BANKS OF MARBLE
This song was written by Les Rice, who was a farmer in the northeast. It was recorded in
1949 by the Weavers and issued on there “In Concert” album several years later. The
fundamental struggle is the same, but the details need to be updated. A recent version has
been recorded by Leo Kottke on his 12 string guitar along with Latino band “Los Lobos”
backing him up.
I’ve traveled round this country
From shore to shining shore
It really made me wonder
The things I heard and saw.
I saw the weary farmer
Plowing sod and loam
l heard the auction hammer
A knocking down his home
Chorus:
But the banks are made of marble
With a guard at every door
And the vaults are stuffed with silver
That the farmer sweated for
l saw the seaman standing
Idly by the shore
l heard the bosses saying
Got no work for you no more
But the banks are made of marble
With a guard at every door
And the vaults are stuffed with silver
That the seaman sweated for
I saw the weary miner
Scrubbing coal dust from his back
I heard his children crying
Got no coal to heat the shack
But the banks are made of marble
With a guard at every door
And the vaults are stuffed with silver
That the miner sweated for