Amarillo Sky

He just takes the tractor another round
And pulls the plow across the ground
And sends up another prayer
He says Lord I never complain I never ask why
But please don't let my dream run dry
Underneath, underneath this amarillo sky
- Jason Aldean

What is important about this song is the video that goes with it. Jason Aldean put three real farmers in it...three young men, ages 17, 19, and 19, who are third or fourth generation farmers, holding onto the family farm. You hear about farming on the news from time to time, and certainly come elections, but it tends to stop there. It's not glamorous, it doesn't provide the dramatic visuals that our news media loves to play, but those of us who aren't farmers need to be cognizant of what they do, and so good for people like Jason Aldean for putting these young men in his video.

There are farmers along the county road where I live and my sister lives next door to farmers, even though we're technically part of the Twin Cities - that's how engrained it is in the Midwest. I know several people who farm, and there's a reason it comes up during every election. Their livelihood affects us all...and so we need to be educating our children about these issues along with all the other election issues during Civics classes. Jason Aldean also has a song about "Fly-Over States", the states that don't have the big economic centers and cities in them like New York or LA, the states that are simply known for their farming. And yet it's the commodities from these fly-over states that provide the business and trade for the large cities.

On his knees every night he prays
Please let my crops and children grow
Cause that's all he's ever known

And this is what I love about Country Music. It constantly reminds us what is real, and important, and keeps us centered. It keeps us humble, and reminds us what really matters.