(woman) Prairie Musicians is made possible by The Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund and the citizens of Minnesota and by the members of Prairie Public.

[harmonica & guitar play in folk music style] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Oh I'm just a farmer I'm up with the sun ♪ ♪ When it sets in the west my work still ain't done ♪ ♪ There's an achin' in my bones ♪ ♪ And cracks in my hair ♪ ♪ But I love what I'm doin' ♪ ♪ I'm part of this land ♪ ♪ My mother and father ♪ ♪ Were here before me ♪ ♪ They came 'cause they heard ♪ ♪ That this country was free ♪ ♪ They left their landlords in their old country home ♪ ♪ They thought they'd do better ♪ ♪ On land that they owned ♪ ♪ Oh they taught me to plow ♪ ♪ They taught me to hoe ♪ ♪ They taught me the love ♪ ♪ Of watchin' things grow ♪ ♪ They said if you do right ♪ ♪ And if you work hard ♪ ♪ There's no better place ♪ ♪ Than right here on this farm ♪ ♪ So I'm just a farmer I'm up with the sun ♪ ♪ When it sets in the west my work still ain't done ♪ ♪ There's an achin' in my bones ♪ ♪ And cracks in my hair ♪ ♪ But I love what I'm doin' ♪ ♪ I'm part of this land ♪ [harmonica solo] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ For years we worked hard ♪ ♪ And our life was good ♪ ♪ We had what we needed ♪ ♪ And did what we could ♪ ♪ To give back to the earth ♪ ♪ More than she gave ♪ ♪ We knew for our children ♪ ♪ This land we would save ♪ ♪ But now all of the children ♪ ♪ Are going away ♪ ♪ To feed their own children ♪ ♪ They must have better pay ♪ ♪ But the land will go barren ♪ ♪ No one out there ♪ ♪ We won't need tomorrow ♪ ♪ If nobody cares ♪ ♪ Oh I'm just a farmer ♪ ♪ I'm up with the sun ♪ ♪ When it sets in the west ♪ ♪ My work still ain't done ♪ ♪ There's an achin' in my bones ♪ ♪ And cracks in my hair ♪ ♪ But I love what I'm doin' ♪ ♪ I'm part of this land ♪ ♪ Yes I love what I'm doin' ♪ ♪ I'm part of this land ♪ Hi, I'm Patty Kakac from Evansville, Minnesota.

I got started in music, I guess when I was born.

My mother would sing to me, of course.

I loved hearing music as a child.

My family was too poor to have instruments, but we did have a pump organ that we all fooled around on.

Then I played the radio, I loved the radio.

Folk music was very popular in the '60s, so I was listening to as much as I could on the radio.

When I was a senior in high school I was able to get a job, and I had enough money to buy a guitar.

I started learning to play the guitar and play popular folk music that I heard all around me.

That's how I got started in playing music.

I didn't start writing music till I was about 30 when I met Larry Long, folk musicians from Minneapolis, Minnesota.

And he said "Why don't you write your own songs?"

I thought oh, well, if he thinks I could write, maybe I could.

And I started writing my songs.

People liked to hear 'em, and so I kept singing them.

And I got an opportunity to record.

So that is how I got started.

