“Preoccupied”
I got my head chopped off in the ’82 dive
Though I was just one of the one out of five
We stood in line forever out on the street
We burnt lips on coffee and shuffled our feet
We were bent on trying to keep our bodies warm
We bundled up our dignity away from the scorn.
That’s why we been preoccupied
Democracy filleted is democracy denied
Them that’s cut – them that’s not – that’s the great divide
That’s why we been preoccupied.
But there came a rotten day when they started hirin’ scabs
Though I never met a worker whose back that I would stab
I hear a pencil-necked woman who waddles snorts and scoffs
“You think you’re too good to work – they should just cut you off
I sure hope they stop your check if you nix this job”
So I gave her a wink and misbehaved a big yank – on my thingamabob.
That’s why we been preoccupied
Democracy filleted is democracy denied
Them that’s cut – them that’s not – that’s the great divide
That’s why we been preoccupied.
Bedraggled by unwanted ads – somehow the family made it
It’s our blue cross to bear the baby – unless we prepaid it
We haggled with the kaiser for maternal bennies
Thanksgiving from the bighearted boss – we juggled every penny
They say “Just tell us again – what the day was she conceived”
That got me wearin’ and laissez faire-in’ my colors on my sleeves.
That’s why we been preoccupied
Democracy filleted is democracy denied
Them that’s cut – them that’s not – that’s the great divide
That’s why we been preoccupied.
It’s a rich man’s diversion of cheatin’ and stealin’
It’s up to us ninety-niners to commence with the healin’
We’ll get together – set up our own shops
We’ll honor the weather and divvy up the crops
We won’t get fixed in his emergency room
’cause the whole damned system’s en route to the tomb.
That’s why we been preoccupied
Democracy filleted is democracy denied
Them that’s cut – them that’s not – that’s the great divide
That’s why we been preoccupied.
2013
I was laid off for about one year during the ’80’s recession. Unemployment in the northern state line region of Illinois was about twenty percent.
Photo: via tx.cpusa.org
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