The Vision

Rain Follows the Plow is a song cycle that attempts to capture and convey the worldviews and first-hand experiences of those who lived through the Dust Bowl of the 1930s. It gains significance from reanimating an important and underappreciated chapter in our history. The listener will find no preaching or moralizing here, but if the stories resonate in the present age—if they cast into sharper relief our own folly as we rush headlong into climate change, that is a good thing.

Blessed are the Dead that the Rain Falls On. Photo, Jean Van Devanter White.

The expression “rain follows the plow” was a popular aphorism of the time, embodying the widely held belief that simply by plowing and planting, and secondarily by burning fuel, settlers would impact the local climate and produce more frequent rainfall. It expresses the hubris and eternal optimism that is the special province of farmers—and their enterprising enablers and exploiters.

Emboldened by positive reviews and audience enthusiasm, the vision now points in a more theatrical direction. Rain Follows the Plow can be performed as a folk opera--a song cycle accompanied by historical narration. Coffee is also looking for opportunities and partners for developing a full length musical theater production.