[playing in waltz time] ♪ As a child no one told her ♪ ♪ She was a beauty ♪ ♪ That she's treasured ♪ ♪ All others above ♪ ♪ ♪ So she took to the white spotted ♪ ♪ Indian pony ♪ ♪ And gave to him ♪ ♪ All her love ♪ ♪ Together as one ♪ ♪ They'd go riding ♪ ♪ Across eastern Dakota plains ♪ ♪ 'Neath the big prairie sky ♪ ♪ She grew in the wisdom ♪ ♪ She felt in the pulse ♪ ♪ Of his veins ♪ ♪ So she rides ♪ ♪ The white spotted black horse ♪ ♪ Black hair blowing free ♪ ♪ In the wind ♪ ♪ She wants to know love ♪ ♪ But she knows she can't love ♪ ♪ Unless she is free ♪ ♪ To love him ♪ [harmonica solo] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Through hurt and pain ♪ ♪ She kept searchin' ♪ ♪ For the mystery of love ♪ ♪ And its dreams ♪ ♪ But the kind that made sense ♪ ♪ Was the kind that's unfenced ♪ ♪ And that's so hard to find ♪ ♪ It seems ♪ ♪ Now she wonders ♪ ♪ If men think that freedom ♪ ♪ Is something that belongs to only men ♪ ♪ For if a woman's spirit ♪ ♪ Is shackled and chained ♪ ♪ You'll lose that love ♪ ♪ In the end ♪ ♪ So she rides ♪ ♪ The white spotted black horse ♪ ♪ Black hair blowing free ♪ ♪ In the wind ♪ ♪ She wants to know love ♪ ♪ But she knows she can't love ♪ ♪ Unless she is free ♪ ♪ To love him ♪ ♪ Oh oh she rides ♪ ♪ The white spotted black horse ♪ ♪ Black hair blowing free ♪ ♪ In the wind ♪ ♪ She wants to know love ♪ ♪ But she knows she can't love ♪ ♪ Unless she is free ♪ ♪ To love him ♪ ♪ ♪ Ah ♪ ♪ Ah-ah ♪ ♪ Ah-ah-ah ♪ ♪ Ah-ah ♪ ♪ Ah ♪ ♪ Mm mm mm mm ♪ [playing in bright waltz rhythm] ♪ ♪ ♪ Come oh come hear me now ♪ ♪ Hear my story I tell ♪ ♪ Take care of the land or it will be gone ♪ ♪ This land we love so well ♪ ♪ I've been a farmer all my life ♪ ♪ Now my life's nearly o'er ♪ ♪ So my children I leave it to you ♪ ♪ This land its beauty and lure ♪ ♪ Come oh come hear me now ♪ ♪ Hear my story I tell ♪ ♪ Take care of the land or it will be gone ♪ ♪ This land we love so well ♪ [autoharp solo] ♪ But now they come to take it away ♪ ♪ After working so hard all these years ♪ ♪ Heedless of what it means to me ♪ ♪ Heedless of all my tears ♪ ♪ So come oh come hear me now ♪ ♪ Hear my story I tell ♪ ♪ Take care of the land or it will be gone ♪ ♪ This land we love so well ♪ ♪ You may be a doctor you may be a lawyer ♪ ♪ You may be a carpenter true ♪ ♪ But somewhere back in your family tree ♪ ♪ You were a farmer too ♪ ♪ For from earth we all begin ♪ ♪ Back to earth we return ♪ ♪ To survive we must take care of our roots ♪ ♪ This lesson we all must learn ♪ ♪ So come oh come hear me now ♪ ♪ Hear my story I tell ♪ ♪ Take care of the land or it will be gone ♪ ♪ This land we love so well ♪ ♪ This land we love ♪ ♪ So well ♪ [playing in folk-country rhythm] ♪ I have been told ♪ ♪ When we walk the land ♪ ♪ Our breath falls ♪ ♪ Upon the earth ♪ ♪ And in that place ♪ ♪ We are remembered ♪ ♪ In our good ♪ ♪ And ancient land ♪ ♪ Many nations ♪ ♪ One circle ♪ ♪ Many voices ♪ ♪ One song ♪ ♪ Let us honor those ♪ ♪ Who went before us ♪ ♪ Honor those ♪ ♪ Who are to come ♪ ♪ ♪ And if you come ♪ ♪ In a thousand years ♪ ♪ And feel the wind blow ♪ ♪ Through these hills ♪ ♪ With a fragrance ♪ ♪ Of the wildflowers ♪ ♪ Know that I ♪ ♪ Am with you still ♪ ♪ Many nations ♪ ♪ One circle ♪ ♪ Many voices ♪ ♪ One song ♪ ♪ Let us honor those ♪ ♪ Who went before us ♪ ♪ Honor those ♪ ♪ Who are to come ♪ ♪ Many nations ♪ ♪ One circle ♪ ♪ Many voices ♪ ♪ One song ♪ ♪ Let us honor those ♪ ♪ Who went before us ♪ ♪ Honor those ♪ ♪ Who are to come ♪ ♪ Honor those ♪ ♪ Who are to come ♪ I was inspired to write the Butter Song in the 1980s when my husband was told his cholesterol was high.

