NEW SONGS 2007-2009
DISCRIMINATION/HUMAN RIGHTS/FREE SPEECH
BUSH BARREL POLKA 2007
DANGEROUS GRANS
DIVERSITY, HUMANITY
GAGGLE AGAINST HATE (GLBT)
IMMIGRATION
IT’S A SAD OLD FLAG
KATRINA RAP
RAGING GRANNIES ARE CONSPIRING
ECONOMIC JUSTICE/CORPORATE WELFARE
FRAUD’S WHAT IT’S ALL ABOUT
SECURITIES, SECURITAS (FORECLOSURES)
ENVIRONMENT
GAGGLE AGAINST COAL
HUSH LITTLE PLANET
ON TOP OF OLD SMOKY
THIS GREEN HUMAN
HEALTH CARE
GRANDMA’S FATE
HEALTHCARE
MEDICARE BATTLE HYMN
OUR FAVORITE THINGS (HEALTH CARE)
REAL HEALTH CARE, WE CRY!
ROCKABYE BABY
TAKE CARE OF YOU
TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF
TAKE GOOD CARE OF YOURSELF
HOMELESSNESS
BACK OF THE BUS
THERE IS A RENTAL IN THIS TOWN
PEACE, PEACE 2
PEACE/WAR
THE ATOM
BAN NUKES
BLACKWATER MEN
BLACKWATER ON THE RANGE
DOLPHIN SONG
GLORY, GLORY HALLIBURTON
JUST SAY NO TO WAR
OBAMA, WE DON’T NEED THE WARS
PEACE, PEACE
THERE IS A BOMB ON TRIDENT SUBS
TORTURE SONG, TORTURE SONG 2
WARHAWKS 2007
YELLOW SUBMARINE 2
POLITICS
BLUES FROM THE RIGHT
CUBA CHA-CHA-CHA
FAREWELL TO KARL ROVE
GAGGLE TO IMPEACH
IMPEACHMENT IN THE WIND
LET’S IMPEACH THE PRESIDENT
IMPEACHABLE CREW
KATRINA RAP
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
SANTA BUSH 2007
THREE RAGING GRANNIES
UNIMPEACHABLE
WE’RE WATCHING, OBAMA
YES, WE CAN
WOMEN’S ISSUES
GRANNY WITH AN ATTITUDE
DISCRIMINATION/ HUMAN RIGHTS/ FREE SPEECH
BUSH BARREL POLKA 2007
(tune: Beer Barrel Polka)
Throw out the baby—
And then the bathwater too!
Who needs Bin Laden
When our own fascists will do?
Our Constitution
Need some revision because
Now’s the time to give up freedom
And seek safety’s flaws!
When you hear that rumble at the door
It’s the NSA or FBI.
Don’t call your lawyer or implore
To know the charge or reason why.
Down with due process!
Why would you ever need that?
You’re safe and comfy—
Liberty’s only old hat.
Just give up freedom.
Card us and search us, too.
Now’s the time to call the Army—
Secret justice for you!
In Iraq we must begin a surge
To prove there’s still a chance to win.
And now it seems we need a purge
Cause they let some Democrats in.
Should we impeach them
For lying and spying and war?
Torture, rendition—
Is that what we’re fighting for?
Shame on our nation!
Must this be done in our name?
Tell the world that we reject it—
We know who’s to blame.
Monica Zucker
DANGEROUS GRANS
(tune: Lili Marlene)
We might be subversive—
Throw us in the clink.
We persist in thinking
When it’s not safe to think.
We poke and we pry and then tell you
What they’d prefer that no one knew.
A geriatric menace—
We instigate dissent.
We defy their wiretaps,
We might moon their snoops,
And we shall go on meeting
If they outlaw our groups.
We’ll read and we’ll write the things we please
For we believe in liberty.
We’re dangerous insurgents—
We love the Bill of Rights.
They try to keep the lid on,
Try to shut us up.
Ridicule won’t do it,
So better call a cop.
We’ve been around and we don’t scare.
We’re here, we’re there, we’re everywhere,
Your neighbors, friends, and mothers—
We are the Raging Grans!
Your neighbors, friends and mothers—
We are the Raging Grans!
Criminal Grans, from E-Vine
DIVERSITY, HUMANITY
(tune: Finiculi,, Finicula)
Some think the air belongs to corporations
And not to us,
AND NOT TO US!
Some think it well to merge all information
By thoughtless clones,
In solemn tones.
