{"id":1229,"date":"2017-07-11T03:02:37","date_gmt":"2017-07-11T03:02:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/ushistory2os\/chapter\/primary-source-lester-hunter-id-rather-not-be-on-relief-1938\/"},"modified":"2017-07-11T03:02:37","modified_gmt":"2017-07-11T03:02:37","slug":"primary-source-lester-hunter-id-rather-not-be-on-relief-1938","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/rangercollege-ushistory2os\/chapter\/primary-source-lester-hunter-id-rather-not-be-on-relief-1938\/","title":{"raw":"Primary Source: Lester Hunter, \u201cI\u2019d Rather Not Be on Relief\u201d (1938)","rendered":"Primary Source: Lester Hunter, \u201cI\u2019d Rather Not Be on Relief\u201d (1938)"},"content":{"raw":"Lester Hunter left the Dust Bowl for the fields of California and wrote this poem, later turned into a song by migrant workers in California\u2019s Farm Security Administration camps. The \u201cC.I.O.\u201d in the final line refers to the Congress of Industrial Unions, a powerful new industrial union founded in 1935.<\/em>\n\nWe go around all dressed in rags\n\nWhile the rest of the world goes neat,\n\nAnd we have to be satisfied\n\nWith half enough to eat.\n\nWe have to live in lean-tos,\n\nOr else we live in a tent,\n\nFor when we buy our bread and beans\n\nThere\u2019s nothing left for rent.\n\nI\u2019d rather not be on the rolls of relief,\n\nOr work on the W. P. A.,\n\nWe\u2019d rather work for the farmer\n\nIf the farmer could raise the pay;\n\nThen the farmer could plant more cotton\n\nAnd he\u2019d get more money for spuds,\n\nInstead of wearing patches,\n\nWe\u2019d dress up in new duds.\n\nFrom the east and west and north and south\n\nLike a swarm of bees we come;\n\nThe migratory workers\n\nAre worse off than a bum.\n\nWe go to Mr. Farmer\n\nAnd ask him what he\u2019ll pay;\n\nHe says, \u201cYou gypsy workers\n\nCan live on a buck a day.\u201d\n\nI\u2019d rather not be on the rolls of relief,\n\nOr work on the W. P. A.,\n\nWe\u2019d rather work for the farmer\n\nIf the farmer could raise the pay;\n\nThen the farmer could plant more cotton\n\nAnd he\u2019d get more money for spuds,\n\nInstead of wearing patches,\n\nWe\u2019d dress up in new duds.\n\nWe don\u2019t ask for luxuries\n\nOr even a feather bed.\n\nBut we\u2019re bound to raise the dickens\n\nWhile our families are underfed.\n\nNow the winter is on us\n\nAnd the cotton picking is done,\n\nWhat are we going to live on\n\nWhile we\u2019re waiting for spuds to come?\n\nNow if you will excuse me\n\nI\u2019ll bring my song to an end.\n\nI\u2019ve got to go and chuck a crack\n\nWhere the howling wind comes in.\n\nThe times are going to better\n\nAnd I guess you\u2019d like to know\n\nI\u2019ll tell you all about it,\n\nI\u2019ve joined the C. I. O.\n\n[Source: Lester Hunter, \u201cI\u2019d Rather Not Be on Relief\u201d (1938). Available online via Archive of Folk Culture, Library of Congress<\/em>, https:\/\/www.loc.gov\/folklife\/archive.html<\/a>.]\n\n\u00a0","rendered":"

Lester Hunter left the Dust Bowl for the fields of California and wrote this poem, later turned into a song by migrant workers in California\u2019s Farm Security Administration camps. The \u201cC.I.O.\u201d in the final line refers to the Congress of Industrial Unions, a powerful new industrial union founded in 1935.<\/em><\/p>\n

We go around all dressed in rags<\/p>\n

While the rest of the world goes neat,<\/p>\n

And we have to be satisfied<\/p>\n

With half enough to eat.<\/p>\n

We have to live in lean-tos,<\/p>\n

Or else we live in a tent,<\/p>\n

For when we buy our bread and beans<\/p>\n

There\u2019s nothing left for rent.<\/p>\n

I\u2019d rather not be on the rolls of relief,<\/p>\n

Or work on the W. P. A.,<\/p>\n

We\u2019d rather work for the farmer<\/p>\n

If the farmer could raise the pay;<\/p>\n

Then the farmer could plant more cotton<\/p>\n

And he\u2019d get more money for spuds,<\/p>\n

Instead of wearing patches,<\/p>\n

We\u2019d dress up in new duds.<\/p>\n

From the east and west and north and south<\/p>\n

Like a swarm of bees we come;<\/p>\n

The migratory workers<\/p>\n

Are worse off than a bum.<\/p>\n

We go to Mr. Farmer<\/p>\n

And ask him what he\u2019ll pay;<\/p>\n

He says, \u201cYou gypsy workers<\/p>\n

Can live on a buck a day.\u201d<\/p>\n

I\u2019d rather not be on the rolls of relief,<\/p>\n

Or work on the W. P. A.,<\/p>\n

We\u2019d rather work for the farmer<\/p>\n

If the farmer could raise the pay;<\/p>\n

Then the farmer could plant more cotton<\/p>\n

And he\u2019d get more money for spuds,<\/p>\n

Instead of wearing patches,<\/p>\n

We\u2019d dress up in new duds.<\/p>\n

We don\u2019t ask for luxuries<\/p>\n

Or even a feather bed.<\/p>\n

But we\u2019re bound to raise the dickens<\/p>\n

While our families are underfed.<\/p>\n

Now the winter is on us<\/p>\n

And the cotton picking is done,<\/p>\n

What are we going to live on<\/p>\n

While we\u2019re waiting for spuds to come?<\/p>\n

Now if you will excuse me<\/p>\n

I\u2019ll bring my song to an end.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve got to go and chuck a crack<\/p>\n

Where the howling wind comes in.<\/p>\n

The times are going to better<\/p>\n

And I guess you\u2019d like to know<\/p>\n

I\u2019ll tell you all about it,<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve joined the C. I. O.<\/p>\n

[Source: Lester Hunter, \u201cI\u2019d Rather Not Be on Relief\u201d (1938). Available online via Archive of Folk Culture, Library of Congress<\/em>, https:\/\/www.loc.gov\/folklife\/archive.html<\/a>.]<\/p>\n

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Candela Citations<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t
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