[Spoken Introduction: Steve Earle] In the 1950s, Brown and Root was the largest construction company in the world. A lot of poor sharecrop farm people running from the Great Depression got common labor jobs working for Brown and Root.​
In the 1960s, Brown and Root diversified and built all the infrastructure for the Vietnam War.​
You don't hear about Brown and Root anymore 'cause they got bought out by a bigger company called Halliburton.​

[Verse 1: Rodney Crowell] Lord, I worked my hands
In wet cement
For the county highway crew
I'm the middle boy
From a family of ten
And poor sons-of-bitches were we
Pa was mean when he drank
And he always drank
And he never said three words to me

[Verse 2: Steve Earle] Lord, it's hell when you're down
Don't no one care
And it all looks like uphill down there
'Cause you work and you climb
And you smell like dirt
And you know you ain't going nowhere
At Brown and Root, Brown and Root

[Verse 3: Rodney Crowell and Steve Earle] Lord, the rain would come
And the roof would leak
And the gas comp'ny cut off the heat
'Cause when it rains, you don't work
Which means, no pay
Which always means not much to eat
And there are too many ways to get beat
At Brown and Root, Brown and Root