Lyrics One Woman and a Shovel - Carrie Newcomer

One Woman and a Shovel

Martha walked right down to the dam,
I hoe and a shovel in either hand
She was bound to dig for every woman and man,
And child that lay sick with fever
The government men said, «Be our favorite sons,
Be a place of worth some where and someone
If you drown this valley the canal boats will come.»
So they drowned their lovely valley
But the waters grew black and the sickness came.
They hung their heads in grief and shame
Martha said, «We've only ourselves to blame.»
And took up a shovel and hoe, Good Lord
She took up a shovel and hoe
When it’s time to say enough and set things right,
The whole world is waist deep in trouble,
Never doubt or question the power of love,
Or one woman with a shovel
Along came Elizabeth Sarah and Rose, Eva, Clara and Ruth
They came with picks and shovels and hoes and armed with a righteous truth.
Then came Calvin, Eli and Scott, Timothy, David and Paul
And together before sun came up they tore down the cursed wall, yes yes
They tore down the cursed wall
And the lake finally bled its bad blood south,
And they’d saved that ravaged land
And not a single soul jury or judge would think to fine or jail them,
Would think to fine or jail them
Martha walked right down to the dam
Hoe and a shovel in either hand
She was bound to dig for every woman and man,
And child who lay sick with fever
Never doubt or question the power of love,
Or one woman with a shovel