Friend of the Fetus

Given the ongoing onslaught – expected to ramp up further – against reproductive rights, it’s time to revive Carole Rose Livingston’s classic, which I recorded in 1991.

I am no friend to the fathers and mothers
And I am no friend to the sisters and brothers
And I am no friend to the weak and distressed
And I am no friend to the poor and oppressed, but
I’m a friend of the fetus
A friend of incomparable worth
I’m a friend of the fetus
Right up to the moment of birth

Once it’s a baby I will not go near it
I will not feed it and I will not rear it
And when it is crying I won’t even hear it
For I have no room in my heart for a human, but

Chorus

I will not care for it, I won’t be there for it
I will not weep for it, I won’t lose sleep for it
I’ll back away from it, I won’t go gray from it
I will not pray for it, and I won’t pay for it, but

Chorus

When the 99 Go Marchin’ In – Part 1

Here we saunter through a survey of segues – anyway, the 17 issues from Bernie’s platform, rhymed up, to consider again as we enter the dismal swamp of the election. Eyes on the prize, peeps. This is part one (of two – so I guess there’s 8.5 issues in this one….approx….)

1
When we stand up
When we bust out
When the 99 percent shout it out
Well I want to be in that number
When equal rights for all
Is what it’s all about

2
When we stand up for workers’ rights
A living wage, yes, that’s our fight
Well I want to be in that number
When we stand up for workers’ rights

3
When we stand up for LGBTQ
Then we stand up for me and you
Well I want to be in that number
When we stand up for LGBTQ

4
When we stand up and when we DREAM
Los inmigrantes are a mighty stream
Well I want to be in that number
When inmigrantes have the right to dream

5
And when we shout that black lives matter
We’re not just making idle chatter
Ramarley Graham, Eric Garner, Amadou Diallo and Sean Bell
We’re in the street, and we’re raisin’ hell!

6
When we stand up for housing rights
We all deserve a roof and heat and lights
Well I want to be in that number
When we stand up for housing rights

7
When we stand up to the elite
We will be taller than Wall Street
Well I want to be in that number
When we stand up to the elite

8
Let’s educate, and make it free
From pre-K to university
Well I want to be in that number
When we educate, and make it free

9
When we stand up
And when we shout
Society must be redesigned
Well I want to be in that number
A revolution by and for the 99

When the 99% Go Marchin’ In Part 2

The other 8-1/2 top issues from Bernie’s platform find their way into the rhyme zone for reconsideration/reaffirmation (see also part 1, duh).

1
When we stand up
When we bust out
When the 99% shout it out
Well I want to be in that number
When equal rights for all is what it’s all about

9
When we stand up for equality
Against extreme wealth disparity
Well I want to be in that number
When we stand up for equality

10
When we defend clean air and soil
We’ll use the wind and sun, not dirty oil
Well I want to be in that number
When we defend clean air and soil

11
And when we stop the war on drugs
We’ll heal the sick, jail Wall Street thugs
Well I want to be in that number
When we stop the war on drugs

12
We must not be the world’s police
And if we really cherish peace
Don’t invade, don’t occupy
Never steal and never lie
We’ve got to live on this planet in peace

13
When we stand up to dirty tricks
Get money out of politics
Well I want to be in that number
When we stand up to dirty tricks

14
When we rebuild our safety nets
For seniors, single moms, and vets
Well I want to be in that number
When we rebuild our safety nets

15
No question where the money went
It’s time to tax the one percent
Well I want to be in that number
When we tax the one percent

16
Yes we are here, like Paul Revere
To tell you what’s around the bend
Well I want to be in that number
When social justice is the trend

17
When we stand up
And when we shout
Society must be re-designed
Well I want to be in that number
A revolution by and for the 99

No Nos Moveran: Immokalee

Immokalee tomato pickers continue their vibrant, successful national campaign to wring a penny a pound more out of the big buyers, facilitating a living wage for those who get our food from farm to mouth.

