Natalie Merchant - Dust Bowl

I should know to leave them home
They follow me through the store with these toys I can't afford
Kids, take them back, you know better than that
Dolls that talk, astronauts, T.V. games, airplanes
They don't understand and how can I explain?

I try and try but I can't save
Pennies, nickels, dollars slip away
I've tried and tried but I can't save

My youngest girl has bad fever, sure
All night with alcohol to cool and rub her down
Ruby, I'm tired, try and get some sleep
I'm adding doctor's fees to remedies
With the cost of three day's work lost

I try and try but I can't save
Pennies, nickels, dollars slip away
I've tried and tried but I can't save
The hole in my pocketbook is growing

There's a new wind blowing they say
It's gonna be a cold, cold one
Brace yourselves my darlings
It won't bring anything much our way
But more dust bowl days

I played a card in this weeks game
I took the first and the last letters in three of their names
This lottery's been building up for weeks
I could be lucky me with the five million prize
Tears of disbelief spilling out of my eyes

I try and try but I can't save
Pennies, nickels, dollars slip away
I've tried and tried but I can't save
The hole in my pocketbook is growing

There's a new wind blowing they say
It's gonna be a cold, cold one
Brace yourselves my darlings
It won't bring anything much our way
But more dust bowl days