If There's Not A Hell (There Ought To Be)

(album: Margie's At The Lincoln Park Inn - 1969)

Farmer Jones ran short on seeds
So he borrowed from his neigbor Sam
The fall brought Jones a flourishing crop
While his neighbor's all burned brown.

Sam had a wife and thirteen kids
He worked to feed each day
With hungry pride he begged for help
And he was turned away.

He was forced to sell his farm
For half its worth
To this man he thought a friend to be
If there's not a hell there ought to be.

Mary Ann was sweet sixteen
Never had been around
A child as pure as a mountain stream
That ran through her hometown.

Then happened by the slick Tom Shark
In his hand she was clay
She got caught and faced the shame
And he laughed and went his way.

Now no one knows where she's at
Her folks sent her away
If there's not a hell there ought to be.

Widow Brown worked since Joe died
And tried to save her pay
To give nine children beans and bread
And pretty ties on Sunday.

She got sick and slipped behind
The rent she had to meet
They told her they were sorry
And they kicked her out in the street.

And that same day they came
And took her kids away
If there's not a hell there ought to be.

Young Billy Brown he took a trip
To keep his country free
We're all proud of what he done
For the good old USA.

But somewhere there's a mighty big man
Who kept this a going on
The personal game, wealth and fame
They did their league all wrong.

All wrapped up in the stars and stripes
Bill came home one day
If there's not a hell there ought to be.

If there's not a hell there ought to be...