1. The Wages Of History
2. Walter Tortoise
3. Wearing Advertisements
4. When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again
5. Where Has All The Money Gone
6. Where Has Your Mind Gone?
7. The Whidbey Island Overwater Transfer Ferry Line
8. The White Shoes Blues
9. Who Are They And Why Do They Hate Us?
10. Who Pays For This War?
11. Whose World Is This?
12. The Wrecking Ball Blues
The Wages Of History
Straighten up now, this ain't no joke
Come on out and smell the smoke
Keep your eyes out wide and clear
Hard times comin' down around here
Battlefield, this old home town
Neighborhoods are burnin' down
Comin' up on a last leg
Welcome to the powder keg
don't you know, don't you see
these are the wages of history
White man's town, plantation laws
Symptomatic long-time cause
Brutality, a social norm
All dressed up in a badge and a uniform
You shoulda seen 'em laugh and strut
Carvin' notches in their pistol butts
Trusting to impunity
Never thought they'd wind up on TV
don't you know, don't you see
these are the wages of history
It was a bad call by a bad design
A foolish move by a foolish mind
Banking on the master race
It was bound to blow up in somebody's face
All those troops in armored barrage
Soldiers wearing camouflage
Just got back from the Middle East
Now dodging bullets in the streets of Los Angeles
don't you know, don't you see
these are the wages of history
Way up in the hills of celebrity
Money is another reality
Lookout posted out in the yard
Say "looks like we got trouble comin' up the boulevard"
Marie Antoinette with a facelift
Hearin' that the people say they have no justice
Lookin' out the window to the valley of dread
"What's the matter with them, is it somethin' I said?"
don't you know, don't you see
these are the wages of history
Every empire must decay
Even Rome didn't fall in a day
Plaster cracks in fits and starts
And finally just falls apart
The new day breaks with a great surprise
It shines so bright it will hurt your eyes
Painful like a laboring birth
Well, welcome to the planet earth
don't you know, don't you see
these are the wages of history
----------------
Walter Tortoise
Walter Tortoise was a pool player, best I ever seen.
He was an eightball magician with his eye on the green.
He could make five-hundred dollars in a one-night's go-around.
There was a lot of empty pockets when Walter came to town.
He could cue his way from 'Frisco Bay all the way to Maine.
Every side-pocket corner town was fodder for his game.
He musta come from somewhere, but just where I never knew.
I met him in Seattle on First Avenue.
He was two-thirds drunk and drinkin' to make his other third
when I sat me down beside him to hear what could be heard.
He was losing to his limit, and his limit it was clean;
twenty dollars worth of quarters in a gambling machine.
And the more he lost, the more he laughed, as he drained the drafty beers,
and he fed his final quarter and watched it disappear.
And when a girl came up and won it all with just a single try,
well, he laughed so hard 'til his eye began to cry.
Then he said, "These metal bandits ain't my cup of gruel",
and I said, "What's your real game", and he says, "Playn' pool".
Why, only just the other night he had 'em on their toes
winnin' everybody's money up at Smokey Joe's.
He said he was a shark of such dangerous degrees,
he could hustle up a bundle nearly any place he please.
He'd won more fortunes than the Rockefeller clan.
Not bad for just an indigent with chalk dust on his hands
Well, I listened to his talking just the way that you would do,
then I said, "Alright, if you're so good I'll see you to the cue".
He laughed at me so hard I thought he'd surely come to harm,
then he said, "Alright, I'll play ya but I'll only use one arm".
I racked 'em up and broke 'em and I even sunk a few
until one-armed Walter took his stance and loaded up his cue.
And with a blinding combination cleared the table all and over,
then he laughed again and grinned, said, "I play better when I'm sober".
We wandered off, in and out, and squandered through the night,
until I got lost and he got taken off to see the sights.
And I wound up in a strange one with a head to make you wince,
but where ever was was he was I ain't never seen him since.
Yes Walter was a pool player, everybody knows,
he could rack 'em and attack 'em, he could sink 'em with his eyes closed.
