Tell Me What I've Earned 
©2005 David Harper, Carol Harper, Mark Spoelstra

My family's blood is in this soil 
Their bones are bringing up the crops we toil 
When Harvest moon shines in September 
Nothing happens unless we wake 
Crack of dawn we can't sleep late 
Look out there…morning just waits ... 

Diesel dust old tractors and rust 
Soon the earth will warm like the 
Coffee in my gut 
Wind’s picking up dust in the air 
Bow my head in prayer 

Take everything Lord 
And take it soon 
Take the mid-day sun 
Take the harvest moon 
Endless fields beckoning 
Islands of corn reckoning 
When the work is done 
And the lamplight burns 
Tell me what I've earned 
Tell me what I've earned 

In my bed at night, my one desire 
Is for peace to come as I retire 
My hands are dry, my body aches 
Is this is what it takes? 
Dirt in my fingernails 
Boots caked in mud 
Sweat crawling down my face 
Shirt smells of sludge 
This is something I love …

And all I really ask as I scan the skies
Is that the bellies of my children are satisfied 
And if this is what it takes Lord 
Bring it on 

Take everything Lord 
And take it soon 
Take the mid-day sun 
Take the harvest moon 
Endless fields beckoning 
Islands of corn reckoning 
When the work is done 
And the lamplight burns 
Tell me what I've earned 
Tell me what I've earned