How Ya Gonna Keep ’Em Down on the Farm?

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a picture of a domestic conversation, likely after a period of absence, where the wife poses a pointed question to her husband, Reuben. The immediate scene is one of supposed peace and calm, but it's undercut by the anticipation of the returning farmhands. Reuben's reaction—winking and rubbing his chin—suggests a shared, perhaps amused, understanding of the impending challenge. The central tension revolves around the inevitable change in perspective for the young men returning from Paris. The question, "How ya gonna keep 'em down on the farm?" isn't just about labor; it's about recapturing a simpler, perhaps more provincial, way of life after exposure to the vibrant, exciting urban culture of "Paree." The lyrics highlight this contrast with phrases like "away from Broadway" and "paintin' the town," directly opposing the "rake or plow." The most striking craft element is the playful, almost mocking, use of French and the implied culture clash. The narrator asks, "who the deuce can parlez vous a cow?" This rhetorical question dismisses the possibility of the farmhands retaining their rural sensibilities or even their ability to communicate with farm animals after experiencing sophisticated Parisian life. It underscores the perceived insurmountable gap between the two worlds. This song's effectiveness lies in its sharp, concise framing of a universal post-war or post-travel dilemma. It captures the anxiety of tradition facing modernity through a humorous, yet pointed, domestic dialogue. The lyrics suggest that the allure of "Paree" and its associated freedoms – jazz, Broadway, and a general "jazzin' around" – has irrevocably altered the farmhands' desires, making their return to the mundane farm life a "mystery."