The Other Side Of Somehow

Lyrical Tease
I’m not an educated man, I work with my hands, but there’s one thing that I know:
Big Business eats all the donuts, then leaves us with the holes
C’mon, give us a little justice, along with all the larceny
Then I’ll know life was meant for living beyond its warranty
How come “10,000 CEOs laid off” is a headline we’ll never see?

Credits:
Words & Music; Performance; Production: Rob Frail

Awards

TBA

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

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

Chorus 1
I’m on the other side of somehow, a place where ends don’t meet
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 2
I’m 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?

Bridge
I’m not an educated man, I work with my hands, but there’s one thing that I know:
Big Business eats all the donuts, then leaves us with the holes
C’mon, give us a little justice, along with all the larceny
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
They were digging holes, then filling them in; they say revenge is sweet
I handed them 10,000 pink slips; not a dime in severance pay
And now from my side of somehow, the vultures had become the prey

Chorus 3
I’m on the other side of somehow, where justice is blind to greed
How come “10,000 CEOs laid off” is a headline we’ll never see?