in the mirror as you walk by
Between a laugh and a tear
And that's as good as it can get for us
And there ain't no reason to stop tryin'

Between a laugh and a tear
Smile in the mirror as you walk by
Between a laugh and a tear
And that's as good as it can get for us
And there ain't no reason to stop tryin'

When paradise can no longer amuse you.....


2.Farewell Angelina


3.Human Wheels

This land today, shall draw its last breath
And take into its ancient depths
This frail reminder of its giant, dreaming self
While i, with human-hindered eyes
Unequal to the sweeping curve of life
Stand on this single print of time

Chorus:
Human wheels spin round and round
While the clock keeps the pace
Human wheels spin round and round
Help the light to my face

That time, today, no triumph gains
At this short success of age
This pale reflection of its brave and
Blundering deed
For i, descend from this vault
Now dreams beyond my earthly fault
Knowledge, sure, from the seed

Chorus:
Human wheels spin round and round
While the clock keeps the pace
Human wheels spin round and round
Help the light to my face

This land, today, my tears shall taste
And take into its dark embrace
This love, who in my beating heart endures
Assured, by every sun that burns
The dust to which this flesh shall return
It is the ancient, dreaming dust of god

Chorus:
Human wheels spin round and round
While the clock keeps the pace
Human wheels spin round and round
Help the light to my face
Human wheels spin round and round
While the clock keeps the pace
Human wheels spin round and round
Help the light to my face


4.In My Time Of Dying


5.Jackie Brown

is this your life, jackie brown?
Poorly educated and forced to live on the poor side of town.
Is this your daughter, jackie brown?
This pretty little girl
In the worn out clothes
That have been hand-me down.
Is this your wife, jackie brown?
With sad blue eyes, walking on eggshells so you don't see her
frown.
Is this your family, jackie brown?

Dream of vacationing on a mountain stream
And giving the world more than it gave you.
What ugly truths freedom brings
And it hasn't been very kind to you.
Is this your life, jackie brown?

Is this your meal, jackie brown?
Barely enough, i've seen people throw away more than this out.
Is this your home, jackie brown?
This three room shack
With no running water
And the bathroom out back.
Is this your grave, jackie brown?
This little piece of limestone that says another desperate man
took
Himself out.
Is this your dream, jackie brown?

Going nowhere and nowhere fast
We shame ourselves to watch people like this live.
But who gives a damn about jackie brown?
Just another lazy man who couldn't take what was his.
One helluva life jackie brown.
Forevermore, jackie brown
Amen and amen - jackie brown?


6.Key West Intermezzo


7.Love And Happiness


8.Minutes To Memories

On a greyhound thirty miles beyond jamestown
He saw the sun set on the tennessee line
He looked at the young man who was riding beside him
He said i'm old kind of worn out inside
I worked my whole life in the steel mills of gary
And my father before me i helped build this land
Now i'm seventy-seven and with god as my witness
I earned every dollar that passed through my hands
My family and friends are the best thing i've known
Through the eye of the needle i'll carry them home

Chorus:
Days turn to minutes
And minutes to memories
Life sweeps away the dreams
That we have planned
You are young and you are the future
So suck it up and tough it out
And be the best you can

The rain hit the old dog in the twilight's last gleaming
He said son it sounds like rattling old bones
This highway is long but i know some that are longer
By sunup tomorrow i guess i'll be home
Through the hills of kentucky 'cross the ohio river
The old man kept talking 'bout his life and his times
He fell asleep with his head against the window
He said an honest man's pillow is his peace of mind
This world offers riches and riches will grow wings
I don't take stock in those uncertain things

Chorus:
Days turn to minutes
And minutes to memories
Life sweeps away the dreams
That we have planned
You are young and you are the future
So suck it up and tough it out
And be the best you can

The old man had a vision but it was hard for me to follow
I do things my way and i pay a high price
When i think back on the old man and the bus ride
Now that i'm older i can see he was right

Another hot one out on highway eleven
This is my life it's what i've chosen to do
There are no free rides no one said it'd be easy
The old man told me this my son i'm telling it to you