He said quit eating butter-- didn't make sense to me.

You're supposed to trade real food for imitation food like margarine?

And somebody gave me this little plaque that said "Food is better when it's cooked with butter and love."

So I wrote the song, and it's become my most popular song.

People ask for me to sing it all the time.

Now I get to the point where-- you have to really, really ask me, I might sing it at the end of the show if you entice me with something really good.

♪ ♪ When I was a little girl I used to pick ♪ ♪ A handful of dandelions and then I'd stick them under my chin ♪ ♪ And face the sun to see if I liked butter ♪ ♪ And Momma would take out her fresh warm bread ♪ ♪ She'd sliced it up called us in and said ♪ ♪ Go easy on the jelly but you can spread ♪ ♪ Lots of nice fresh butter ♪ ♪ Oh ♪ ♪ I'm in heaven when I can eat butter ♪ ♪ Pure real sweet cream butter ♪ ♪ Butter in the morning on my toast and jam ♪ ♪ Butter in the evening on potatoes and yams ♪ ♪ I can eat anything yes I can If it's ♪ ♪ All smothered in butter ♪ [autoharp solo] ♪ Now a good farmer knows when you buy a cow ♪ ♪ You look at her different that you do a sow ♪ ♪ You want good legs and you want a good udder and you ask ♪ ♪ How much butter ♪ ♪ 'Cause a good cow gives milk with lots of cream ♪ ♪ And reality turns into a dream ♪ ♪ When you beat it or churn or shake it till you utter ♪ ♪ Ah!

It's turned to butter ♪ ♪ Well I'm in heaven when I can eat ♪ ♪ Butter ♪ ♪ Pure real sweet cream butter ♪ ♪ Butter in the morning on my toast and jam ♪ ♪ Butter in the evening on potatoes and yams ♪ ♪ I can eat anything yes I can If it's ♪ ♪ All smothered in butter ♪ ♪ ♪ But now everyone you meet is on a health kick ♪ ♪ If you eat butter you'll sure get sick ♪ ♪ You might even die someday in the gutter ♪ ♪ If you if you eat butter ♪ ♪ So keep that butter off that roll ♪ ♪ 'Cause butter's got lots of cholesterol ♪ ♪ When they bring out the bread stand and stutter ♪ ♪ I I can't have butter ♪ ♪ Well how can I ever be in heaven if I can't have ♪ ♪ Butter ♪ ♪ Pure real sweet cream butter ♪ ♪ Butter in the morning on my toast and jam ♪ ♪ Butter in the evening on potatoes and yams ♪ ♪ I can eat anything yes I can If it's ♪ ♪ All smothered in butter ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ So if you stick something in your mouth ♪ ♪ That tastes real good just spit it out ♪ ♪ 'Cause it will kill you there's no doubt ♪ ♪ Don't you ♪ ♪ Don't you eat butter ♪ ♪ And the grocery dairy case is all a-clutter ♪ ♪ With things that claim they taste like butter ♪ ♪ But when you eat it your taste buds will mutter ♪ ♪ NO that ain't butter ♪ ♪ Well how can I ever be in heaven if I can't have ♪ ♪ Butter ♪ ♪ Pure real sweet cream butter ♪ ♪ Butter in the morning on my toast and jam ♪ ♪ Butter in the evening on potatoes and yams ♪ ♪ I can eat anything yes I can If it's ♪ ♪ All smothered in butter ♪ ♪ ♪ Well guess someday ♪ ♪ I'll just have to die ♪ ♪ 'Cause I hate eating my popcorn dry ♪ ♪ And when my time comes you'll hear me cry ♪ ♪ I yes I'm afraid I ate butter ♪ ♪ But when I meet Peter at heaven's gate ♪ ♪ He'll say, "Come on in you're not too late ♪ ♪ I'll know you'll like it here above ♪ ♪ 'Cause everything's cooked with butter and love" ♪ ♪ Well now I'm in heaven 'cause I can eat ♪ ♪ Butter ♪ ♪ Pure real sweet cream butter ♪ ♪ Butter in the morning on my toast and jam ♪ ♪ Butter in the evening on potatoes and yams ♪ ♪ I can eat anything yes I can If it's ♪ ♪ All smothered in butter ♪ ♪ I can eat anything yes I can ♪ [spoken in high voice imitating Julia Child] Well, Julia Child here.

