If There's Not a Hell (There Ought to Be) Songtext
von Bobby Bare

Farmer Jones ran short on seeds
So he borrowed it from his neigbor Sam
The fall brought Jones a flourishin′ crop
While his neighbor's all burned brown

Sam had a wife and 13 kids
He worked to feed each day
With hungry pride he begged for help
And he was turned away

He was forced to sell his farm for half its worth
To this man he thought a friend to be
If there′s not a hell there ought to be

Mary Ann was sweet 16
Never had been around
A child as pure as a mountain stream
That ran through her hometown

Then happened by the slick Tom Shark
In his hand she was clay
She got caught and faced the shame
And he laughed and went his way


Now no one knows where she's at
Her folks sent her away
If there's not a hell there ought to be

Widow Brown worked since Joe died
And tried to save her pay
To give 9 children beans and bread
And pretty ties on Sunday

She got sick and slipped behind
And the rent she had to meet
They told her they were sorry
And they kicked her out in the street

And that same day
They came and took her kids away
If there′s not a hell there ought to be

Young Billy Brown he took a trip
To keep his country free
We′re all proud of what he'd done
For the good old USA

But somewhere there′s a mighty big man
Who kept this a goin' on
For personal game wealth and fame
They did their legal wrongs


All wrapped up in the stars and stripes
Bill came home one day
If there′s not a hell there ought to be

If there's not a hell there ought to be
If there′s not a hell there ought to be