Staring at the pile of bills
doesn’t make ‘em any smaller
shufflin the envelopes
doesn’t get the mortgage paid.
Out o’ work a whole year now
running out of unemployment
must apply for food stamps soon
get the kids on medicaid.
Keep on sending resumes
showing up for all the job fairs
checkin out the Monster boards
unemployed need not apply.
Gone through all our meager savings
raided our retirement
nothing left for son’s tuition
siren call of Army Strong
prayin’ he don’t take a bullet
’cause his dad can’t find a job.
Had to sell my one good auto
driving an old clunker now
down to basic TV cable
house worth less than what I owe.
Humped since graduation day
busted my ass royally
always gave a full day’s work
they left us to go overseas.
Treated like a one night stand
gone without a morning kiss.
Economy’s improving now
don’t know where ’cause I don’t see it
No longer feeling like a man
can’t support my wife and kids
ashamed to have to call her dad
can we come and stay with you?
Was taught to play by all the rules
now those dreams are just mirages.
while the politicians say
got to cut those benefits
getting checks will make you shiftless
sap your can-do attitude.
———————————————————————-
photo from the Franklin D. Roosevelt Library / National Archives
toritto 