Shaky Ground

Shaky Ground 

 (Her)

You say you have an idea,

You say you’ve laid the plans,

You said you thought it over,

Will make it on this land.

So where’d you get the numbers,

Where’d ya get the tools,

Where’d ya get the money,

Are ya’ playin’ me for a fool?

(Him)

Oh, Sweetie don’t be silly,

I’ve said I thought it out,

I’ll get the plan together,

So you’ll no longer doubt.

The numbers are all ready,

Pa’ will lend me tools,

Bank’ll give me money,

I’ll play it by the rules. 

(Her)

You put a ring on my finger,

You promised me a home,

You said we’d have some children,

Now you’re gettin’ loans?

Honey, that ain’t Christian!

I’ll tell it to ya straight,

Put an end to your nonsense

Before it’s too late. 

(Him) 

It’s not as shaky as yer’ thinkin',

No not half as what ye’ say. 

I promise that my thinkin’ 

Won’t land us in that way.

The land indeed is wild,

Its groves are thick with trees,

Its hills are rough and wild,

And whistles with the breeze. 

(Her) 

It’s you that’s rough and wild,

You and all your tricks,

You’ll lead me into ruin,

And leave me with naught’ but sticks. 

(Him) 

It’s your love that has tamed me,

No longer wild and free,

I promise that I’m thinking,

Of us can’t you see?

(Her)

Please I ain’t that stupid,

I know my maths quite well.

I know how long it’ll take you,

To profit from this well.

This plan is looking shaky! 

I think I’ll lose my mind,

Please don’t be so eager,

To leave the town behind. 

(Him) 

You won’t get behind me?

I’ll lead you into fame,

I’ll profit from this venture,

So all will know my name!

The husband leads the family,

I shall do the same,

When my plans fall asunder,

It’s you who is to blame!

(Narrator)

And so the couple quarreled

On and on it went

She finally surrendered

And the money was all spent.

He shouldn’t have been so hasty,

She shouldn’t have called him names.

They should have thought it over

And planned for harsher rains. 

It could have gone much different

If the two had talked it out

He had laid down numbers

Or she had sought it out. 

They should have worked together

They could have made it work

If either had chosen to listen

Instead of inflicting hurt. 

I now shall show once more

How the two could work it out

The venture planned much better

He lay her to rest her doubts 

(Him)

Hey honey I have somethin’

A plan that I have hatched

A venture now with profit,

A home for us to catch

A cellar full of food,

And land all around

In this little venture

All will be quite sound. 

(Her) 

Have a seat it’s time for dinner.

I see you are quite stoked

Let’s talk this whole thing over

Lest we might go broke. 

Tell it to me simply,

Each piece is its own thing

I hate to be skeptical

But planning ain’t your thing. 

I’m excited about the idea,

A home with land to fill

But where’s the money coming from

I hate for us to overbill. 

(Him) 

I plan to go out west,

Stake claim on the new land

Work it till it’s ours 

This is my whole plan. 

(Her)

I heard about the new land,

And I agree it’s our way out.

But let’s plan a litter deeper

Lest the worst comes about. 

We have no wagon or oxen

We’d have to stock on food.

I don’t see right now the money

Or on our feet, we might could stood. 

Let’s plan a year together.

Buy up the things we need.

Work hard to save the money

So next year we might be freed. 

(Narrator)

The two talked over

Long into the night. 

Neither one began to quarrel

Nor was there a sight. 

A year passed so quickly. 

And still, there wasn’t enough

But the two worked together 

Until they could buy the stuff. 

Both were prepared for the journey

They’d laid claim officially 

They were ready for the farming

And they worked together happily

It’s amazing how some verbiage

Could change the path we take

How one can cause a rift

Another joy to bake