Brown and Root

[Spoken Introduction: Steve Earle]

In the 1950s, Brown & Root was the largest construction company in the world. A lot of poor sharecrop farm people running from the Great Depression got common labor jobs working for Brown & Root.​

In the 1960s, Brown & Root diversified and built all the infrastructure for the Vietnam War.​

You don't hear about Brown & Root anymore 'cause they got bought out by a bigger company called Halliburton.​

[Verse 1: Rodney Crowell]

Lord, I worked my hands

In wet cement

For the county highway crew

I'm the middle boy

From a family of ten

And poor sons-of-bitches were we

Pa was mean when he drank

And he always drank

And he never said three words to me

[Verse 2: Steve Earle]

Lord, it's hell when you're down

Don't no one care

And it all looks like uphill down there

'Cause you work and you climb

And you smell like dirt

And you know you ain't going nowhere

At Brown & Root, Brown & Root

[Verse 3: Rodney Crowell and Steve Earle]

Lord, the rain would come

And the roof would leak

And the gas comp'ny cut off the heat

'Cause when it rains, you don't work

Which means, no pay

Which always means not much to eat

And there are too many ways to get beat

At Brown & Root, Brown & Root