John Mellencamp

Released: August 5, 1985

Songwriter: John Mellencamp George M. Green

Producer: Don Gehman John Mellencamp

Scarecrow on a wooden cross
Blackbird in the barn
Four hundred empty acres
That used to be my farm
Grew up like my daddy did
My grandpa cleared this land
When I was five
I walked the fence while Grandpa held my hand

Rain on the scarecrow
Blood on the plow
This land fed a nation
This land made me proud
And son, I\`m just sorry
There\`s no legacy for you now

Rain on the scarecrow
Blood on the plow
Rain on the scarecrow
Blood on the plow

The crops we grew last summer
Weren\`t enough to pay the loans
Couldn\`t buy the seed to plant this spring
And the Farmers' Bank foreclosed
Called my old friend Schepman
Up to auction off the land
He said:
"John, it\`s just my job
And I hope you understand."

Hey, calling it your job, ole hoss
Sure don\`t make it right
But if you want me to
I\`ll say a prayer for your soul tonight

And grandma\`s on the front porch swing
With a Bible in her hand
Sometimes I hear her singing
Take me to the Promised Land
When you take away a man\`s dignity
He can\`t work his fields and cows

There\`ll be
Blood on the scarecrow
Blood on the plow
Blood on the scarecrow
Blood on the plow

There\`s 97 crosses
Planted in the courthouse yard
Ninety-seven families who
Lost ninety-seven farms

I think about my grandpa
My neighbors and my name
And some nights
I feel like dying
Like that scarecrow in the rain

Rain on the scarecrow
Blood on the plow
This land fed a nation
This land made me proud
And son, I\`m just sorry
They\`re just memories for you now

Rain on the scarecrow
Blood on the plow
Rain on the scarecrow
Blood on the plow

Rain on the scarecrow
Blood on the plow
This land fed a nation
This land made me so proud
Son, I\`m just sorry
They\`re just memories for you now

Rain on the scarecrow
Blood on the plow
Rain on the scarecrow
Blood on the plow

John J Mellencamp, also known as John Cougar Mellencamp, is an American musician, singer-songwriter, painter, and actor. He is known for his catchy, populist brand of heartland rock, which emphasize with the working class.

John Mellencamp has released 22 studio albums, with a career that began in 1976 and still goes on today.

His most recent release was 2014’s Plain Spoken

more tracks from the album

Scarecrow

From the albums

Scarecrow (1985)
The Rolling Stone Collection - 25 Years Of Essential Rock (1993)
Rough Harvest (1999)
Words & Music: John Mellencamp’s Greatest Hits (2004)
On the Rural Route 7609 (2010)
Plain Spoken: From the Chicago Theatre (2018)

John Mellencamp popular songs

Rain on the ScarecrowJohn Mellencamp

John Mellencamp

Scarecrow