But we, we'd like to hear more human voices,
And honest fun,
And creation,
While they, they want to limit all our choices
To selling cars,
And pushing wars.
Harken! Harken!
We need real debate!
The Commission
Must not abdicate!
Diversity, humanity, diversity, humanity!
Communicate with us! Diversity, humanity!
Monica Zucker
GAGGLE AGAINST HATE (GLBT)
(tune: Side by Side)
Oh, we're a gaggle of Grannies
Urging you off of your fannies.
We're raising our voice--
We want a new choice--
NO MORE HATE!
Discrimination unending,
Promises that're still pending.
To each a fair share--
We want a world where
there's NO MORE HATE!
Whether it's employment
Or marriage, kids, or school,
Equality's the answer--
Justice now must rule!
So, join this gaggle of Grannies--
Get up off of your fannies.
We're telling you now,
We're angry and how!
NO MORE HATE!
We really mean it: NO MORE HATE!
We mean precisely: NO MORE HATE!
We will say it very nicely: NO MORE HATE!
Read our lips (mouth): NO MORE HATE!
Version by Monica Zucker
IMMIGRATION
(tune: Ruben, Ruben)
Immigration—I’ve been thinking
What a grand world this would be
If we all were treated fairly—
Honest workers, you and me.
Separating moms from children!
We know that just can’t be right.
Off to lives that don’t include them!
When will we all see the light?
Dads and moms are working tough jobs,
Jobs that WE don’t want to do.
Then it’s said that jobs are stolen.
Don’t believe it—It’s not true.
Let us not forget our his’try,
Roots that came from far away.
Can we treat these new arrivals
Dif-fer-ent-ly? NO! WE SAY!
Jeanne Lorimer
IT’S A SAD OLD FLAG
(tune. It’s a Grand Old Flag)
It's a sad old flag,
And it looks like a rag
When exploited for selling a war.
Though when young I was taught
Our flag can't be bought,
Corporations are running the store.
My heart will beat true
For the red, white, and blue
When it stands up for human rights.
When patriotism's used for fraud
It extinguishes freedom's light.
It's a sad old flag,
And it looks like a rag
When exploited for selling a war.
Though when young I was taught
Our flag can't be bought,
Corporations are running the store.
When in this land
Burning flags can be banned,
Burning books will be ordered soon.
The First Amendment is our right
To sing new words to this old tune.
Sunny Armer. New York Metro Grannies
Our government moves at a very slow pace.
They didn’t understand New Orleans was a race.
To save people, save lives, and pretend to care
For the needy, the poor, and the black who live there.
If this was a test, they utterly failed.
This negligent lot should be charged and jailed.
The next storm is coming---who knows where or when.
With Washington's record---will they be ready then?
Ann Smith
RAGING GRANNIES ARE CONSPIRING
(tune: I’ve Been Working on the Railroad)
Raging Grannies are conspiring
To make their audience laugh.
Satire is so very frightening
It’s clearly a (speak) TERRORIST path.
Listen to their conversation.
They speak of peace not war.
Anti-Bush recriminations--
They always go too far.
Metal in their hips,
Metal in their knees,
They're hiding weapons
No one can see.
We have found them out,
Know what they're all about,
A peace and social justice
Con-spir-acy.
Someone's singing for justice,
Someone's singing for an end to war,
Someone's singing for fairness,
Scaring us to the core...
We’re scared of:
Gaggles of grannies singing their song
Gaggles of grannies make us quake,
Gaggles of grannies must be watched
Our country is at stake.
Grannies with their hats
A bunch of old bats
Scaring us with what they sing.
If they ever stay in tune
That will surely spell our doom
Spreading freedom and democracy.
We’re raging
Grannies singing for justice,
Grannies singing for an end to war,
Grannies singing for fairness
World Peace Forevermore!
Laurie Rostholder
ECONOMIC JUSTICE/ CORPORATE WELFARE
FRAUD’S WHAT IT’S ALL ABOUT
(tune: Hoky Poky)
Sub-prime loans go in,
Toxic assets come out.
Cut them all up
And spread them all about.
Let’s do the Hocus Pokus,
Bring the system down.
Fraud’s what it’s all about!
You put a dollar in,
Thirty bucks come out.
Bernie Madoff’s game
And cheating all about.
They did their Hocus Pocus,
Brought the system down.
Fraud’s what it’s all about!
Speak: Heads they win, tails we lose!
