I was reminded that back in 2011, I wrote new words trying to reflect the onward march of technology on the farm. The revised version was called ‘The Great Machines of Harvest’ which can be accessed by link at the end of this post.
However, as we sang the original version of the hymn, I was disconcerted by, what in these ‘extreme weather’ times, felt complacent to me, and I realised, the same criticism could be applied to my 2011 version.
During the afternoon following the service, I explored a different approach which once again could be sung to any familiar hymn tune used for the original version. Here it is - and suddenly with the stupidity of politicians wanting to ditch green policies, it feels important to post it
No Longer is The Ploughing
No longer is the ploughing
one annual winter chore:
fields now are laced with compounds
so they will yield much more.
But snow which once warmed seedlings
might now be rain extreme,
so weather’s wild excesses
wreck cultivation schemes.
Refrain
All good gifts around us
are not found everywhere,
for drought and floods and warfare,
can render farmland bare.
Although our generous Maker
desires that earth should thrive,
sustain its population
that everyone might live.
The greed and vast consumption
of those in lands of wealth
mean millions face starvation
and dangerous ill-health
Refrain
We ask you then, O Father
‘Help us make protests strong
‘gainst fools and vested interests
who’d short-term gains prolong,
instead of realising
the change we can’t avoid:
STOP oil! STOP profiteering!
Before all Earth’s destroyed.
The Great Machines of Harvest mentioned in the first paragraph can be accessed HERE