1. |
American Dream
04:13
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AMERICAN DREAM Mardell McCombs ©Talking Rock Publishing
We were beautiful under spacious skies
If only we'd been wise
I love my country, but I hate what I see
So I speak my mind in the Land of the Free
I had a nightmare, woke up with a scream
I witnessed a murder
The American Dream
They worked by stealth, then out in the light
There was no army to fight the good fight
We sat at home and watched on the news
Believed what they told us
Missed all the clues
I had a nightmare, woke up with a scream
I witnessed a murder
The American Dream
The American Dream
What was the cause do you reckon
The motive was greed
Poison the weapon
We have a sickness, it's out of control
It rages through us body spirit and soul
We've got to work and find us a cure
For it's not too late
Of this I am sure
I had a nightmare, woke up with a scream
I witnessed a murder
The American Dream
We killed it dead
The American Dream
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2. |
The Hope of Freedom
03:23
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THE HOPE OF FREEDOM Mardell McCombs ©Talking Rock Publishing
You say the country's too full
And you can't take anymore
So you're dimming the lamp
And closing the door
You say we're breaking your laws
Patience is wearing thin
But we're your tired and poor
And we want in
The hope of freedom was in my heart
It was a light that sustained me
Through those perilous miles
The hope of freedom was in my heart
The dream of a better life
I vowed to break poverty's curse
For the sake of my child and my wife
When there is no work, when there is no bread
When the soldiers come in the night
What is a man to do?
But seize the chance for flight
And now you say you must send me back
To do the best that I can
If you could just understand
There's no dignity to live in fear
So I beg you please keep me here
For my heart holds a dream so dear
The hope of freedom in my heart
The hope of freedom in my heart
The hope of freedom in my heart
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3. |
No Place To Lay My Head
05:27
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NO PLACE TO LAY MY HEAD Mardell McCombs ©Talking Rock Publishing
Look at me now
Things may not be what they seem
I wasn't always like this
Used to be living the dream
Nice home, nice car, nice job, nice life
Loved and respected, a happy wife
The shelter's not bad, when you can get in
Lord knows, by now there's worse places I've been
Spend my days in the library trying to keep things on track
Dinner at McDonalds from the dumpster out back
Now there's no place to lay my head
Lord, Lord
There's no place to lay my head
These old bones are aching and I'm barely fed
And there's no place to lay my head
We lost our jobs one at a time
First went his, then went mine
We held on just as long as we could
Now we've lost everything
And our credits no good
He just couldn't take it and he left me flat
No idea now what or where he's at
Lived in my car till they towed it away
Now I wander the streets
Trying to make my way
But there's no place to lay my head
Lord, Lord, there’s no place to lay my head
These old bones are aching and I’m barely fed
Got no place to lay my head
I keep on trying but it wears you down
Looking for work when there's none to be found
Going broke, getting older, that was no plan of mine
What can you do against hard luck and time
I hear folks complain about this, about that
But you're so damn lucky to be where you're at
Sleeping in your own bed, had enough to eat
Then give thanks that you're not out on the street
Where there's no place to lay your head
Lord, Lord no
No place to lay your head
Sometimes I think I'd be better off dead
For there's no place to lay my head
There's no place to lay my head
Lord, Lord
No place to lay my head
I'm old and I'm cold, I"m scared and alone
Don't everybody need a home
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4. |
Make Me Famous
04:01
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MAKE ME FAMOUS Mardell McCombs ©Talking Rock Publishing
Hey
Look at me! It's my turn
Make me famous now
I'm ready for the spotlight
Make me famous now
I ate a thousand goldfish
They say I'm just like Elvis
I won the Cha-cha contest
Make me famous now
Make me famous now
Please notice me, I'm special
Make me famous now
Whatever it takes, it's worth it
Make me famous now
I'll starve and be a model
I wanna star in movies
I don't mind the nude scenes
Just make me famous now
Make me famous now
Just 15 minutes of fame
And everybody knows your name
You're always a celebrity
You can say guess who I used to be
Watch out for me, I'm desperate
Make me famous now
If you won't give it, I'll take it
Make me famous now
I held a school bus hostage
Burned 10,000 acres
I gunned down John Lennon
Make me famous now
Make me famous now
Just 15 minutes of fame
And everybody knows your name
You're always a celebrity
You can say guess who I used to be
Make me famous now, make me famous now
Make me famous now, make me famous
Make me famous now, make me famous now
Make me famous now, make me famous
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5. |
Monotone
02:36
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MONOTONE Mardell McCombs ©Talking Rock Publishing
Don't be too stupid, don't be too smart
In kindergarten that's when they start
Molding minds, in the churches, schools and homes