Privatize gain,
Socialize loss,
Bail out the banks
No matter what the cost.
They did the Hocus Pocus,
Brought the system down.
Fraud’s what it’s all about
They do the hocus pocus!
They do the hocus pocus!
They do the hocus pocus!
Fraud’s what it’s all about!
(Hinda Kipnis)
SECURITIES, SECURITAS (FORECLOSURES)
(tune: Finiculi, Finicula)
Some think the world was made for corporations,
Just like World Com
And like Enron,
For fraud and scams and shady exploitations,
When with aplomb
They drop a bomb.
And we, we lose our jobs and stocks and pensions.
Each three-piece suit
Takes out the loot.
For us the evil hits in great dimensions.
Execs aren't miffed--
They take the fifth.
Harken! Harken! It’s foreclosure time!
Harken! Harken! Home’s not worth a dime!
Securities, securitas, securities, securitas!
Save the bankers’ first! Securities, securitas!
(Monica Zucker)
GAGGLE AGAINST COAL
(tune: Side by Side)
Oh, we're a gaggle of Grannies,
Urging you off of your fannies,
We're raising our voice,
We want a new choice,
NO MORE COAL!
With all the money we’re spending
On fossil fuels that’re ending
We all go broke,
The scientists spoke:
NO MORE COAL!
We need new solutions
To clean up land and air.
Stop glacier dissolutions,
And climate change despair.
SOOOO, join this gaggle of Grannies,
Get up off of your fannies,
We're telling you now,
We're angry and how,
NO MORE COAL!
We really mean it, NO MORE COAL!
We mean precisely, NO MORE COAL!
We will say it very nicely, NO MORE COAL!
Read our lips: (silent NO MORE COAL) (courtesy)
HUSH LITTLE PLANET
(Tune: Hush Little Baby)
Some save shells in a treasure chest.
Some think gold in a safe is best.
Did YOU know water, wind and sun
Are valuable for everyone?
Our planet is a treasure box.
Our minds can open up the locks.
The power from water, wind and sun
Can all be used by everyone.
Across the world or over here
We must protect our atmosphere.
From young and small to big and brave
We all can help, we all can save.
There is a place beyond the fence
Where people use their common sense.
Where all of us have all agreed
To NEVer take more than we need.
From E-Vine
On top of old smoky,
That coal burning plant,
They say they’ve made coal clean,
But you know they can’t.
They top all the hills when
They dig out the coal.
Then dump waste in rivers,
Like a big sewage bowl.
The stories ‘bout clean coal
Are clearly untrue.
The air is polluted—
T’will suffocate you.
On top of old smoky,
That coal burning plant,
They say they’ve made coal clean,
But you know they can’t.
(Monica Zucker)
THIS GREEN HUMAN
(tune: This Old Man)
This old man, he had one
SOGgy piece of HOT dog bun.
With a nick nack paddy wack
To the compost bin
He GRINNED and simply tossed it in.
This small town, it had two
WINDmills spinning as AIR blew through
With a nick nack paddy wack
HARness all the wind
Catch e-LEC-tricity, WATCH ‘em spin.
My friend’s folks, they drive three
CARpools for my FRIENDS and me
With a nick nack paddy wack
FILLing every seat
Saves gas every TIME we meet.
This old man, he bought four
Amtrac passes to the shore
With a nick nack paddy wack
Moving people fast
TRAINS can help our PLAnet last.
This old woman, she bought five
COOLer bulbs with LONGer lives
With a nick nack paddy wack
More efficienCY
LIGHTS save E-lecTRICity.
This old man, he saw six
HYbrid cars do MILEage tricks
With a nick nack paddy wack
PLUS a battery
SAVE on fuel eCONomy.
This old woman, she saw seven
CONtinents on earth from HEAv’n
With a nick nack paddy wack
IT looks good from THERE
EV’ry country does its share.
This ole man, he wrote eight
LETters to the heads of state
With a nick nack paddy wack
HE said lets be GREEN
KEEP our air and water clean.
This old woman, she put nine
SOlar PANels in a LINE
With a nick nack paddy wack
Power from the sun
PLUG them in and your HOUSE can run.
This old man, he gave ten
Warm old coats to ten cold men
With a nick nack paddy wack
HE said we can CHOOSE
To GIVE away what we don’t use.
These old folks, they’re so smart
They SHOW us how to do our part
With a nick nack paddy wack
It’s not hard to do
GREEN is best for me and you.
