Bruce Hornsby: "Barren Ground"
Good seed don't grow on the barren ground
There were people living in a green valley
Found a way to make a lot of money
Made the green turn gradually gray
Found a way to make a lot of money
Made the green turn gradually gray
They figured they could do whatever they wanted
Everything would be alright
But scars don't always heal away
Everything would be alright
But scars don't always heal away
And the sons and the daughters
Got diamonds and gold
But they were given a land where
Strong roots never take hold
Got diamonds and gold
But they were given a land where
Strong roots never take hold
Good seed don't grow on the barren ground
Good things don't come along
As you just sit dreaming on
Good things don't come along
As you just sit dreaming on
Good seed don't grow on the barren ground
Say everything fades away, there you are still around
Say everything fades away, there you are still around
What'll you do? woah, where will you go?
There was a ship along the coast
Carrying a hold of black money
In the sound near the northern lights
Carrying a hold of black money
In the sound near the northern lights
When the ship set sail
The crew looked for guidance
In the bottom of an empty glass
The crew looked for guidance
In the bottom of an empty glass
Then the captain said
"Pour me another rye"
Then the water turned black
As that cold winter's night
"Pour me another rye"
Then the water turned black
As that cold winter's night
Good seed don't grow on the barren ground
Good things don't come along
As you just sit dreaming on
Good things don't come along
As you just sit dreaming on
Good seed don't grow on the barren ground
Say everything fades away, there you are still around
Oh, what'll you do? Oh, where will you go?
Say everything fades away, there you are still around
Oh, what'll you do? Oh, where will you go?
And the sons and the daughters
Got diamonds and gold
They were given a land where
Strong roots never take hold
Got diamonds and gold
They were given a land where
Strong roots never take hold
Good seed don't grow on the barren ground
Good things don't come along
As you just sit dreaming on
Good things don't come along
As you just sit dreaming on
Good seed don't grow on the barren ground
Say everything fades away, there you are still around
Say everything fades away, there you are still around
Good seed don't grow on the barren ground
Things don't come along
As you just sit dreaming on
Things don't come along
As you just sit dreaming on
Good seed don't grow on the barren ground
Good seed don't grow on the barren ground
Good seed don't grow on the barren ground
Good seed don't grow on the barren ground
Good seed don't grow on the barren ground
Good seed don't grow on the barren ground
Good seed don't grow on the barren ground
"Barren Ground" communicates an aura of urgency. The lyrics express environmental stewardship, and the story of the Exxon Valdez oil spill provides an apt cautionary tale.
Hornsby orients the listener toward this urgency with an opening crescendo and the immediate recitation of the song's chorus. It's a haunting tune which expresses a sense of futility in the verse: Say everything fades away, there you are still around.
The idea of permanence juxtaposed with degradation is powerful. We have to protect our natural resources, for our species will have to live with the consequences of our actions. It's a message reminiscent of an aphorism my father often repeated when I was young: Don't foul your own campground.
