Wednesday, December 9, 2009

When it comes to banks, Pete Seeger had it right

In all the excitement and hoorah about the healthcare debate, other business is still going on in the the US Congress, most notably legislation that would put regulations on banks and other financial institutions to ensure that they don't walk us off the cliff again some time in the future. Problem is, these banks don't want to be regulated. Screw the fact that we just bailed them out. They have "us" over a barrel and they know it.

Anyway, there is much "ink" that has been spilled today about the various incarnations of this little bit of drama. I will leave it to others to tell you what is going on. I just wanted to share this little gem with you. (Lyrics are below)





I've traveled round this country
From shore to shining shore.
It really made me wonder
The things I heard and saw.

I saw the weary farmer,
Plowing sod and loam;
I heard the auction hammer
A knocking down his home.

CHORUS:
But the banks are made of marble,
With a guard at every door,
And the vaults are stuffed with silver,
That the farmer sweated for.

I saw the seaman standing
Idly by the shore.
I heard the bosses saying,
Got no work for you no more.

But the banks are made of marble,
With a guard at every door,
And the vaults are stuffed with silver,
That the seaman sweated for.

I saw the weary miner,
Scrubbing coal dust from his back,
I heard his children cryin',
Got no coal to heat the shack.

But the banks are made of marble,
With a guard at every door,
And the vaults are stuffed with silver,
That the miner sweated for.

I've seen my brothers working
Throughout this mighty land;
I prayed we'd get together,
And together make a stand.

FINAL CHORUS:
Then we'd own those banks of marble,
With a guard at every door;
And we'd share those vaults of silver,
That we have sweated for.


Yep, Pete got it right!

2 comments:

  1. Carter, Mardi the revolutionary here. I went to post something on Kelly's fb and found a link to your blog. After our first meeting I had to see what you are up to..... I like what you are up to.

    Singing with Pete gave me chills. Thanks.

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  2. Thanks.

    Unfortunately, being in grad school I don't have the time that I would like to get stuff done here.

    Oh well, I guess I can always try again next semester.

    As far as Pete goes, yeah he's pretty awesome. With all the crap that has been happening the last few days (Afghanistan, Bernanke hearing, the health-care sell out, etc) I have been listening to Phil Och's "Love Me I'm A Liberal" on repeat. It does wonders for the ol' BP

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