Whistle Pig On Fire

A Song About A Farmer and Vermin Eradication [Verse 1 — The Drought] That summer the sky went empty, Dust sleeping where the crops should be. Neighbors said, “Ain’t nothin’ growing,” But the stubborn’s strong in me. So I planted a garden in the middle of the dying, Carried water from a mile away— an oasis of green in a desert a harvest I’d reap some day. [Chorus] Whistle Pig came whistling, A Roman candle screaming higher, Hell hath no fury Than a Whistle Pig on fire. [Verse 2 — The Thief] Next morning the beans lay shredded, Leaves chewed down to the stem. Tracks like warnings in the dirt road dust, And a tunnel where the fence line ends. I waited ’til the twilight settled, Saw him rise with a thief’s delight— A fat little king of my summer’s labor, Bold as sin in the fading light. [Chorus] Whistle Pig came whistling, A Roman candle screaming higher, Hell hath no fury Than a Whistle Pig on fire. [Verse 3 — The Match] I mixed up a farmer’s fatal brew: Gasoline, diesel, and oil. Poured it down the whistle pig’s hole Thinking I’d bring justice to a boil, Struck a match like a final answer, Heard that hush before the roar— Then a blazing fury came tearing upward, Like some demon I’d never seen before. [Chorus] Whistle Pig came whistling, A Roman candle screaming higher, Hell hath no fury Than a Whistle Pig on fire. [Verse 4 — The Consequence] He lit up the dry grass behind him, Flames rising as he ran pell mell And the field turned bright as daylight, Like the world had gone to hell. Sirens came screaming down my driveway, I told the truth with shaking hands. Sometimes a man’s burning desire burns a whole lot more than he planned. [Bridge] Fire chief wiped his forehead, Said, “Bill, what were you tryin’ to prove?” I stared at the smoke and my blackened fields, said, “What was I supposed to do?” He shook his head at the ashes, Like he’d heard every kind of boast— he said, “You sure went through a lot of trouble to have a pig roast.” [Final Chorus] Whistle Pig came whistling, A Roman candle screaming higher, Hell hath no fury Than a Whistle Pig on fire.