So you'll conform to their monotone
Everybody wants to win
By trying to just fit in
We'll settle for less, not to be alone
Live out our lives in monotone
Before you realize, you've wasted years
Building a prison out of your fears
Set your soul free, take a chance
Hear the music, join the dance
Media controls what we perceive
In our own voice we don't believe
We sit and stare listening to their endless drone
Fill up our minds with it's monotone
It's all vanilla, it's all grey
You've played it safe, but you're scared each day
Set your soul free, take a chance
Hear the music, join the dance
Monotone, monotone
Monotone, monotone, monotone, monotone, monotone
Monotone, monotone
MONOTONE
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6. |
Perfect Things
04:01
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PERFECT THINGS Mardell McCombs ©Talking Rock Publishing
I have a house full of perfect things
By them I set great store
I have a house full of perfect things
And each year I get more
I shop and stalk and find them
I cash and charge and buy them
I work and save and earn them
I protect and insure them
I have a house full of perfect things
That I can't do without
I have a house full of perfect things
They're me, without a doubt
I polish, clean and dust them
No tarnish or no rust then
I add subtract and bill them
To the favored ones, I'll will them
All my lovely perfect things
Things I really need
Are filling rooms and closets till
I'm crowded out by greed
I have a house full of perfect things
They cushion stress and strife
And fill the empty spaces in
My dull imperfect life
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7. |
Junkyard
03:32
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JUNKYARD Mardell McCombs ©Talking Rock Publishing
The wretched refuse huddle round
They don't look up, cause they're going down
Going down, going down slow
You never thought it would be like this
You thought that you could handle the risk
But you kept on making the same mistake
Guess a habit is a hard thing to break
Going down, going down slow
Going down slow
So you found life a little too hard
And you ended up in the junkyard
Skin and bone, vacant stare
Too many others like you there
In the junkyard
Hanging out, hanging around
Waiting for the man to come round
Going down, going down slow
Rats and garbage at your feet
Gangs and weirdos on the street
You said you could quit, when you wanted to
Now look what you've turned into
Going down, going down slow
Going down slow
So you found life a little too hard
And you ended up in the junkyard
Skin and bone, vacant stare
Too many others like you there
In the junkyard
Going down, going down slow
Going down, going down slow
In the words of Billie Holliday
Drugs just kill you the slow hard way
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8. |
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WAITING IN THE LOBBY BLUES Mardell McCombs ©Talking Rock Publishing
Don't worry how we invest
We're the government, we know what's best
We'll take care of you just like a mother
Yeah, Uncle Sam's turned into your Big Brother
But there's a cost for all this care
And it's a cost you're going to have to bear
We're counting on your apathy
We'll manipulate you with TV
And if there's an intelligent reaction
A little war somewhere provides distraction
Waiting in the lobby, standing in the hall
The special interests gang has come to pay a call
Waiting in the lobby, standing in the hall
The special interests gang has come to pay a call
Is it the choice of the people back home
That powers the vote in the capitol dome
Thanks to the lobbyists I'm sorry to say
It's the size of the bankroll that carries the day
When you are a lobbyist, it's influence that counts
Contribute to a campaign fund in six-figure amounts
Waiting in the lobby, standing in the hall
The special interests gang has come to pay a call
Waiting in the lobby, standing in the hall
The special interests gang has come to pay a call
Do something for me, I'll do something for you
That's how the game is played, I thought everyone knew
But when the stakes get higher and there's more to lose
Right from wrong becomes harder to choose
How did it get so out of hand
Excuse my ignorance
But aren't bribery and graft a capital offense
A Capitol Offense
A lobbyist does well these days
Ask him how influence pays
Waiting in the lobby, standing in the hall
The special interests gang has come to pay a call
Waiting in the lobby, standing in the hall
The special interests gang has come to pay a call
They've come to pay a call, they've come to take it all
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9. |
We've Got A File On You
03:44
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WE'VE GOT A FILE ON YOU Mardell McCombs ©Talking Rock Publishing
Freedom of expression, that's the American Way
Just remember that our agents take down everything you say
Should your words prove influential and oppose our policies
We'll have to start observing you
And see what we can see
We've got a file on you
We know everything you do
We know everywhere you go
We know everyone you know
We've got a file on you, it's growing thick and stout
Give us any trouble, we'll go and pull it out
Our specialty's surveillance, though it's pretty dull stuff
The fun part's when we raid your home and haul you off in cuffs
You'll probably be acquitted if your lawyer is well known
But buying back your freedom will take every cent you own
