Το Dust Bowl Ballads [1940] ήταν το πρώτο concept album στην ιστορία και το πιο επιτυχημένο του Woody Guthrie. Τα τραγούδια αναφέρονται στην καταστροφική περίοδο ξηρασίας συνοδευόμενης από θύελλες σκόνης που έπληξε την Αμερική στην δεκαετία του ’30.
Διασημότερο της συλλογής το “Tom Joad”, με μουσική δανεισμένη απ’ το κλασικό φολκ τραγούδι “John Hardy” [η επική εκτέλεση του Leadblelly, εδώ : LEADBELLY – JOHN HARDY (VERSION 2)]
Αντ’ αυτού διαλέγουμε το “Blowin’ Down This Road (I Ain’t Gonna Be treated This Way)”.

Dust Bowl Ballads [1940] was the first concept album in history and the most successful by Woody Guthrie. The songs refer to the devastating period of drought accompanied by storms of dust that hit America in the ‘30s.
The most famous song of the album is “Tom Joad”, with music borrowed from the classic “John Hardy” [listen to the epic Leadbelly’s performance, here: LEADBELLY – JOHN HARDY (VERSION 2)]
We pick “Blowin’ Down This Road (I Ain’t Gonna Be treated This Way)” instead.

I’m blowin’ down this old dusty road,
I’m a-blowin’ down this old dusty road,
I’m a-blowin’ down this old dusty road, Lord, Lord,
An’ I ain’t a-gonna be treated this a-way.
I’m a-goin’ where the water taste like wine,
I’m a-goin’ where the water taste like wine,
I’m a-goin’ where the water taste like wine, Lord,
An’ I ain’t a-gonna be treated this way.
I’m a-goin’ where the dust storms never blow,
I’m a-goin’ where them dust storms never blow,
I’m a-goin’ where them dust storms never blow, blow, blow,
An’ I ain’t a-gonna be treated this way.
They say I’m a dust bowl refugee,
Yes, they say I’m a dust bowl refugee,
They say I’m a dust bowl refugee, Lord, Lord,
An’ I ain’t a-gonna be treated this way.
I’m a-lookin’ for a job at honest pay,
I’m a-lookin’ for a job at honest pay,
I’m a-lookin’ for a job at honest pay, Lord, Lord,
An’ I ain’t a-gonna be treated this way.
My children need three square meals a day,
Now, my children need three square meals a day,
My children need three square meals a day, Lord,
An’ I ain’t a-gonna be treated this way.
It takes a ten-dollar shoe to fit my feet,
It takes a ten-dollar shoe to fit my feet,
It takes a ten-dollar shoe to fit my feet, Lord, Lord,
An’ I ain’t a-gonna be treated this way.
Your a-two-dollar shoe hurts my feet,
Your two-dollar shoe hurts my feet,
Yes, your two-dollar shoe hurts my feet, Lord, Lord,
An’ I ain’t a-gonna be treated this way.
I’m a-goin’ down this old dusty road,
I’m blowin’ down this old dusty road,
I’m a-blowin’ down this old dusty road, Lord, Lord,
An’ I ain’t a-gonna be treated this way.