King Harvest (Has Surely Come)

"King Harvest (Has Surely Come)" is a song written by Robbie Robertson for The Band which originally appeared as the final track on their second album, "The Band".

The song is sung in first person from the point of view of an unnamed, poverty-stricken farmer who, with increasing desperation, details the misfortune which has befallen him: there was no rain and his crops died, his barn burned down, he has ended up on skid row. A labor union organizer appears, promising to improve things, and the narrator tells his new associates "I'm a union man, now, all the way", but, perhaps ashamed of his station, begs them "just don't judge me by my shoes." Noted rock critic Greil Marcus called it "The Band's song of blasted country hopes" and suggested that "King Harvest" might be Robertson's finest song, and the best example of the group's approach to songwriting and performing. [cite book |title= Mystery Train: Images of America in Rock 'n' Roll (fourth edition)|last= Marcus|first= Greil|authorlink= |coauthors= |year= 1997|publisher= Plume|location= |isbn= 978-0452278363 |pages= 55,56]

The song's structure is unusual: the verses, sung by Band vocalist Richard Manuel are energetic, while the choruses (sung by Manuel and Levon Helm) are more subdued, in contrast to typical song structure, possibly reflecting the desperate if unsure hope the protagonist holds in the union. [Bowman, Rob, The Band, "To Kingdom Come" (liner notes), 1989]

Personnel

*Rick Danko- Bass guitar, upper vocal on chorus
*Levon Helm- Drums, lower vocal on chorus
*Garth Hudson- Lowrey organ
*Richard Manuel- Lead vocal, deleted piano
*Robbie Robertson- Electric guitar
*John Simon- Wurlitzer electric piano through "black box"

References