No, no, no nos moveran
No, no, no nos moveran
No, no, no nos moveran
Como un árbol firme junto al rio
No, no, no nos moveran

Unidos en la lucha
no nos moveran
Pero Wendy’s no escucha
no nos moveran
Como un árbol firme junto al rio
No, no, no nos moveran

A penny more per pound
We shall not be moved
Justice will be found
We shall not be moved
Just like a tree that’s planted by the water
We shall not be moved

Un centavo mas
no nos moveran
Deje la pobreza detrás
no nos moveran
Como un árbol firme junto al rio
No, no, no nos moveran

When you buy tomatoes
We shall not be moved
Pay a better rate, bros
We shall not be moved
Just like a tree that’s planted by the water
We shall not be moved

Siempre cuando comes
no nos moveran
Pienses de agricultores
no nos moveran
Como un árbol firme junto al rio
No, no, no nos moveran

Unidos ganaremos
No nos moverán
Unidos ganaremos
No nos moverán
Como un árbol firme junto al río
No nos moverán

When We Stand Up For Farmworkers

Immokalee farmworkers lead the way in the Fair Food Fight. Be conscious of how your food gets to you, folks.

When I sit down to eat my meal
I’ll tell you how I really feel
You know whoever picked this produce
on my table
Ought to get a better deal

Whoever picks and hoes and chops
Whoever brings in all these crops
They don’t do no hangin’ around
So give it up, a penny more per pound

When they stand up for their fair share
When they stand up for their fair share
Well, I want to be in that number,
When they stand up for their fair share

When we stand up, and when we shout
Respect is what it’s all about
Well, I want to be in that number,
Respect is what it’s all about

Nos levantamos
Juntos gritamos
Es por respeto que luchamos
Seguiremos, y ganaremos
La justicia al fin vendrá

When we stand up, and when we shout
Respect is what it’s all about
Well, I want to be in that number,
Respect is what it’s all about

Standing Rock comments

Native Americans are in full tilt revolt against the Dakota Access (to planet-destroying fossil fuels) Pipeline. Put your hands, up, don’t let them shoot the indigenous defenders of land and life. Send blankets and whathaveyou. https://nodaplsolidarity.org Two songs:

When Standing Rock Comes Marchin’ In

Oh when the Sioux
At Standing Rock
Stand up for rights, it’s time
To do more than talk
It’s time for banks to stop funding destruction
Find another way to boost your stock
Oh when the banks support big oil
They’re supporting tear gas
and pepper spray
There’s a battle on the river
And we’ve come here to deliver
We say no more bulldozing the worldIf you support poisoning water
And desecrating sacred land
If you like to foment climate chaos
Then bank here and leave big oil
in command

Financial backing
Of Bakken fracking
Desecrating burial sites
It’s not easy being green
When your profit comes from being mean
We’re here to read your greed its last rites

Yes we are here, like Paul Revere
To tell you what’s around the bend
Well I want to be in that number
When the planet and the people we defend

Oil companies, just tell me please
How did you get eminent domain
Over indigenous folks,
your excuses are bad jokes
You’ve got no couth
and you are inhumane

Yes you’ve got clout,
but count us out
You’ll trade your cuff links for handcuffs

You’ve really crossed the line
Your business needs a re-design
Now first nations have said enough!

You’ve really crossed the line
Your business needs a re-design
Now first nations have said enough!

Bank the Knife: No DAPL

Oh the bank has pretty teeth dear
And it smiles when it takes your cash
When the bank failed, & got bailed out
Did our Prez do somethin’ rashNow they’re bankin’ on a pipeline
To pollute water and land
But the people in North Dakota
Say we’re uniting to take a standJamie Dimon, Stuart Gulliver
Brian Moynihan, & Johnny Stumpf
Well the CEOs are not right dear
The one percent are runnin’ this town

No they never take the high ground
They just take people’s land and lives
That’s why we’ve got to start a boycott
Til their social conscience revives

They put solar on the rooftops
Of bank branches to con the folk
That’s like vegans making millions
From slaughterhouses, what a joke

Jamie Dimon, Stuart Gulliver
Brian Moynihan, & Johnny Stumpf
Yes the line forms to the boycott
Cause the people are back in town!