Band – King Harvest  (Has Surely Come) ….Canadian Week

Power Pop Friday will be back next week. Thank you for tuning in this week as we talked about these great Canadian artists…I’ve had a blast with them. There is one band that I didn’t get to cover because I ran out of days…well actually more…but Blue Rodeo will be coming up soon on a Friday. 

The Band is my favorite Canadian export. Well, I will say Canadian although one member…Levon Helm was from Arkansas but the rest are Canadians. CB mentioned this song not long ago so I used it after listening to it again. It is quite a complex song. I can’t believe I’ve never posted it but better late than never.

The Band was so rootsy… They had it all – rawness, competence, sublimity, experience, originality, and roots. The five different instruments were not five different instruments…they were one. In the liner notes to one of their greatest hits it states… the music is unusually complex, making use of odd verse patterns and tricky rhythmic suspensions and modifying the natural sounds of instruments for various calculated effects. But because of the way the record sounds, none of this calls attention to itself…it sounds effortless.

Robertson said he’d been immersed in the novels of John Steinbeck at this time. I’ve read where The Grapes of Wrath is a big influence on this song. Rock critic Greil Marcus has written that King Harvest might be the finest song that Robertson has ever written. The song is told from the point of view of a poverty-stricken farmer- detailing everything that has happened to his farm- then a union organizer appears and makes promises that things will soon improve.

Richard Manuel is the singer of King Harvest. King Harvest is a great finishing track to one of the greatest albums ever made. The album was their second album called The Band (The Brown Album). The album peaked at #2 in Canada, #9 on the Billboard 100 in 1970. This is their highest-charting album in their home country.

The song is credited solely to guitarist Robbie Robertson, although drummer-singer Levon Helm claimed that “King Harvest” was a group effort. It’s been covered by Blue Rodeo, Bruce Hornsby, and many more.

Robbie Robertson: “It’s just a kind of character study in a time period. At the beginning, when the unions came in, they were a saving grace, a way of fighting the big money people, and they affected everybody from the people that worked in the big cities all the way around to the farm people. It’s ironic now, because now so much of it is like gangsters, assassinations, power, greed, insanity. I just thought it was incredible how it started and how it ended up.”

Robbie Robertson: In the story to me, it’s another piece I remember from my youth, that people looking forward, people out there in the country somewhere, in a place … we all know it, may have been there, may have not … but there’s a lot of people that the idea of come Autumn, come Fall, that’s when life begins. It is not the Springtime where we kinda think it begins. It is the Fall, because the harvests come in.

Levon Helm: Some of the lyrics came out of a discussion we had one night about the times we’d seen and all had in common. It was an expression of feeling that came from five people. The group wanted to do one song that took in everything we could muster about life at that moment in time. It was the last thing we cut in California, and it was that magical feeling of ‘King Harvest’ that pulled us through. It was like, there, that’s The Band.

King Harvest (Has Surely Come)

Corn in the fields
Listen to the rice when the wind blows ‘cross the water
King Harvest has surely come

I work for the union ’cause she’s so good to me
And I’m bound to come out on top
That’s where she said I should be
I will hear every word the boss may say
For he’s the one who hands me down my pay
Looks like this time I’m gonna get to stay
I’m a union man, now, all the way

The smell of the leaves
From the magnolia trees in the meadow
King Harvest has surely come

Dry summer, then comes fall
Which I depend on most of all
Hey, rainmaker, can’t you hear the call?
Please let these crops grow tall

Long enough I’ve been up on Skid Row
And it’s plain to see, I’ve nothing to show
I’m glad to pay those union dues
Just don’t judge me by my shoes

Scarecrow and a yellow moon
And pretty soon a carnival on the edge of town
King Harvest has surely come

Last year, this time, wasn’t no joke
My whole barn went up in smoke
Our horse Jethro, well he went mad
And I can’t remember things bein’ that bad

Then there comes a man with a paper and a pen
Tellin’ us our hard times are about to end
And then, if they don’t give us what we like
He said, “men, that’s when you gotta go on strike”

Corn in the fields
Listen to the rice when the wind blows ‘cross the water
King Harvest has surely come

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Author: Badfinger (Max)

Power Pop fan, Baseball fan, old movie and tv show fan... and a songwriter, bass and guitar player.