I may not know much of nothin', I ain't got the cure,
but Walter Tortoise was a pool player, I know that for sure.
----------------
Wearing Advertisements
wearing advertisements
wearing advertisements
wearing advertisements
wearing advertisements
you think you’re bein’ cool
but they play you for a fool
when you’re wearing advertisements
and for all the fool that they’re playin’ you
how much are they payin’ you
for wearing advertisements
it’s symptomatic of a culture gone mad
advertising is a national fad
it's a company man’s dream come true
'cause you advertise their products and you pay for it too
when you're wearing advertisements
you got logo pants, logo shoes
you got famous name-brand logo hairdos
logo shirt and logo hat
you're lookin' like a billboard dressed like that
but you're wearing advertisements
who would ever thought that it would get this far
you got a T-shirt that wants to sell me car
you got a necktie that's offering me a cigarette
and you ain’t even old enough to start coughin’ yet
but you're wearing advertisements
it creeps up on you so slow you don’t even see
until the whole wide world looks like TV
you’d like to make a relation for friendship sake
but first you gotta take a commercial break
'cause you're wearing advertisements
so this is how it ends
we’re all among friends
wearing advertisements
but what makes it so chilling
is we all went willingly
wearing advertisements
--------------------
When Johnny Comes Marching Home
when Johnny comes marching home again
we’ll all go out and welcome him
never mind the shape he’s in
we’ll ask him how the fighting went
and how he likes the president
casaulties are an accident
we’ll beat our drums and wave our flags
those great and grand and glorious rags
the ones they put on the body bags
and later on when the sickness comes
from chemicals and uranium
we’ll ring our hands and we’ll all play dumb
see the veterans who did their part
and came back home with a purple heart
walkin’ around with a shopping cart
where are the legs that used to run
before you went to carry a gun
I’m afraid your dancing days are done
you have no arm you have no leg
you’re an armless, legless, chickenless egg
they’ll have to put you out with a bowl to beg
we kill them and they’ll kill us back
they say it’s always been like that
all for the banker and his money sack
tip your hat and take a bow
get on with your life somehow
they’re taking your little brother now
----------------
Where Has All the Money Gone
where has all the money gone
has it gone to anything useful
anything you’d be proud about
anything you’d talk out loud about
no, it’s gone to people’s pockets
that’s where all the money’s gone
and who’s got all the money now
is it anybody you know
the one who watches the parkin’ lot
the who sweeps thew sidewalk
no, it’s gone to all the billionaires
that’s where all the money’s gone
and how do you suppose they get it
do they work for it in the factory
do they get their hands all dirty
do they get their faces sweaty
no, they steal it thorough the loopholes
that’s how they get all the money now
and what do you suppose they do with it
do they find somebody that needs it
do they find a dog and feed it
do they do anything useful
no, they use it to make more money
that’s what they do with all the money now
and how much is the money worth
can you eat it when your hungry
can you drink it when you’re thirsty
can you wear it for your clothes
no, it ain’t worth nothin’
that’s how much the money’s worth
so everybody get your money out
throw it away or spend it
give it back to those that lend it
let ‘em have it if they want it
just get it out of the way
‘cause it ain’t worth nothin’ but trouble anyway
------------------
Where Has Your Mind Gone
where has your mind gone
gone out the window with last year’s fad
sold out to your mom and dad
analyzed till it just went mad
that’s where it’s gone
hiding in the alley from a terrorist threat
scared to death of a cigarette
programmed by a TV set
that’s where it’s gone
where has your mind gone
who can remember what the last one said
you start out livin’ and you wind up dead
you lose your mind for a loaf of bread
you won’t have nothin’ but a hole in your head
a hole in your head
a hole in your head
where has your mind gone
gone following the guru’s plan
transistorized in Japan
played back on American Bandstand
that’s where it’s gone
folded in a scrapbook page
fondled in a bird cage
blackmailed for a living wage
that’s where it’s gone
where has your mind gone
who can remember what the last one said