( , Laurie Rostholder)
GRANDMA’S FATE
(tune: I’ve Been Working on the Railroad)
Will they pull the plug on Grandma?
Will they pull the plug one day?
That is just what I’ve been hearing,
If Obama has his way!
If that is what you believe, dear
I’ve something here for sale:
(Speak) The Brooklyn Bridge
The Eiffel Tower
And Buckinham Palace, too!
So, my friend, I need to ask you
To listen to the TRUTH:
Grandma’s really safe
As safe as she can be.
The choice is up to her, you see!
(Speak) WE ALL HAVE A CHOICE!
(Jeanne Lorimer)
HEALTHCARE
(tune: A Bicycle Built for Two)
Healthcare, healthcare,
What am I gonna do?
I’m half crazy
Trying to pay for you.
I can’t afford my Blue Cross,
And Single Payer cuts costs,
So let’s defeat
With feet on the street
Profiteering from healthcare blues.
Congress, Congress
Give us your answer true,
Are you crazy?
What are you gonna do?
If we can’t afford to pay bills,
And wait until we’re too ill.
We’ll lose our work
Without help or perks—
There’s better care in the zoo!
(Nancy Galland, Maine Raging Grannies)
MEDICARE BATTLE HYMN
(tune: Battle Hymn of the Republic)
Mine eyes have seen the wonders of a single payer plan
In nineteen sixty-five the Congress said, now, yes we can
They passed a single payer plan, they called it Medicare
And we're so glad it's there.
Chorus:
The lobbyists will try to fool ya
THEY-Y--will think up lies to scare ya
They work for corporations who are surely not your friends
So don't believe their spin.
We've got to stand together and to fight for what is fair
to educate the public and to make them all aware
that what we need is public FI-nance linked to private care
You'll be so glad it's there!
Chorus
(From E-Vine)
OUR FAVORITE THINGS (TAKING CARE)
Red wine and choc’lates and salmon and kiwis,
Water aerobics and laughter if you please,
Walking and talking and sharing with friends,
These are a few of our favorite things.
When the wind blows wear your warm clothes.
Keep your powder dry.
Remember your vegetables and the red wine—
And only one piece of pie!
Crosswords and pinochle, bridge and sudoku,
Keep your mind nimble and it will see you through.
Tangles of memory lost by the way—
Where will you be at the end of the day?
Don’t like walkers, don’t like four-prongs,
Can we take a bus?
If you do all of our favorite things,
Then you’ll look good—like us!
(Sue Kay, Jeanne Lorimer, Jo-Hanna Read, Rita Selin)
REAL HEALTH CARE, WE CRY!
(tune: Rye Whiskey)
Chorus:
It’s health care, real health care,
Real health care we cry!
Single payer’s the only solution to fly.
Insurance ain’t health care—
It’s profits galore.
You pay all your money—
They always want more.
If you get anything
Worse than the flu,
Don’t bother applying—
They won’t cover you.
Insurers buy Congress
Which won’t hear our pleas.
We know that insurance
Won’t fix our disease.
Oh, give us real health care,
Not just for a few.
We’ll choose our own doctors
And hospitals, too.
Chorus:
It’s health care, real health care,
Real health care we cry!
Single payer’s the only solution to fly.
(Monica Zucker)
Rock a bye baby, don't you get sick.
Your Mom and Dad will go broke real quick.
Grandpa and Grandma wish it weren't true--
Big rich insurers don't care about you.
Rock a bye tax cuts helping the rich
You're out of luck--if YOUR kid gets sick
Health care insurers rack in the cash
If you are POOR, they'll treat you like trash
Rock a bye profits that's what they love.
Kids and grand-PA-rents merit a shove.
Everyone IS in danger it's true,
Cuz big rich insurers don't car abeout you.
(From E-Vine)
Take Care Of You!
(tune: Enjoy Yourself. It's Later Than You Think)
Take care of you! You have so much to do.
Take care of you! Yor work is never through.
You can say no! Cause you're important too.
Take care of you. Take care of you.
So you can make it through.
Take care of you! The stress piles on so thick.
Take care or it will make you very sick.
Blood pressure builds, attack or stroke you pick.
Take care of you. Take care of you.
Or helping days end quick!
Take care of you! It's good to have a friend.
Take care of you! Support must never end.
We need you here! You have your life to tend.
Take care of you! Take care of you!
Before you round the bend!
Take care of you! Get out on your bike.