We've got a file on you
We know everything you do
We know everywhere you go
We know everyone you know
We've got a file on you, it's growing thick and stout
Give us any trouble, we'll go and pull it out
La la la, la la la la
La la la, la la la la
When the constitution stood strong our hands were fairly tied
But now thanks to the Patriot Act, that documents been fried
And that old fourth amendment will trouble us no more
An assessment from the NSA will get us through the door
We've got a file on you
We know everything you do
We know everywhere you go
We know everyone you know
We've got a file on you, it's growing thick and stout
Give us any trouble, we'll go and pull it out
Give us any trouble, we'll go and pull it out
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10. |
Foreign Aid
03:11
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FOREIGN AID Mardell McCombs ©Talking Rock Publishing
We didn't ask you to come
And tell us how things should be run
We have our own ways here
And we don't need you to interfere
America, America
You're so rich and powerful
You can afford to give there
We don't like America
We just want to live there
You like to throw your weight around
And say just dare to defy us
You're offering your foreign aid
But you're just trying to buy us
America, America
You're so rich and powerful
You can afford to give there
We don't like America
We just want to live there
Your corporations come to loot us
Your foreign culture will pollute us
How can we be in accord
When our needs and traditions are ignored
America, America!
You're so rich and powerful
You can afford to give there
We don't like America
We just want to live there
You say we have just the place
To build your next military base
Should we refuse your loan
Our leaders will be overthrown
America, America
You're so rich and powerful
You can afford to give there
We don't like America
We just want to live there
We just want to live there
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11. |
This Means War
03:29
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THIS MEANS WAR Mardell McCombs ©Talking Rock Publishing
We wave the flag, rally round
Sing that Old Glory song
Of might and fight, truth and right
But something is terribly wrong
This means war, war, war, war
This means war
Brainwashed into a killing machine
To follow wherever you're led
We just did what they told us to do
Say the living that bury the dead
Brave gallant soldiers? Or political pawns
There's a great deal of money tied up in arms
War, war, war, war
This means war
The war profiteers
Maneuver the gears
Till Their profits are assured
Then the war machine
Unleashes it’s flood
Manufacturing death and blood
Death and blood
Shell shocked eyes relive the horror
With their terrible vision
Trapped inside they peer through the bars
Of their mental prison
The maimed and the wounded return home
To receive a medal and a G I loan
War, war, war, war
This means war
This means war
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12. |
A Great Man
06:08
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A GREAT MAN Mardell McCombs ©Talking Rock Publishing
What use to be a great man
In a world grown small
Where people grasp at nothing
And think they have it all
Why put yourself forward
Alone in your stand
A target for hatred
In an unhappy land
Why speak words of wisdom
And risk your life?
When your pleas fall on deaf ears
Stopped up by violence and strife
Why do the right thing?
When the efforts in vain
We've all seen the outcome
Again and again
We want a leader to save us
A Kennedy, Ghandi or King
But are we ready
For the message they bring
Well that's how I feel sometimes
When my thoughts shade to blue
But someone's got to make a stand
Stare down Power and speak Truth
This world is worth fighting for
And it's our own responsibility
Each child born in innocence
Has the right to be free
We want a leader to save us
A Kennedy, Ghandi or King
But are we ready
For the message they bring
What use to be a great man
In a world grown so small
They'll lean on you and use you
And watch you fall
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13. |
Power To The People
04:15
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POWER TO THE PEOPLE Mardell McCombs ©Talking Rock Publishing
When you're a bunch of sheep, easily policed
Is it any wonder that you get fleeced
The economy's got you on your knees
All your jobs went overseas
It's up to you to make a choice
It's up to you to use your voice
Singing power, power to the people
Power, power to the people
Many recent laws of our great nation
Only benefit multinational corporations
Small farm, small business, small bank account
They will control you or squeeze you out
When you're fed garbage, don't just tamely swallow
They may try to lead
But you don't have to follow
Power, power to the people
Power, power to the people
But don't moan and groan, complain and holler
Use your vote, then vote your dollar
Everyone white and blue collar
Show your power and vote your dollar
What can I do I'm telling you
Be a vigilant consumer or be consumed
Speak the language they understand
A fistful of greenbacks in your hand
Money talks, gold glistens
I guarantee, that'll make em' listen
Power, power to the people
Power, power to the people
You've got to vote your dollar, vote your dollar
Power, power to the people
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