Roy Zimmerman - The Lyrics

Privateers of the Public Airwaves
words and music by Roy Zimmerman
© 1996 Watunes (BMI)
(From "What's Left")

We're Privateers... of the Public Airwaves!

(spoken) Beware, ye Public Broadcasters!

We're comin' for to scuttle your scurvy membership
We'll be about as subtle as a sloop upon a slip
There ain't no damn rebuttal what'll button up our lip
Prepare to take a dip

We're ravaging your culture, we're pillaging ad hoc
Don't bother to consult yer stars or talk yer dandy talk
For yonder be a vulture circling with a budget hawk
So down the plank ye — Squawk!

Audio-ho-ho!
Video-ho-ho!
You're sinkin' fast, you'll never last
So stand avast, ye knaves!
We're privateers... of the Public Airwaves!

We wear a patch of black over both our pirate eyes
We'll cut you with a Draconian saber down to size
'Cause we got our tobacco and our rum to subsidize
Not to mention shakes and fries

We're raisin' up our standard so you can lower yours
We'll see you slashed and slandered and abandoned on the shores
Then sail away to grander days and blander metaphors
It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood, bring on the media whores!

Audio-ho-ho!
Video-ho-ho!
You're sinkin' fast, you'll never last
Another blast of our bombast
So stand avast, ye knaves!
We're privateers... of the Public Airwaves!

We've carved a bucket o' blubber from every liberal lubber
And to the bottom fought 'em as we wished 'em pleasant journey
We're gaggin' every elitist and every Sesame Streetist
We're throwin' Grover over and the same with Bert and Ernie

(spoken) We believe in the three R's — Arr, Arr and Arr!

And your many miscellanies, they haven't made a dent
Can't stop a pirate when he's in a cutthroat sentiment
We're pinchin' all your pennies 'cause we can't afford dissent
You'll like it at the bottom, 'cause that's where the First Amendment
Went

Audio-ho-ho!
Video-ho-ho!
We'll split asunder, rape and plunder
Send 'er under, and defund 'er
Hear the thunder of our blunderbuss

We're buckaneers
Prick up yer friggin' ears
May the market force be with ya
Tough luck an' 'ere's to us!

The Best of the Foremen
I Been Singin'
Song of Many Deaths
Workin' on an MBA
Building for the Future
A-Whalin
Peace Is Out
Lazin' in the Shade
California Couldn't Pay Our Education
Godzilla Has a Midlife Crisis
Hell Froze Over Today
No Shoes
Do The Clinton
Don't Pity Me
Ain't No Liberal
Michael

Special Bonus Section
Jeeter
Shh...It Happens
My Home Town
The Greatest Los Angeles Disaster of them All
Firing the Surgeon General
The Water is Wide
The Rest of The Foremen
From "What's Left"
San Diego
What Did You Do on Election Day
My School Prayer
Three Strikes and You're Out
Uncle Sam's Lament
Who Needs Art?
Black
Hidden Agenda
Privateers of the Public Airwaves
Dear Parking Offender
Chicago (Love Song to a Democrat)

From Reprise "Folk Heroes"
Ollie, Ollie Off Scott Free
Send 'em Back
Russian Limbaugh
Everyman (for Himself)

From "Sing it Loud!"
Don't Vote
Rosty-Mon
Russian Limbaugh
Most Likely Three Strikes and You're Out

From Metaphor "Folk Heroes"
That Jesse Helms Song
Hard Time To Be A Man
Uncle Sam's Lament
Saddam Shame

Unreleased Gems
W.I.M.P.
Ain't No Left, Left
Family Values
Grandpa, Why?
The Canals of Venezia
Glory-Bound Train

Roy Solo Lyrics