Rain on the scarecrow    (video)

 

    Em - G - Em - G (4x)           +  Em - G - Em - G (4x)

 

       Em                     G                   Em                     G

1. Scarecrow on a wooden cross, blackbird in the barn,

     Em                           G             Em                   G

    four hundred empty acres that used to be my farm.

         Em                    G                    Em                           G

    I grew up like my daddy did, my grandpa cleared this land,

             Em                G                                  Em                     G

    when I was five I walked the fence while grandpa held my hand.

 

C                                      - D   

    Rain on the scarecrow,      blood on the plow,  

        C                                D

this land fed a nation, this land made me proud.

         D                                            C

And son, I’m just sorry, there’s no legacy for you now !

Em                      G           - Em                       G

    Rain on the scarecrow,        blood on the plow,

Em                    G            - Em                        G

    rain on the scarecrow,         blood on the plow.

 

             Em                          G                         Em                      G

2. The crops we grew last summer weren’t enough to pay the loans,

                  Em                       G

    couldn’t buy the seed to plant this spring

                   Em                         G

    and the Farmers Bank foreclosed.

      Em                                G                  Em                  G

    Called my old friend Schepman up to auction off the land,

                   Em                     G             Em                     G

    he said: John, it’s just my job and I hope you understand.

             Em                 G                   Em                        G

    Hey, calling it your job, old hoss, sure don’t make it right,

                     Em                   G                Em                   G

    but if you want me to, I’ll say a prayer for your soul tonight.

 

           C                                                               D

And grandma’s on the front porch swing with a bible in her hand,

         C                                                   D

sometimes I hear her singing “Take me to the promised land”,

                  D                                              C

When you take away a man’s dignity, he can’t work his fields and cows.

Em                        G           - Em                       G

    Blood on the scarecrow,        blood on the plow,

Em                       G            - Em                        G

    blood on the scarecrow,         blood on the plow.

 

+  Em - G - Em - G (4x)        +  C - D   - C - D    - C - D   - Em ~

 

                         Em                   G                    Em                         G

3. Well, there’s ninety-seven crosses planted in the courthouse yard,

     Em                G                        Em                G

    ninety-seven families who lost ninety-seven farms.

        Em                    G                Em                         G

    I think about my grandpa, my neighbors and my name,

                      Em                     G                   Em                    G

    and some nights I feel like dyin’ like the scarecrow in the rain.

 

C                                      - D

    Rain on the scarcrow,        blood on the plow,

        C                                D

this land fed a nation, this land made me proud.

           D                                               C

And, son, I’m just sorry, they’re just memories for you now,

Em                      G           - Em                       G

    Rain on the scarecrow,        blood on the plow,

Em                    G            - Em                        G

    rain on the scarecrow,         blood on the plow.

 

+  repeat last CHORUS

 

+  Em - G - Em - G (4x)   +  Em

 

(orig. = capo 2nd)    (John Cougar Mellencamp)