Vines dried and left bright orange fruit to see.
The public came but they left over half for me.
Diesel's cold -- ether helps a glow form.
She starts right up, ready to wipe it clean.
That's when I can, I can forget to be
Thankful, thankful to thee.
(repeat)
I've got forty acres of regret to see.
My profit loss has been on show for free.
But with the moisture right,
In the morning light,
Hydraulic lifts up the three point hitch.
That's when I can, I can forget to be
Thankful, thankful to thee.
(repeat)
Some draw faces, some carve them desperately,
Put a candle inside, as if that were really life.
I leave them blank to sit so quietly,
Expecting nothing, never turning away.
That's when I can, I can forget to be
Thankful, thankful to thee.
(repeat)
Drop the disc down onto a level field.
Watch it churn like an ocean gone brown.
Pumpkin leaves and tendrils turning under me,
An empty slate, ready for the cold.
The song “Pumpkin Farmer” by Trilobite is an introspective piece that talks about the struggles of farming and the sense of regret that comes along with it. The opening lines of the song describe a scene where the vines have dried out, and the pumpkins are ready for harvest. The singer mentions that although the public has taken most of the pumpkins, he has been left with a significant portion. He then goes on to describe the coldness of his diesel engine and how adding ether to it makes it glow, indicating that it's ready for use. These lines serve as a metaphor for the resilience and determination it takes to be a farmer and the need to keep pushing forward, even when things get tough.
The chorus of the song is a repetition of the words “That's when I can, I can forget to be / Thankful, thankful to thee” and reflects the internal conflict of the singer, where he acknowledges that he should be grateful for what he has but is struggling to find peace and contentment in his life. The second verse further delves into the sense of regret and loss that the singer feels. He talks about his “profit loss” being on display for all to see and how he has forty acres of land that he now regrets. The only thing that seems to bring him joy is his work, and the hydraulic lifts and morning light are a reminder that there is still beauty in this seemingly bleak situation.
The third verse is perhaps the most poetic, as the singer talks about the tradition of carving pumpkins into faces and putting candles inside them as if that were “really life”. He parallels this with his own life, where he chooses to leave the pumpkins blank, “expecting nothing, never turning away”. The song concludes with a description of the farming process, where the singer drops the disc down onto the field, and the pumpkin leaves and tendrils turn under him, ready for the “cold” that is to come.
Vines dried and left bright orange fruit to see.
After the vines have died, they leave behind bright orange pumpkins to be harvested.
The public came but they left over half for me.
Even after the public has taken some of my pumpkins, I still have over half left for myself.
Diesel's cold -- ether helps a glow form.
The diesel fuel is cold, but adding ether helps start the engine and a glow to form.
She starts right up, ready to wipe it clean.
My machine starts quickly and is ready to be cleaned.
I've got forty acres of regret to see.
I have a large area of farmland that I regret owning.
My profit loss has been on show for free.
My financial struggles are evident to anyone who pays attention.
But with the moisture right,
If the moisture level is optimal,
In the morning light,
In the light of dawn,
Hydraulic lifts up the three point hitch.
The hydraulic system raises the back of the machine to prepare for work.
Some draw faces, some carve them desperately,
Some people are creative and put in a lot of effort to carve pumpkin faces,
Put a candle inside, as if that were really life.
They place a candle inside the carved pumpkin, as if it will bring it to life.
I leave them blank to sit so quietly,
I leave my pumpkins uncarved to sit quietly.
Expecting nothing, never turning away.
I have no expectations, and do not turn away from the outcome.
Drop the disc down onto a level field.
I lower the disc part of my machine onto a flat field.
Watch it churn like an ocean gone brown.
I watch the machine churn the dirt, resembling an ocean with brown waves.
Pumpkin leaves and tendrils turning under me,
The leaves and vines of the pumpkin plants are turning under my machine.
An empty slate, ready for the cold.
The harvested plot of land is empty and ready for the upcoming cold season.
That's when I can, I can forget to beThankful, thankful to thee.
During these times, I forget to be thankful for what I have.
That's when I can, I can forget to beThankful, thankful to thee.
During these times, I forget to be thankful for what I have.
That's when I can, I can forget to beThankful, thankful to thee.
During these times, I forget to be thankful for what I have.
Contributed by Michael N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