50 thoughts on “Band – King Harvest  (Has Surely Come) ….Canadian Week”

  1. an excellent tune from an excellent band with a debatably great name. Definitely one of Canada’s best and one that really influenced a lot of fine artists – Eric Clapton comes to mind, I’ve read after hearing them he shifted his focus from showing off the guitar to just writing good unified songs. They sound rather like a musical backdrop for a film of a Steinbeck book much of the time.

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    1. They changed music…over night some of the psychedelic bands started to edge toward rootsy music…look at the Beatles…from Magical Mystery Tour to the sparse White Album… George really was influenced by them a lot also. I think George and Eric would have joined them if they could have.

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  2. The Band were phenomenal. Who else has multiple drummers (but not at the same time) and that many lead singers, with music that rich, complex, and varied? While a slight exaggeration, I always wondered if everyone in the band could play every instrument.

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    1. They were multi talented for sure. They would switch up instruments at time just to have a different sound. Manual was indeed a very good drummer. Every voice offered something different.

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  3. You know how I feel about them, Max. I love them, their origins, their musicianship, and their place in musical history. Levon, may he rest in peace, can suck an egg for trying to claim songwriting credit. I believe they all can be proud of their discography. And, like other bands we know, their sour parting is painful. Egos have done more damage between humans and rippled out upon the planet than just about any other human attribute.

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    1. They were so important…Yea it is really sad knowing how close they were at one time. Robbie and Levon never made up I don’t think.

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      1. According to Robertson they did reconcile and he also visited Helm just before he died, though he was unconscious. Sandy Helm kept the grudge going and stopped Robertson from playing on the Grammy tribute to Helm.

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      4. I read Robbie’s book Testimony…he did mention that. I don’t think Helm ever sold his publishing like the others.

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      8. Did not know that, Randy. Just came over to Max’ blog to see what I missed (was out on a bike ride several hours today.) OK, Sandy can suck an egg too 😉

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    2. Clearly you know you know your stuff and I’m about to say things you already know, but I just wanted to add a bit. Levon just wasn’t a songwriter but man he sure could sing. I agree with you on the credits, most writers in bands don’t share credits with their band mates. I’m mean you don’t see Ringo’s name on the JL/PM songs. I think you brought up a good point though is not a popular position with some.

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      1. I understand how talented Levon was every which-way and I’m not diminishing the man or the musician. I do think sour grapes from him for a group that each member contributed to with their heart and soul is a sad disservice to them all. Thanks for your support in what may be my unpopular opinion with some.

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      3. Sorry to butt in…Lisa…I agree…I don’t believe Levon lied BUT…he thought arranging was a songwriting credit…it’s not…never has been. Robbie was very fair about it.
        On top of that all of them owned much of the publishing but around 74 or so Garth, Danko, and Manual sold their share to Robbie…he didn’t take advantage of them…they wanted it….now Levon never sold his I don’t think. No one knew how much they would be worth.
        Levon should have been upset at the other guys for selling.

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      4. Max, feel free to butt in anytime, seriously, and I’m glad you are clarifying the info. With what you are saying I’m sorry things had to go sour between the members of such a fantastic group that had so much going for them.

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      5. I appreciate it…Robbie was more than fair…he shared all of the publishing but they wanted money up front and let them all gone…it’s sad.
        They are my favorite Canadian band no doubt.

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  4. I never belonged to a Union, but that actually worked out for me, as when they went on strike, I was able to cross the picket line, because all the workers knew that since I was the new guy that I would not be doing any of their work. It was nice to hear this song again today, Max.

