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
