This thread reminds me of a Mike Cross song, "Old Paint Peeling."
"I was just sixteen, the oldest son, when my mama called to me. She said, 'Here's ten dollars and your daddy's watch, and the Bible of the family. Now the mule's been sold, I'm feeling old, and we've got to find another town, You better leave and find you a better life, before the family drags you down.' "She was singing, (chorus) 'Old paint peeling and the rats are squealing, the well's gone dry as a bone,
Crops are picked, I'm feeling licked, and we got to be moving on, Old paint peeling, rats are squealing, and there ain't no time for school. never wanted you to be like your old man, growing up a fool.'
"I took that money and I ran away, but I stopped to see that girl of mine. gave a preacher ten dollars just to tie the knot, right after we crossed the state line. I got a job sharing crops for a rich Georgia farmer. I was young and I was strong. I tried to find a better life, but it weren't no time before the kids started coming along. And they were singing..." (chorus).
"Years went by going town to town to town working hard to keep away the cold. The children had to help me get the crops in; I was getting old! Then one night I heard my wife calling to my oldest son; She said, 'Here's ten dollars and your daddy's watch, You better leave before the rising sun.' She was singing..." (chorus)
Eric
"I was just sixteen, the oldest son, when my mama called to me. She said, 'Here's ten dollars and your daddy's watch, and the Bible of the family. Now the mule's been sold, I'm feeling old, and we've got to find another town, You better leave and find you a better life, before the family drags you down.' "She was singing, (chorus) 'Old paint peeling and the rats are squealing, the well's gone dry as a bone,
Crops are picked, I'm feeling licked, and we got to be moving on, Old paint peeling, rats are squealing, and there ain't no time for school. never wanted you to be like your old man, growing up a fool.'
"I took that money and I ran away, but I stopped to see that girl of mine. gave a preacher ten dollars just to tie the knot, right after we crossed the state line. I got a job sharing crops for a rich Georgia farmer. I was young and I was strong. I tried to find a better life, but it weren't no time before the kids started coming along. And they were singing..." (chorus).
"Years went by going town to town to town working hard to keep away the cold. The children had to help me get the crops in; I was getting old! Then one night I heard my wife calling to my oldest son; She said, 'Here's ten dollars and your daddy's watch, You better leave before the rising sun.' She was singing..." (chorus)
Eric