Song Description

The drought of 1989 was a patchwork drought - some areas were hit very hard and others were spared. Things are always more interesting when they are not straightforward and clear. I like exploring the gray areas. This song explores the contradictory feeli

Lyrics

Mixed Emotions
(The Drought of ?89)

The wind is up, the river?s low
Fields are dry, the childish voice on the radio
Says, ?Ain?t it nice to see
the sun out every day?
Half an inch of rain is all we?ve had since May.?

Chorus:
And there?s a ring around the rosy sun
Pockets full of flower crumbs
Ashes, ashes,
We all fall down

Rusty swingset, lilac sky
The taste of tears and rhubarb pie
The hated dandelions grow
Roots too deep to dig
The jealosy of gardens has grown a bit too big

(Chorus)

The gentle threat of picket fences,
Cruelty on the front porch
The tyranny of aunts
Do you think there?s poison
In the watermelon rind
Can you find the summer?s innocent designs?

(Chorus)

Mixed emotions, vagrant smiles
See their sad reflections in the quarry tiles
Can you gather in the contradicting breezes
Yearning for the end
of what you never want to leave

(Chorus)

We drag the stream, pray for rain
We try to glean all the hope
That we can from the pain
That keeps coming ?round
like faces in the clouds
The knowledge that your silent dreams
Have somehow gotten loud

(Chorus)