a tale of tails, tenacity, and tedium, as told by me, usually barefoot and bellowing

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Busted,

is one of over 4,000 songs written by Harland Howard and performed by a variety of musical artists.
Harland, a poor farm boy in Michigan after the great depression, began writing songs at the age of 12 because he loved the Grand Ole Opry.  He is known as The Dean of Nashville Songwriters and sometimes as The Irvin Berlin of Country.  He had over a hundred songs on the top ten list during his more than six decade career.  Mr. Howard liked to match his song with an artist.

My bills are all due and the baby needs shoes and I'm busted
Cotton is down to a quarter a pound, but I'm busted
I got a cow that went dry and a hen that won't lay
A big stack of bills that gets bigger each day
The county's gonna haul my belongings away cause I'm busted.

I went to my brother to ask for a loan cause I was busted
I hate to beg like a dog without his bone, but I'm busted
My brother said there ain't a thing I can do,
My wife and my kids are all down with the flu,
And I was just thinking about calling on you 'cause I'm busted.

Well, I am no thief, but a man can go wrong when he's busted
The food that we canned last summer is gone and I'm busted
The fields are all bare and the cotton won't grow,
Me and my family got to pack up and go,
But I'll make a living, just where I don't know cause I'm busted.
I'm broke, no bread, I mean like nothing

This song ran through my mind as the doctor bills from Hubby's first surgery began rolling in, followed by his second, and soon, the third round will hit.  I may be singing my own version of this song soon.

...and that's your country music history lesson for today.

It's raining!!!

14 comments:

Rudee said...

My favorite version of this song was sung by Ray Charles.

I hope you get some relief from the medical bills. It's situations like these that bring home the need for insurance reform.

Dreaming said...

Medical bills are outrageous. But... at least you have a sense of humor?! That and $4.28 will buy you a cup of coffee!!
Be sure to get itemized bills - you may find things that are double-billed, or things that weren't used at all! Also, don't be afraid to question a charge.....like the $130 I was charged for a brace (http://livingadream2.blogspot.com/2011/05/ouch.html)

Good luck - sorry about the bills :-(

Susan Anderson said...

I wish the cost of good medical care weren't so high. It's not right.

"/

PS. But your attitude sure is! (And I remember this song well, even though I'm not a fan of country music. It was just plain good.)

LindaG said...

Glad to hear you got rain!

*Hugs* on the bills. :|

Tamara said...

I sure hope it's not too bad ((((Hugs))))

Buttons Thoughts said...

Oh Gail that really sucks not the song but everything you are going through. If you only lived in Canada you would not have those nasty medical bills just high taxes. Take care and your song choice will be a happy one once you get past the rough spot. B

DesertHen said...

Check, check and recheck those bills! Our hospital likes to double bill a lot and I didn't catch it the first few times it happened! I won't even get started on the expense of medical care! Ticks me off!

Thanks for the country music history lesson! =) Always remember...you're never "busted" if you have love, family and a good dog! =)

Pat said...

I thought of you today when I saw the national weather report. :) Know you are glad to get rain.

Thanks for the history lesson. It was real interesting.

Does it make you feel any better that a lot of people are in your same predicament?

Empty Nester said...

Dang medical bills. They do roll in, don't they.

It rained here today too! I was so excited I almost went out and played in it. But the lightning had other ideas. LOL

Jules said...

I know very few country songs but I knew this one and the other?

How highs the water mama? :)
Jules @ Trying To Get Over The Rainbow

Judy said...

Money has a way of showing up when it is needed...I'll try to remind it that you need some...

Far Side of Fifty said...

Oh I know the feeling after my thumb surgery and then Far Guys finger surgery..I am still getting bills..we did not reach the catastrophic cap but close. Medical care is so expensive..I try to stay out of the clinic and the hospital.

This too shall pass..it is a good thing you have a job and a garden:)

carolina nana said...

I know how you feel,as I've seen my son's bills even with the insurance he had his bills are astronomical. I thought our president was supposed to fix that,but I guess he's got better things to do !!!!
Blessings
Marilyn

Dawn said...

:))) Next time can you VIDEO that of you singing? I would love to hear it:)

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