Chorus:
Days turn to minutes
And minutes to memories
Life sweeps away the dreams
That we have planned
You are young and you are the future
So suck it up and tough it out
And be the best you can


9.Rain On The Scarecrow

scarecrow on a wooden cross blackbird in the barn
Four hundred empty acres that used to be my farm
I grew up like my daddy did my grandpa cleared this land
When i was five i walked the fence while grandpa held my hand

Chorus:
Rain on the scarecrow blood on the plow
This land fed a nation this land made me proud
And son i'm just sorry there's no legacy for you now
Rain on the scarecrow blood on the plow
Rain on the scarecrow blood on the plow

The crops we grew last summer weren't enough to pay the loans
Couldn't buy the seed to plant this spring and the farmers bank
foreclosed
Called my old friend schepman up to auction off the land
He said john it's just my job and i hope you understand
Hey calling it your job ol' hoss sure don't make it right
But if you want me to i'll say a prayer for your soul tonight
And grandma's on the front porch swing with a bible in her hand
Sometimes i hear her singing 'take me to the promised land'
When you take away a man's dignity he can't work his fields and
cows

There'll be blood on the scarecrow blood on the plow
Blood on the scarecrow blood on the plow

Well there's ninety-seven crosses planted in the courthouse yard
Ninety-seven families who lost ninety-seven farms
I think about my grandpa and my neighbors and my name
And some nights i feel like dyin' like that scarecrow in the
rain

Chorus:
Rain on the scarecrow blood on the plow
This land fed a nation this land made me proud
And son i'm just sorry they're just memories for you now
Rain on the scarecrow blood on the plow
Rain on the scarecrow blood on the plow

Rain on the scarecrow blood on the plow
This land fed a nation this land made me so proud
And son i'm just sorry they're just memories for you now
Rain on the scarecrow blood on the plow
Rain on the scarecrow blood on the plow


10.The Full Catasrophe


11.Under The Boardwalk

Oh the sun beats down and melts the tar up on the roof
And your shoes get so hot you wish your tired feet were
fire-proof
Under the boardwalk, down by the sea
On a blanket with my baby is where i'll be

Chorus:
Under the boardwalk, out of the sun
Under the boardwalk, we'll be having some fun
Under the boardwalk, people walking above
Under the boardwalk, we'll be falling in love
Under the board-walk, board-walk

From a park you hear the happy sounds from a carousel
You can almost taste the hotdogs and french fries they sell
Under the boardwalk, down by the sea
On a blanket with my baby is where i'll be

Chorus:
Under the boardwalk, out of the sun
Under the boardwalk, we'll be having some fun
Under the boardwalk, people walking above
Under the boardwalk, we'll be falling in love
Under the board-walk, board-walk

Under the boardwalk, down by the sea
On a blanket with my baby is where i'll be

Under the boardwalk, down by the sea
On a blanket with my baby is where i'll be

On a blanket with my baby is where i'll be


12.When Jesus Left Birmingham

When jesus left birmingham
All the disciples went crazy
When jesus left birmingham
All the people went completely nuts
They all busted out on a wild night
Riding high on a golden calf
When jesus left birmingham
All the people had themselves a big long laugh

Well my girl, she's a walker
And she can talk herself out of any mess
My girl, she don't pray
But somehow she seems still to be blessed
And when those crazy nights come callin'
Man, she'll dance on the tables
Like all of the rest
When my girl left birmingham
She was doing what she thought was best

It's all free on the inside
I passed a very uncomfortable feeling last night
Save us right now, we need you...
To hell with all the lies and liars
Recovery, recovery, i don't know about any recovery
Inside, gotta get inside
Inside

I see myself with a rosary
I'm in a garden and i'm talking to myself
I ain't sayin' much worth repeating
Just askin' for forgiveness and all of his best
When those crazy nights come callin'
Man, i'm just as human as i can be
When jesus left birmingham
He left it there for you and me
When jesus left birmingham
He left it there for you and me

So let it rock, let it roll
Let the bible belt come and save my soul

(repeat out.)


13.Wild Tonight(Live)