I had to sneak in!

You know I was down on earth, I was on Public Television a lot, but now I'm up here in heaven, and I can have lots of butter!

My favorite food is mashed potatoes with lots of butter!

♪ I can eat anything yes I can ♪ ♪ If it's smothered in butter ♪ ♪ Near my farmland there's a hill, there's hills called Seven Sisters.

They rise above Lake Christina.

I loved climbing those hills.

They are an inspiration, and they are comfort.

They're native prairie grass.

One time I walked up on the hills, and I could almost envision these women, Native American women and even prairie women, pioneer women, walking together.

They were holding hands in the prairie grass.

Then this song started coming to me.

And on the shore of Christina Lake we know there are Indian mounds where Native Americans are buried.

So the song was inspired by all that.

[softly finger-picking] ♪ ♪ Ooo oo-oo ♪ ♪ Oo-oo ♪ ♪ Oo-oo ♪ ♪ Seven sisters ♪ ♪ Of the prairie ♪ ♪ I will lay me down to rest ♪ ♪ Watch the sun traverse across the sky ♪ ♪ From the east to the west ♪ ♪ "Leave your burdens ♪ ♪ On the top of this old hill" ♪ ♪ Screams the Red-tail in the distance ♪ ♪ When all is quiet all is still ♪ ♪ ♪ Ooo oo-oo ♪ ♪ Ah-ah ah-ah ♪ ♪ Seven sisters ♪ ♪ Of the prairie ♪ ♪ I have come to you at last ♪ ♪ Come to share your stories ♪ ♪ Stories of the past ♪ ♪ For need we remember ♪ ♪ All the souls ♪ ♪ That went before ♪ ♪ Their broken bodies lie along ♪ ♪ Along Christina's shore ♪ ♪ ♪ Sisters of the prairie ♪ ♪ I see you walking still ♪ ♪ Your proud shoulders carry ♪ ♪ All your strength and all your will ♪ ♪ The Grasses rise to touch your hands ♪ ♪ As if to say good-bye ♪ ♪ The sisters weep for you ♪ ♪ But still you cannot cry ♪ ♪ Ah ah-ah ♪ ♪ Ah-ah ah-ah ♪ ♪ Seven sisters of the prairie ♪ ♪ I will leave you with your moons ♪ ♪ To tend these hills so gently ♪ ♪ Heal the ancient wounds ♪ ♪ From all the careless hatred ♪ ♪ And all the endless wars ♪ ♪ I hear the sisters ♪ ♪ Calling me ♪ ♪ Peace for evermore ♪ ♪ Ah ah-ah ♪ ♪ Ah-ah ah-ah ♪ ♪ Ah-ah ah-ah ♪ ♪ Ah-ah ah ♪ ♪ Ah ♪ (woman) Prairie Musicians is made possible by The Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund and the citizens of Minnesota and by the members of Prairie Public.