you start out livin’ and you wind up dead
you lose your mind for a loaf of bread
you won’t have nothin’ but a hole in your head
a hole in your head
a hole in your head
where has your mind gone
--------------------
The Whidbey Island Overwater Transfer Ferry Line
she’s comin’ in cuttin’ ‘cross the Sound
and she rattles and she rumbles as she rolls, good god
she’s worthy, she ain’t never run a-ground
she got pulp putty pluggin’ up the holes, good god
she’s a mighty bit unsteady
and she coughs when she gets cold
but she’s well put together
all the better when she gets old
she runs on bourbon and boiler steam and it suits her just fine
she’s the Whidbey Island Overwater Transfer Ferry Line
she gets washed in the water at the cross
and she leaps and she lurches as she goes, good god
she got direction, she don’t never get lost
they blindfold and lead her by the nose, good god
she gets twisted and unruly
and they try to calm her down
she’s a little less than able
but she’s the finest ship around
she’s a mighty bit uncertain but she’s always on time
she’s the Whidbey Island Overwater Transfer Ferry Line
all hale the captain at the head
for he staggers as he clutches to the rail, good god
he has knotted up the mast to make his bed
he’s been on every ship that’s ever been a-sail, good god
he’s and old salt hustler
and a half back oiler
he’s a mighty bit punchy
he been gassin’ up the boiler
he’s got a full head of steam up blowin’ salt water brine
on the Whidbey Island Overwater Transfer Ferry Line
all hands hit the deck out in a fog
and they’re tuggin’ and a-leanin’ on the line, good god
and she shudders as she bumps up on the logs
and they’re twistin’ and a-tightenin’ on the twine, good god
and the clangin’ of the chain pins
and the bangin’ of the landing
it’s a miracle she made it
it’s a wonder she’s still standing
she could go down like a boulder but nobody never minds
she’s the Whidbey Island Overwater Transfer Ferry Line
--------------
The White Shoes Blues
I ain’t really much of a dresser I suppose
I ain’t really all that much on clothes
but lately, just this little while
I have noticed a particular style
and I just gotta spread the news
about those pure white ultra bright sanitary shoes
some people work real hard for their pay
some people don’t do nothin’ but they get paid anyway
some don’t mind dirt on their hands
some people run just as fast as they can
and they will just naturally choose
those pure white ultra bright sanitary shoes
the president’s teeth make a perfect smile
Mark Spitz swims a perfect mile
Pat Boone sings with a voice like silk
he gets the power of Jesus from a glass of milk
and so he don’t get confused
he wears pure white ultra bright sanitary shoes
you get your hair all plastered with pump pomade
you got underarm deodorant and aftershave
you gotta watch real careful where you walk on the street
so as not to insult your elite feet
‘cause you surely would hate to lose
those pure white ultra bright sanitary shoes
you got your casual class and three piece suit
don’t say “umbrella” say “bumbershoot”
don’t say “food” say “cuisine”
it makes it more valuable, if you know what I mean
it’s like livin’ in a luxury cruise
wearin’ pure white ultra bright sanitary shoes
you can wear ‘em high you can wear ‘em low
they really look good on the patio
if you want to make that big advance
you get a white belt and maroon pants
and then you know you’ve paid your dues
wearin’ pure white ultra bright sanitary shoes
I been down on the bottom lookin’ up at the street
some people you can tell by lookin’ at their feet
some will step on you last, some will step on you first
but the white ones always get you the worst
and it gives you the underfoot blues
to get stepped on by those pure white ultra bright sanitary shoes
------------
Who Are They and Why Do They Hate Us
I never thought I’d come under attack
but now the world has changed and there’s no goin’ back
danger at my shoulder and it’s gainin’ fast
questions I’m afraid of but I have to ask
who are they and why do they hate us
I was raised to believe in this American Dream
all the greatness and glory, the way that it seemed
how god was on our side and god doesn’t lie
so why do all these innocent people have to die
who are they and why do they hate us
every color in the cloth has a history to tell
ships across the ocean and the liberty bell
heroes in the monuments I know them by name
but now their granite jaws are shattered and their eyes are full of rain
my neighbor she’s a foreigner I can’t pronounce her name