Take care of you! Go out on a hike.
Make some time for playing like a tyke.
Enjoy yourself. Enjoy yourself!
Do something that you like!
(Lenore Arnaustoff, Carolyn Hale, Hinda Kipnis, Ann Smith)
TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF
(tune: Enjoy Yourself, It’s Later Than You Think)
Take care of yourself.
You’ll live a long, long time.
We need you here.
Keep staying in your prime.
Take care of yourself.
Good health is your first must.
Take care, take care—
Your life is dear to us
(Annette Klapstein, Carol McRoberts, Kay Thode, Monica Zucker).
TAKE GOOD CARE OF YOURSELF
(tune: You Belong to Me!)
Healthy food is good for you
And your family.
Take good care of yourself—
Build community!
Be sure to ride your bike—oo, oo!
Take a hike—oo, oo!
Fly a kite—oo,oo!
Get off your butt and turn off the TV!
Throw the plastic bottles out,
And the pesticides,
Take good care of yourself
And we all will thrive.
Make the water safe and pure—oo, oo!
Let’s be sure—oo, oo!
Life is more—oo, oo!
Of friendship, fellowship, and caring.
Healthy food is good for you
And your family.
Take good care of yourself—
Build community!
(Four Grannies at Retreat 2009)
BACK OF THE BUS
If you miss me at the back of the bus
You can't find me nowhere.
Come on up to the front of the bus
I'll be riding up there.
I'll be riding up there,
I'll be riding up there.
Come on up to the front of the bus,
I'll be riding up there
If you're looking for shelter
You can't find it nowhere.
Come on up to the greenbelt,
Folks are camping up there...(repeats)
If you miss me in the greenbelt
You can't find me nowhere
Come on over to Nickelsville,
Folks are building up there...(repeats)
If you miss me at Nickelsville
You can't find me nowhere
Come on down to the jailhouse,
We'll be bunking down there...(repeats)
If you miss me at the jailhouse
You can't find us nowhere
That's cause we all stood together
And we're still building up there!...(repeats)
(Anitra Freeman)
THERE IS A RENTAL IN THIS TOWN
(tune: There’s a Tavern in the Town)
There is a rental in this town, in this town,
And there my fam’ly settled down, settled do-o-own.
We ate and slept and played there every day,
And paid our rent so we could stay.
Fare thee well for we must leave thee.
Do not let this parting grieve thee.
Our rent jumped sky high believe me,
And so we must part.
Adieu, adieu kind friends, adieu, yes, adieu.
We can no longer be with you, be with you-oo-oo.
We’ll hang our clothes on a weeping willow tree,
And sleep in Nickelsville for free.
(New York Metro Grannies)
PEACE, PEACE
(tune: Red, Red, Red Rose)
Peace, peace, peace, peace.
Wars must end and wars must cease.
We must learn to live together.
Peace, peace, peace.
Peace, peace, peace, peace.
Make homelessness and hunger cease.
We must learn to live together.
Peace, peace, peace.
THE ATOM
(tune: Here We Come A-wassaling)
To crush the simple a-a-tom
The whole world was most intent.
Now any day
The atom may
Return the compliment.
BAN NUKES
(Tune: My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean)
The ONly way WE can be SURE that
We'll BE safe from NUclear aLARM,
A-BO-lish all NUclear WEApons
And the DANger of NUclear HARM.
We DON'T want to DEprive the DOLphins
Of THEIR right to LIVE wild and FREE,
JUST to proTECT human BEings
From THEIR crazy NUclear folLY.
Ban nukes, ban nukes,
Ban them for once and for all, for all,
Ban nukes, ban nukes,
Now and forEVer more.
BLACKWATER MEN
(tune: Ta Ra Ra Boom De Ay)
Blackwater men are strong and tall,
Mercenaries one and all.
Earn their wages free and clear,
Shooting bullets far and near.
Keeping peace, keeping peace.
All for democracy.
If their bullets go astray,
“What the hell,” you hear them say.
They’re here to watch over you.
Surely, you do have a clue!
Chorus.
Wages are spectacular.
Just who pays them is not “clar.”
Ten thousand dollars monthly due.
Military men: that’s not for you.
Chorus
Yes, Blakwater men are strong and tall,
Mercenaries, one and all.
Earn their wages free and clear,
Shooting bullets far and near
Chorus
(Jean Lorimer)
BLACKWATER ON THE RANGE
(tune: Home on the Range)
Don’t give me a home
Where Blackwater roams
And terror’s the law of the land.
