The Right to Repair

The Right to Repair

Performed by Bale Harrison & The Texas Field Hands

The Right to Repair – Music and Lyrics by Alan Nafzger

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Verse 1:
I got a tractor in the field, it’s sputterin’ bad,
The engine’s coughin’ like an old granddad.
I grabbed my wrench and my trusty pliers,
But the manual says, “Call the factory suppliers.”
I said, “Heck no, I’ll fix it right here,
This tractor’s mine, that much is clear!”
But the company said, “Nope, that’s our domain,
You want a repair? We’ll drain your grain.”

Chorus:
Give me the right, the right to repair,
I don’t need no middleman to get me there.
I’ve got grease on my hands, tools in my box,
I don’t need a dealer charging me in stocks!
Let me fix it, let me tear it apart,
This tractor’s my baby, I know every part.
So give me the right, the right to repair,
Or I’ll be taking my business over there!

Verse 2:
Now the company man shows up in a suit,
Says, “You need a code for that reboot!”
I said, “What code? It’s just a rusty bolt!”
He looked at me like I was the dolt.
“You need our software, our special key,
We’ll charge you a fee—no repairs for free!”
But all I wanna do is tighten that screw,
I swear this repair ain’t rocket science, dude!

Chorus:
Give me the right, the right to repair,
I don’t need no technician flying in the air.
I’ve got duct tape, WD-40, and grit,
But they act like I need a tech genius for it!
Let me fix it, let me get in the game,
This tractor’s my livelihood, not some corporate claim.
So give me the right, the right to repair,
Or you’ll be stuck, you’ll be needin’ repairs.

Bridge:
They say, “Buy new, it’s easier that way,”
But I ain’t payin’ that much just to cut my hay.
I can rig it up, I can get it to hum,
Just let me work, don’t treat me like I’m dumb!

Verse 3:
Now I’m out in the barn, with a hammer and grit,
Got the engine running, with just a little spit.
Did I need the techs? No, sir-ee,
All I needed was my farmer degree!
So take your codes and your overpriced plan,
I’m a right-to-repair, do-it-yourself man!

Chorus:
Give me the right, the right to repair,
I don’t need your service fees to fix my gear.
I’ve got elbow grease and a little know-how,
I can fix this ol’ girl and get back to the plow!
Let me tinker, let me give it a go,
This tractor’s my heart, don’t you know?
So give me the right, the right to repair,
And I’ll keep rollin’ without a single care!

Outro:
So here’s to the farmers, we’ll take a stand,
Give us our tools, don’t tie our hands!
We’ll fix what’s broken, with love and flair,
All we need is the right to repair!

The Right to Repair

by Alan Nafzger (2023)

In fields where wheat and whispers blend,
A tractor stands, the farmer’s friend.
Old and tired, with rusted gears,
It holds the toil of many years.

Beneath the hood, a battle cries,
‘Tween man and maker under skies.
“A fix!” he shouts, with tools in hand,
While manuals dictate the land.

“Call us first!” the pages claim,
A corporate leash, in all but name.
Yet, with wrench and wire he stands defiant,
A humble giant, quietly reliant.

Give him the right—the right to mend,
To grip his fate, to not depend
On distant voices, codes, and locks,
Whose tolling costs could stun an ox.

Each bolt and belt he knows by touch,
His tractor’s pulse, the engine’s hush.
No manual could teach the ties,
Of earth and sweat beneath the skies.

So grant the right, the right to care,
For what is used, not just to wear.
The right to fix, to tend, to know,
And keep the lifeblood’s steady flow.

Let not this knowledge be denied,
For in each farmer’s hands it’s tied.
The right to repair, a creed so deep,
A promise sown for him to keep.

Originally posted 2023-09-13 12:05:56.