Steve Earle — Leroys Dustbowl Blues

Leroy was a farmer and an honest man Would have lived in Oklahoma all his days He just wanted left alone to work a piece of land But a hard wind come and blew his dreams away So he headed for the West Coast, thought he could not lose Rollin' down the highway with the dustbowl blues It's a thousand miles from broken Bow to Bakersfield And the highway's paved with heartaches all the way Leroy drove on, lookin' for a better deal A place a man could settle down and stay But the police at the state line beat him black and blue Left him lying by the roadside with the dustbowl blues They say California is a paradise Hollywood turns nighttime into day But up along the San Joaquin Those city lights might as well be a million miles away When your kids are cold and hungry wearin' worn-out shoes Standin' in the garden with the dustbowl blues