Awards

<to be updated>

Back Story

In July, 2005, I listened to Bruce Springsteens’ Tracks, a 4 CD collection of material that had no room for release on his ‘regular’ CDs.

It includes a few tracks from his demo session with legendary producer John Hammond, from May, 1972.

And I was never so blown away by the simplicity of arrangement, and power of lyric as by the nascent versions of ‘Growing Up,’ and ‘Hard To Be A Saint In The City.’

Along with ‘The Ghost Of Tom Joad,’ I was inspired to write the lyrics to a song about a working mans’ hardship.

I wrote some music for the lyrics, recorded it, and submitted it to Taxi a few times for singer/songwriter & country listings.

In March, 2009, I rewrote the chorus (based on Taxi feedback), bridge, and the 3rd verse.

Lyrics

(© 2008, You’d Be Surprised; All Rights Reserved)

Lead Sheet

Verse 1
Em    Am    Em    Am
The ink on the pink slip started bleeding in a drop of rain,
Em    Am    Em    Am
If I catch the drop before it hits the ground, maybe that’ll hold off the pain
Em    Am    Em    Am
19 years on the assembly line, a line that’s come to an end
Em    Am    Em    Am
The rumors said it was coming, but sometimes you need to pretend

Chorus
Em       G    D    Em       G    C
I’m on the other side of somehow,        a place where ends don’t meet
Em       G    D    Am    B7 (stop)
How come “10,000 CEOs laid off” is a headline we’ll never see?

Verse 2
Betty, she took it well, at least that’s what she showed
She said By the way, I gave the bank all our money, was exactly what we owed
They offered me a job at the new place, said we’ll pay you to pack up & go
but at half the wages; and I don’t speak the language, down there in Mexico

Chorus

Bridge
C#m    F#m    B    G#m
I’m not an educated man, I work with my hands, but there’s one thing that I know:
C#m    F#m    B    F#m       B
Big Business eats all the donuts, then leaves us with the holes
Bm    Em    A    F#m
C’mon, give us a little justice, along with all the larceny
Bm    Em    Am    B7 (stop)
Then I’ll know life was meant for living beyond its warranty

Verse 3
I had a funny dream last night, the CEOs were working for me
I had ‘em digging holes, then filling them in; they say revenge can be sweet
I handed them 10,000 pink slips; and for this I was payed
But their pain turned things sour; we wept as we kneeled to pray

Chorus 3
We’re on the other side of somehow, where honest men are tempted to cheat
How come “10,000 CEOs laid off” is a headline we’ll never see?