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  6. A tune I found after I was exploring their music. It really is a great piece of music. Another one of those story songs I love. Like everything about this song. Richard and Levon trading vocals (so good). Rick bowing out on the voice to lay down some great bass. Garth coloring and Robbie ending it with a very good solo. I cant ask for much more. Good choice from their library (how can you go wrong?).

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    1. You can’t go wrong with them. I do remember this song but I wasn’t as familiar as with most of the others but it’s deep…and complex…without sounding that way.

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      1. You brought it to mind when we were talking seasons. They had a synergy that was pretty cool. The fact that they were hard core bar band guys didnt hurt their chops. My ears benefitted from it. I guess a few other ears also.
        Good week fella. Good idea. That country you dwell in has some pretty good music also. I’d say the places the comments are coming from could make a pretty good list from their stomping grounds.

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      2. Thanks CB….Since blogging…I have looked into other countries music such as New Zealand. I would have never known without WP and talking to people about their countries.
        I’ve listened and learned a lot….still want to learn more though.

        Liked by 1 person

  8. Great stuff all week. I was curious if The Band or Robbie solo would show up…I thought maybe Sloan as well…lol
    You Canuck citizenship is in the mail!
    Cheers pal

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    1. Yea I wanted to do Blue Rodeo AND Sloan but I ran out of days…you will be seeing Sloan coming up on a Friday in the near future.
      I’ll take it!

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  9. That’s a great song, but there’s so many to choose from. Really enjoyed your take on this. All of them except Helm as you pointed out were from my neck of the woods, Garth Hudson lived in my hometown for awhile and had opened a restaurant/ club that unfortunately wasn’t successful. The guy that got them together, Ronnie Hawkins operated a couple bars in town as well. Lots of Band fans around these parts.

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    1. Garth…he seems like such and gentle and nice guy. Great muscian. That is so cool about your area.
      I have posted so many of their songs…I had forgotten about this one. They are without a doubt my favorite Canadian artist…

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  10. Yep, the Band made all the noodling ‘White Bicycle’ psychie stuff almost passe and juvenile sounding overnight- but what a decade of growth the 60s was for music- you go from a tamed down Elvis coming out of the Army as a balladeer through the Surf and Twist era, Beatles, Jefferson Airplane flying high, the Dead, the Band. Only in hindsight can we see how the Band helped make Americana a possibility.

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    1. You are correct…they had a huge impact on Americana….don’t get me wrong…I did like the far out music somewhat…but it was time for a change.

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    1. lol yea they called them the Norway Rockers….
      Someone told me…Max you should do a UK week…I told them normally….every week is a UK week.

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    1. LOL…it DOES look like that. They were some wild boys at that time. I read about that appearance. Robbie hired Allen Toussaint to write the score for the horns and all of them…every chart was lost at the airport and he had to write all of them again at the last minute.

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      1. You think someone would have had a rattail coomb. Yeah I heard that story about Toussaint.
        I was reading some of the comments on the demise of The Band. a complicated situation. I will reserve comment and judgement but I will say that drugs and booze did not help the situation. The book I liked best on the group is ‘Across the Great Divide’

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    2. I’ll have to check out Across The Great Divide. I’ve never read that one. The two I’ve read are Testimony and Levon’s book. Testimony is up there with my favorite rock autobiographies…with Keith Richards, Gregg Allman and the drummer for the Dead….Bill K…
      Yes I agree about the alchol and drugs. They were so tight for so long but the extra activities hurt them.

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  13. While I’ve definitely listened to the album, I don’t recall this tune. I’m mostly aware of it because of the two songs most folks know, “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down” and “Up On Cripple Creek.” The fighting between Robertson and Helm was unfortunate and sadly is all too common among music artists, especially once they become famous.

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      2. I’m sure they still are Christian…where ever musicians are…they are there to. Probably more dangerous now because of the Fentanyl that is stronger than heroin.

        Liked by 1 person

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