We must not forget
What gestapos beget
When they follow illegal commands.
Hired killers roam free
In Iraq with impunity.
Mercenaries shoot first
And with each gunburst
Get buckets of US money.
They’re based here at home
Blessed by our own.
Congress seems tied to a tree.
Iraq is wild west,
A proof that our quest
Was never for democracy.
Blackwater, oy vay!
The milit’ry’s right hand today.
We need to take care
Danger is in the air.
Fascism’s creeping our way.
(Hinda Kipnis)
DOLPHIN SONG
(Tune: Three Little Fishies)
Out in the ocean in a nice warm sea,
Swam a school of dolphins, as happy as can be.
Then along came the Navy, with a military plan
To train those wild, free dolphins
To serve as spies for man.
Boop, boop, dittum, datum, wattum, choo,
Boop, boop, dittum, datum, wattum, choo,
Boop, boop, dittum, your luck is overdrawn,
Cuz you've been kidnapped and now you are a pawn.
You're going to live in pens
To keep you from the cold,
Except for two hour sessions
When you do what you're told.
The Navy and the Army have got a lot of cheek,
If they think nobody's watching,
Then they're up the creek.
Boop, boop, dittum, datum, wattum, choo,
Boop, boop, dittum, datum, wattum, choo,
Boop, boop, dittum, we've got to stop the plan,
No more dolphins captured,
Becoming slaves for man.
GLORY, GLORY HALLIBURTON
(tune: Battle Hymn of the Republic)
Chorus:
Glory, glory Halliburton!
Our communities are hurtin’.
Massive deficits are certain--
But we know how to make war pay!
Three hundred billion is a lot of money, true,
And we will get our share of it and more before we’re through.
The army will protect us while we do the things we do.
We know how to make war pay.
Chorus
The cost of war is relative and so it all depends
On who are your connections and who..oo are your friends.
A contract here and there can do a lot to make amends.
We know how to make war pay.
Chorus
(From E-Vine)
JUST SAY NO TO WAR
(tune: Ten Little Indians)
One little, two little, three little soldiers
Marched off to war and never got older.
Makes us sad and makes us bolder
Just say NO to war!
One trillion, two trillion, three trillion dollars
Wasted on war if we don’t holler
“You can go but we won’t foller!”
Just say NO to war!
Their kids, my kids, your kids, too,
Facing death—it’s up to you!
Here’s what we all need to do—
Just say NO to war!
(From E-Vine)
OBAMA, WE DON’T NEED THE WARS
(Tune: "It Ain't Necessarily So")
Obama, we don't need the wars.
We don't want the wars anymore.
We told our last leader,
But he was a cheater--
We don't want the wars anymore.
Obama, get out of Iraq.
Get out and don't ever go back!
We're glad you're elected,
And now you're expected,
To pull out the troops from Iraq.
Obama, stop bombing Afghans.
Protect their homes, families, and lands.
Don’t spend our billions
On bombing civilians.
Show them that we understand.
Obama, we send you this song.
It's not that you'll never go wrong.
But we must remind you,
That we stand behind you,
Just pull out where we don't belong!
(Shirley Littman, NYC Metro Raging Grannies,
with verse by Monica Zucker)
PEACE, PEACE 2
Peace, peace, peace, peace.
Wars must end and wars must cease.
We must learn to live together.
Peace, peace, peace.
Peace, peace, peace, peace.
Make homelessness and hunger cease.
We must learn to live together.
Peace, peace, peace.
THERE IS A BOMB ON TRIDENT SUBS
(tune: There is a Balm in Gilead)
Chorus:
There is a bomb on Trident subs
That makes a great big HO-O-OLE!
There is a bomb on Trident subs
That makes a great big hole.
Sometimes I feel discouraged
And think the time has come
When we will use our nuke bombs
And blow the world to CRU-UMBS.
Chorus
Sometimes I feel encouraged
And it is times like this
That I look all around me
And blow you all a KI-ISS! (blow a kiss)
Second Chorus:
We will stop the nuclear bombs
That make the great big HO-O-OLES.
We will stop the nuclear bombs
And keep our planet whole.
(Rosy Betz-Zall)
TORTURE SONG
(tune: Where Have All the Flowers Gone)
Torture is the “in thing" now,
No habeas corpus,
Waterboarding, shocks and shame,
Rendition too.
