THREE SONGS FOR THE 1968 ELECTION
By Charles Deemer
I
I've been in your country
I've been all around
I slept in your beds
And I slept on your ground
Never have I found
A reason you should put
So many down
I've traveled by thumb
And 1've driven big cars
Eaten from cans
I've smoked big cigars
I just don't see
Why you let a family
Go hungry
I've lived in your houses
I’ve lived in your jails
Heard happy laughter
I've heard bitter wails
But I just don’t know
Why you won't help
A baby grow
I’ve heard all your reasons
For going alone
You told me of your family
Told me of your home
I don't understand
Why won't you bend
We could be friends
He came to your city
He came as a friend
He came with his heart
He just wanted to stand
When did you bend
When did you lend
A helping hand
II
Look all around you, look from a hill
If you don't see it, nobody will
Look all around you, look from the sky
If you don’t see it, there's a reason why
Why don't you see it, why don't you care
You think you need a new 'frigidaire
You think you need a new car, I know
An old one will get you anywhere you go
While you sing this song and get your high
Too many people are gonna die
To think nice thoughts is not enough
Gotta bring it all back home with love
Get off your ass & alibi
And take a close look at the sky
A different trip is needed now
Better find what, better find how
III
I used to live down in L.A.
And. then I moved up to Frisco Bay
Lived north, west, east and in the south
Learned to shove grits and chitluns in my mouth
CHORUS:
Well, one thing I found
From town to town
A man needs a few things when he's down
Food in the mouth
Roof on the head
A pretty little baby in a big warm bed
Everywhere I've been from man to roan
Everybody wants a little piece of land
A few have a lot, but most have none
Most have to sweat it while the few have fun
A man digs a ditch around. a water tank
Another lives on interest from the city bank
Nothin' wrong with lots of different kinds of work
Til the poor go hungry and
the rich just shirk
Been talkin' around and quite a few
Don't think Johnson knows what to do
He's got a lot of promises in his mouth
We need a heap of votes now to kick him out
I don't think Republicans would do no good
And Johnson didn't do what he said he would
Gotta spread the word all over the land
It's time to bring in a third party man
‘Cause one thing I found
From town to town
A man needs a few things when he's down
Food in the mouth
Roof on the head
A pretty little baby in a big warm bed
Gotta spread the word all over the land
Time to bring in a third party man!