Katie and Burl

I once knew the man who farmed this land
He worked himself to an early grave
He grew what he could and
He saved all he could save
And now he's back to the earth
Where he came from

He married a girl named Katie
They met in church on a Sunday
They went their own way
And they raised four kids
And they tried to live
As their parents did

Oh what can be said
Of a man and his wife
When it takes all they've got
Just to keep themselves alive
I once knew the man
Who farmed this land

Well the first child was born
In the winter time
But he was small and weak
So soon the baby died
But they were strong
So they went on
And with the help of each other
They raised four strong

Now the farm which I speak of
Now is all gone
It's all been sold to a millionaire's son
For a golf course and a business park
Nothing to be grown
Old Burl he would cry
If he could see his farm gone

Oh what can be said
Of a man and his wife
When it takes all they've got
Just to keep themselves alive
I once knew the man
Who farmed this land
I once knew the man
Who farmed this land