Where has our democracy gone?
Done in by the President.
When will we end all this?
We must impeach him.
(Kay Thode)
TORTURE SONG 2
(tune: Where Have All the Flowers Gone)
Torture was the “in thing” then,
No habeas corpus,
Waterboarding, shocks and sha-ame
Rendition, too.
Where has our democracy gone?
Smashed by our last president.
Why don’t we end all this?
We must indict them all!
Torture is still in the news,
Cheney says it worked for us.
Waterboarding, shocks, and sha-ame,
Rendition too.
Where has our democracy gone?
Smashed by our last president!
Why don’t we end all this?
We must indict them all
WARHAWKS 2007
(tune: When the Red, Red Robin)
When the warhawks in Washington
Put all their armor on
Should we make war?
Must we start the killing
Cause they’re unwilling
To talk some more?
Wake up! Wake up, America!
Rise up! Stop this hysteria.
Be mighty wary ‘a
U.S. world domination!
When war is perpetual
It’s sure to get you all
Terror, turmoil.
Why should we go to war?
What are we fighting for?
Just more oil?
Why can’t we just agree
To use diplomacy—
Don’t bomb Iran!
Tell the warhawks in Washington
Take off your armor for good!
(Monica Zucker)
On the oceans wild and free
Sail some sca-a-ry submarines
It’s the Tridents armed with nukes
Ghostly ri-i-sing from the sea.
We would like them all disarmed
Before anyone is harmed
We are tired of living in fear
With massive armaments so very near.
Chorus: We all pay for Trident submarines
Trident submarines, Trident submarines
We all pay for Trident submarines
Trident submarines, Trident submarines
And the people on the base
Seem to think that it’s a safe place,
So en-vir-onmentally sound,
Tell us they are green and renowned.
Chorus: We all pay (etc.)
Now we have (now we have)
A bit of hope (a bit of hope)
That the Tri-i-dents (the Tridents
May disappear (may disappear).
Until they do (until they do)
We’ll carry on (we’ll carry on)
Objecting to-o-o (objecting to)
These massive bombs (these massive bombs)
The-e threat (the threat)
Mu-ust end (must end)
Of all these nuclear (these nuclear)
Wea-a-pons (weapons).
Put the Trident subs (Trident subs)
To re-e-est (to rest)
In peace (in peace ha ha!).
(Second Chorus: We resist the Trident submarines
Trident submarines, Trident submarines
We resist the Trident submarines
Trident submarines, Trident submarines
(Laurie Rostholder, Tom Shea)
POLITICS ,
BLUES FROM THE RIGHT
(tune: Blues in the Night)
No one ever told me
When I started voting
No one ever told me, Hon.
They'll give you some sweet talk
And tell you some big lies
But if they ever get power.
The far right's a two face-a neocon thing
That leads you to sing
The blues from the right.
Nocons come callin’
Corporate tax fallin-- whooie
(No one ever told me)
Hope for justice fizzles
While they're making missiles--whooie
(No one ever told me)
Ahooie, ahooi - I learned for myself
The wealthy get wealth
The people get the blues
Detroit to New Orleans, Seattle to Boston
Whatever the city or town
There's nothing but job cuts
Poor schooling, poor health care
Wherever I look around
For since it began the neocon plan
Means blues from the right
(From E-Vine)
CUBA CHA CHA CHA
(tune: La Cucuracha)
Let’s move the cargo
Stop the embargo
Let the Cubans have their way
They’ve earned their freedom
No need to bleed ’em -
U.S.A. should go away
CHA CHA CHA
It’s such a cheap shot
To force a boycott
On countries far too small to play!
It’s time to call a halt -
Stop this unjust assault!
U.S.A should go away
CHA CHA CHA
Let’s move the cargo
Stop the embargo
Let the Cubans have their way
They’ve earned their freedom
No need to bleed ‘em -
U.S.A. should go away
CHA CHA CHA
(Vancouver Raging Grannies)
FAREWELL TO KARL ROVE
(tune: Show Me the Way to Go Home)
Show him the way to go home,
For he’s tired of his White House chore.
He had some excitement—
Near indictment—
So he’d like to leave before.
Wherever Karl may rove
In TV pundit cove,
You will always hear us singing this song:
Show him the way to go—
Show him the way to go—
Show him the way to go home
(From E-Vine)
GAGGLE TO IMPEACH
(tune: Side by Side)
Oh, we’re a gaggle of Grannies
Urging you off of your fannies
We’re raising our voice—
We want a new choice:
IMPEACH THEM NOW!
