Uncle Sam's Lament
© 1993, 1996 Watunes (BMI)
(From "What's Left")
(A slightly different version of this song appeared originally on "Sing it Loud")
Well, it ain't no hype
Times is tough
I'm cryin' and wipin' my nose on my cuff
And I stand out on the sidewalk with my hand out in the cold
Buddy, can you spare a billion dollars?
Well, I'm feelin' blue
'Tain't feelin' pink
'Cause I printed too much green stuff with red ink
And I walk up Main Street, Anytown, in hock up to my neck
Buddy, can you spare a billion dollars?
Once the sun was high and I was everybody's Uncle Sam
All I had to do was point a finger at 'em and say, "I want you."
But, now the sky is cloudy and they swear they don't know who I am
I'm mildly recessed
And tremendously overdressed
(Spoken)
A billion dollars... That's a thousand million dollars. That's enough to fill the Houston Astrodome with Good & Plenty. That's enough to support Arianna Huffington for six or seven years. That's enough to buy every banjo ever made. But for me, that's just one day's interest payment.
(Sung)
Now, when I was secure
I was a mensch
I rebuilt Europe in spite of the French
Now I'm flat out on the sidewalk with my hat out in the snow
Buddy, hey, buddy
Anybody, can you spare a billion dollars?