In the years before the 1980’s farming industry boomed due to an increase in agriculture exports, federal lending and low interest rates. If crop demand kept rising farmers believed they could easily pay off their loans in the long run. Unfortunately this was not the case. In the 1980’s crop demand depreciated and farmland value dropped by 60%. Farmers were burdened by overproduction and debts. During this crisis many families went bankrupt and lost their farms. John Mellencamp’s “Rain On The Scarecrow” raises awareness on the farm crisis in the Midwest.

“Rain On The Scarecrow” begins by interviewing three young farmers. They say the government does not understand that after a ten hour day they might not break even. The farmers say if they knew what they know now they would have never became farmers in the first place. The interview sets the tone for the music video, preparing viewers to see the farmer’s struggle to stay afloat.

The video begins with clips of farms and animals and the music beat is hard and heavy. Instead of showing machines harvesting crops, the farm equipment have “For Sale” signs. The farmers cannot afford the expensive machinery to keep their farms running. A litter of pigs are on the back of a truck being carted away from their farm.  Farmers can barely afford to feed and keep their livestock anymore. The barren farms are quiet and in shambles, many farmers abandoned their work because they simply could not pay off debts.

 Mellencamp says, “Called my old friend Schepman up to auction off the land, He said John its just my job and I hope you understand, Hey calling it your job ol hoss sure don’t make it right”.

Mellencamp implies that farming has some sentimental value for him. He used to go to his grandfather’s farm as a child. In the music video there is a shot of a little boy running on a dirt road. Now the dirt road is empty.

Mellencamp sings in front of church. Families go to church and pray to God for better luck on the farm. The men look stressed, they seem to be discussing their troubles on the farm. Ninety seven crosses sit on the courthouse yard. The crosses represent the ninety seven families Mellencamp knows who lost their farms.

Through his lyrics and music video Mellencamp brings awareness to the plight of the farmer. He unearths the anger and hardship of the people who supply food for our country. Farming that helped build our nation faces modern day challenges that threaten its future existence. We must work with farmers and the government to continue farming’s legacy for generations to come.