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Ragweed Ruth

from High Hat by Dave Muir

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about

I put this poem by Ken Kesey to music not long after I first read it back in the late eighties. I regret I never brought this to Ken's attention though who knows whether he would have been interested or not. I have been playing it so long that I feel the music and poem belong together but then I can hardly be objective. I did bring it to the attention of one of the Kesey family and had positive feedback which was nice.

lyrics

Ragweed Ruth was unmowed maze
She was nightshade in the morning
Her ragged flag was often raised
But she raised it like a warning.

No mate had she but emptiness
No family filled her time
She sipped instead on bitterness
Just like it was sweet wine
Like it was sweet wine
She soothed her throat with emptiness
Just like it was sweet wine.

The best spread once found anywhere
Was left by her old man's leaving
But she farmed those fields like a fool at prayer
And watered them with dreaming.

Her hay was wind and wanderings
Shocked up by forked rakes
Her grain was threshed by thunderings
Her trees were tangled snakes
Trees were tangled snakes
Her grain was threshed by thunderings
Her trees were tangled snakes.

Each spring the farmers from around
Brought axes and advices
But Ruth would firmly glare them down
To forge her own devices.

For she was plenty to herself
She survived the seasons through
She was dark bread dipped in health
She was her own strong brew
Was her own strong brew
She was dark bread dipped in salty health
She was her own strong brew.

Then came the dry when the farming men
Failed and cracked and fled
Ruth invited all the families in
And somehow all were fed.

Plow never cleft her bottomland
Nor harrow stroked her sod
Still, golden ears and marzipan
Up sprung from where she trod
Sprung from where she trod
Golden ears and marzipan
Sprung up from where she trod.

The passing of her wandering walk
Could fill a tree with fruit
At her glare the shriveled stalk
Would straighten, stand and root.

The dry time passed as all times will.
Back to the crippled county
Returned the rain, the sprouts to till,
And seeming endless bounty.

The guests all gathered up and left
With their advice and axes…
Old Ruth ragdanced on to death
Her land was sold for taxes
Land was sold for taxes
Ragweed Ruth danced on to death
Her land was sold for taxes. 

credits

from High Hat, released October 16, 2022
Music Dave Muir
Lyrics Ken Kesey

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Dave Muir New Brunswick

Dave Muir is a musical artist from Ottawa, currently based in Atlantic Canada. Dave has been crafting his unique style and sound since the early 80s performing in various blues, rock, roots, and acoustic groups. Inspired by the diverse stylings of a century of music making, he brings his humble and unassuming nature to song with the soul of a timeless storyteller, and the heart of a poet. ... more

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