The warclouds have broken open, leaking lead as rain. No one wants to count the cost, no one seems ashamed,,,,,, Dead bodies lie upon the ground. Mothers shed their tears. Now the drone attacks and Abhram tanks they're bringin up the rear...... There was a country here once, but oh where did it go? How did the decline first start down the line? I'd really like to know...... Twilight fades to darkness in a land that once was free. Blood tainted waters rose so high, they drowned Miss Liberty...... Now climb aboard that ole bandwagon and sing me those old songs. Rally 'round the 'ole flagpole for a country up and gone...... So, now stand uo to be counted and pray you've paid fair tax. There's those that are 'a watchin you, better keep 'em off your back........ The infrastructure it crumbles. The bridges they fall down. The factories have shut the shop, and moved on 'outta town........ We used to make our goods right here, Some say they were the best. But China sends the small stuuf to us now. Japan ships in the rest.......... They would not leave her behind, nor give her up for dead. Broken combat soldier, lies on hospital bed. They tell her she has lost one foot, and that she has no hands. She cries at night, the price so high. For folly in the sands.................. Now climb aboard that old bandwagon. We will meet at that old flag pole.......Retired folks on fixed income saw their nest egg cracked and runnung on the ground. So now the eat the cheap cat food,,, They fry it by the pound................ Pension fraud is rampant. Home morgage market did collapse.. The Fed says just to wait some time, and we will soon be back in black,,,,,,,, Now get on board that bandwagon. We gonna sing some songs and roll along. Meet at the old flagpole................Waterboards and hoods at Gitmo. Dog collars around the neck. Lost moral compass can't be found to point to east or west... Some people say that's not the way we need to be. They say it is a sin. All gamblers know that sometimes it's the good cheaters that take the win..................... So now get on up and ride that wagon and fly your dreams up that 'ole flag pole................ Homeless 'Nam Vet standing on the corner. Trying to get some change. Most drivers pretend they do not see him, or they glare in fierce disdain............ Now he just smiles and nods his head. While the drivers speed on past................... He dumpster dined fine just last evening time, and well,,,, Today he's got a good buzz he has a good buzz on, so can all go KISS HIS ASS!!!!!!!!!!

Hey senor...

good to hear from you as always. Your words I assume? Needs some music!

Sounds like you are living in the moment. How's the air around there, can you smell the hydrocarbons where you are? Might be affecting your sleep cycles? Hey seriously, might be time to move away from the gulf for a while brah...

Great words, old buddy. I think it should be circulated, what say you?
It's a lament for our formerly great country.

Glad to see you are still alive and kicking. The rest is just details. Yeah the whole country is going downhill, the whole world with it. But we have it better than some places.

My friend Dave Lippman wrote this over 10 years ago. We recorded it for his CD "I Hate Walmart" voted one of the 100 best CD's no one is ever going to hear for 1998.


HAMBURGER HILL

Mom and Dad bought and sold four family homes
Raised four boys and then one day
Daddy went back to school
To become a doctor
of philosophy
I think I might follow in my father's footsteps
Except I forgot to have those kids
and homes
and jobs
I had a job once, but I had to let them go
I had to downsize my expectations
What do you expect from a downhill nation?

Maybe I'm not supposed to notice, my job just took a plane
Maybe I'm not supposed to know this economy may not
be comin back this way again
But just like Pittsburgh lost its steel
And Detroit lost it to better wheels
I'm up here, workin on Hamburger Hill

Don't you know I tried, don't you know they lied
Don't you ever wonder why it sometimes seems
All your childhood dreams
Get ground up in the round up of the evening news

Here I am again, down at the welfare
Here I am again, searchin for relief
Here I am again, lookin for my health care
Is this a great country or where's the beef?
I would've bought American, if I could've bought at all
But as falls General Motors, so the country falls
And now I see it falls on you and me
Guess I'll go plant zucchini
That's the only green I'm gonna see
Well I don't know, but I've been told
The streets of the future are lined with information
Every time the program changes, the system crashes down on me
I'd like to reprogram that goddamn corporation
Cause I'm up here workin on Hamburger Hill

Don't you know I tried...

Bottom's fallin out of the middle class
Unemployed wanta kick some ass
Whenever the economy fails
They build a dozen new jails
I'm in the jailhouse now
These days I guess you build your own cell
Then you throw away your own key
They say we gotta learn computers
I wonder will that help stop the looters
Who stole the American Dream

Maybe I'm not supposed to notice...
Don't you know I tried...

senor, does sound like words that a guitar would love to keep company
music, why not...jrl? any chance

gotta say - it's good to hear the voice of clarity ring through the page this morning

Hell peeps. Well, yeah, there is a melody (musicallity) that's already in my head for the words, but long ago I forgot how to write musical notation so oh well... Oh, and I did write the thing according to the melody lines in my head... In fact, I gave you guys a somewhat abbreviated excerpt of the writing as I was about to time out on the 'puter. In my 'real' world the thing has staza/refrains etc. Aloha brudda Den.. No aroma of hydrocarbons as I reside 30 miles from the coastline and approx 150 mi from the nearest reported.... Been thinking of going to the V. A. about the sleep disorder but due to my past track record concerning things of the downer/sedative nature let's just say that might not be too cool.... JRL.. Yep disseminate the words/reconfigure/etc.. Have at it. It is after all, nothing more than an example of my inane and antisocietal ramblings and mindset. ....Sayanora peeps...

With Senor's permission I will take a look.