when she talks about her homeland her face fills with pain
she says she lost her children when the missiles hit
I don’t know what to say so I just change the subject
who are they and why do they hate us
I see the TV news and they’re burnin’ my flag
in some far away land like it’s just another rag
the looks on their faces, they make me freeze
how in the world did we make so many enemies
who are they and why do they hate us
they tell me there are reasons for unthinkable acts
rage and retribution won’t bring anybody back
justice is alive, so subtle and sublime
I’d like to believe them but were running out of time
I never paid much attention, guess I shoulda known
every far away country is somebody’s home
empires rise and empires fall
the world is big enough, there should be room for us all
who are they and why do they hate us
--------------
Who Pays For This War
who pays for this war
does everybody pay for this war
old money family designs
private schools and blood lines
do they pay for this war
how about the corporate execs
and their banker buddies cuttin’ the checks
do they pay for this war
who pays for this war
do the rich people pay for this war
Donald Trump and his confidantes
eatin’ in thousand dollar restaurants
do they pay for this war
palace suite in the big hotel
how about Halliburton and Bechtel
do they pay for this war
who pays for this war
do the generals pay for this war
spit-polished brass-jockey climbin’ the ranks
Colin Powell and Tommy Franks
do they pay for this war
logical players in the Great Game
career movers stakin’ their claims
do they pay for this war
who pays for this war
I’ll tell you who pays for this war
some homeless Vietnam vet
when they cut off the social safety net
to pay for this war
some single mother in welfare duress
when they tell her she’s just gonna have to do with less
to pay for this war
some teenage innocent born into the strife
gonna have nightmares now for the rest of his life
to pay for this war
and a whole lot of people way over there
who got caught in the cross hairs
to pay for this war
that’s who pays for this war
so don’t give me that hypocracy
about makin’ the world safe for democracy
white bread money and brown blood soup
ain’t it always the same that way
poor people die for the rich man’s lie they say
that’s how the banks get rich and stay rich
expendable children in a patriot’s ditch
but one of these days
one of these days a time will come
and all of us will rise as one
and we will say
we will say “no more!”
because we
we pay for this war
--------------
Whose World Is This
four winds, seven seas
relative humanities
everywhere I look I see
some one looking back at me
nation states and border lines
divided states of mind
politics comes to blows
and everybody wants to know
whose world is this?
First World riding high
Second World standing by
Third World under fire
funny how we all conspire
we don't know 'cause we can't see
how such a way could come to be
riding on a spinning wheel
soon enough will be revealed
whose world is this?
what kind of world will our children receive
after all is said and done?
what kind of creed have we come to believe
that they may never receive one?
what kind of world will our children receive
after all is said and done?
what kind of creed must we come to believe
if they are ever to receive one?
four winds, seven seas
relative humanities
everywhere I look I see
some one looking back at me
-------------------
The Wrecking Ball Blues
I used to live in the city, an apartment on the second floor
until the man with the money said I couldn’t live there no more
well they brought in a wreckin’ ball and beat it to a hole in the ground
they put me outside walkin’, made me homeless in my own home town
now tell me who loves a wreckin’ ball, surely ain’t no friend of mine
they built a bank to put their money in and I ain’t even got a dime
well I served my country and I loved it like a long-lost friend
now my country don’t love me back, looks like, ‘cause I ain’t got the money to spend
you know my shoes are worn from walkin’ and my head is spinnin’ around
and there’s a cop with a ticket book tellin’ me I can’t sit down
well I’m tappin’ on your shoulder and I’m whisperin’ in your ear
you know I’m only tryin’ to warn you but you seem to be so hard to hear
I’m thinkin’ dangerous thoughts and I know I ain’t the only one
I’m thinkin’ about that wreckin’ ball and how I’d like to get me one
well if I had a wreckin’ ball I’d turn it on to City Hall
and I’d stand back and laugh while I watched it fall
