Story Behind The Song

A family packs their belongings and heads west to California in hopes of economic opportunity due to the Great Dustbowl crisis (Depression Era) Inspired by the photography of Dianne Lainne)

Song Description

The Great Dustbowl migration to California in search of suitable farmland due to drought/depression (1929-1941)

Lyrics

I've listened to oakies who told me their tales
Of brand new beginings and happier trails
Packed up their jalopies and headed out west
So we did the same as the rest
(Chorus) O' Mary my darling forgive me my dear
The crops they have failed us again this year
You pawned all your dreams in search of this place and it seems that it's all been a waste
Our hopes had resided on tending a farm
With soil so fertile to nurture it's crops
We'd earn us a space that we'd call our own
I remember we rolled out that dawn
The land it was cursed by previous men
their faults and their failures were all but condemned
Condolence was all that Washington sent
While the Hoovervilles paid for their sins
(Chorus.2) O Mary my darling forgive me my dear
The crops they have failed us again this year
What once made you smile has now caused you to fear and it keeps getting worse each year
Was I the man Mary you knew was the one or was I just the first after he came and gone
I hope you didn't settle for me in his place
whose left you ashamed and disgraced
(Chorus.2)
(Chorus.3) O' mary my darling forgive me my dear
The crops have failed us again this year
Our children are hungry and it pains me to fear
It won't be much better next year
...It won't be much better next year ( x 2)