The song "Tulare Dust" by Merle Haggard is about the life of farmworkers in California during the 1940s. The lyrics describe a young boy standing in a field by a railroad track, wondering where the freight train is going, with the dust from the Tulare region of California in his nose. The boy's parents are both picking cotton in the field, working hard to make a living. The song describes the challenges and hardships of living in California as a farmworker, including the harsh climate, the economic struggles, and the threat of wally fever, a deadly disease that affected many farmworkers in that era. Throughout the song, the narrator expresses a sense of resignation to his fate, acknowledging that he must work to make a living in the Tulare dust, even if he would rather be somewhere else. Despite the hardships, there is also a sense of resilience and determination, as the farmworkers continue to work hard and make the best of their situation. Overall, "Tulare Dust" is a poignant and heartfelt tribute to the hardworking farm families who struggled to make a living in California during the mid-twentieth century.