They’ve lied about nuclear weapons
And Al Qaeda connections.
Now more of us see
This war’s about greed.
IMPEACH THEM NOW!
Their crimes are more outrageous
Than all of Clinton’s trysts.
A blue dress versus pages,
And lies and spin and twists.
So, join this gaggle of grannies.
Get up off of your fannies
We’re telling you now
We’re angry and how!
IMPEACH THEM NOW!
We really mean it! IMPEACH THEM NOW!
We mean precisely! IMPEACH THEM NOW!
We will say it very nicely! IMPEACH THEM NOW!
Read our lips: (mouth) IMPEACH THEM NOW!
(Laurie Rostholder)
IMPEACHMENT IN THE WIND
(tune: Blowin' in the Wind)
How many kids will die in Iraq
Before the troops come home?
How many bombs will you drop everywhere
Before the world brings you down?
How many rich people rake it in
Before we all revolt?
How many kids have to go without food
Before we respond to their needs?
How many times can you screw things up
Before you are impeached?
The answer my friend is impeaching him,
The answer is getting rid of Bush.
(Carol McRoberts, Kay Thode, Alix Van Zant, Caroline Canafax)
LET’S IMPEACH THE PRESIDENT
(tune: Michael Row the Boat Ashore)
Let's impeach the President, Hallelujah!
Repeat
He betrayed the people's trust, What's it to ya?
Repeat
Bush's lies took us to War, We can't sue ya!
Repeat
All must know how mad we are, Hallelujah
Repeat
We must save the Republic. Hallelujah!
Repeat
Let's impeach the President, Hallelujah!
Repeat
Hinda Kipnis
IMPEACHABLE CREW
(tune: Embraceable You)
Impeach them, this most impeachable crew.
Can’t teach them—who knows what next they might do?
They’ve destroyed the rule of law,
Made war on a lie,
Funded Halliburton
But left soldiers to die.
For spying, for lying,
We must hold them due.
Who’s being surveilled now—
Could it be you?
Do not accept these horrors--
Let's impeach 'em, let's impeach 'em, do
Our most impeachable crew!
(Monica Zucker)
Our government moves at a very slow pace.
They didn’t understand New Orleans was a race
To save people, save lives, and pretend to care
For the needy, the poor, and the black who live there.
If this was a test, they utterly failed.
This negligent lot should be charged and jailed.
The next storm is coming---who knows where or when.
With Washington's record---will they be ready then?
(Ann Smith)
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
(a la Aretha Franklin)
Solo with Group, which sings chorus and parts in ( )
(Chorus)R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Find out what it means to me.
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Listen up, AIG.
(Solo)We gave you (oo oo)
So much money (oo oo)
And then you did (oo oo)
Something funny. (oo oo)
All we’re askin’ (all we’re askin’)
Is a little respect. (just a little bit)
No more bonuses (just a little bit)
Just a little respect. (oh, yeah)
From you.
(Chorus) R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Find out what it means to me.
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Listen up, Dick Cheney.
We thought we got you (oo oo)
Out of our hair (oo oo)
Then we turn on the TV (oo oo)
And see you there. (oo oo)
There’s no way we’ll give you (no way)
Any respect. (no way)
Never, never, (no way)
We got no respect (no way)
For you.
(Chorus) R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Find out what it means to me.
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Obama, we hope you see.
We’ve given you (oo oo)
All of our hope (oo oo)
And all we’re askin' (oo oo)
Is do your work right (oo oo)
Give us some jobs (oh, yes)
And some self respect (just a little bit)
Oh, yeah (just a little bit)
(Chorus) R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Find out what it means to me.
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
No more war economy
Oh (sock it to me, sock it to me, sock it to me)
A little respect (sock it to me, sock it to me, sock it to me)
Whoa, babe (just a little bit)
Just a little respect (just a little bit)
(All) R-E-S-P-E-C-T
OH YEAH!
(Jo-Hanna Read)
SANTA BUSH 2007
(tune: Santa Claus Is Coming to Town)
We had some tax cuts, and now we’re in debt.
Who’ll get more tax cuts?—yes, the jet set.
Santa Bush is coming to town.
He’s got donor lists, he’s checking ’em twice.
He’s gonna find out we’re naughty--they’re nice.
Santa Bush is coming to town.
Won’t spend on education,
Won’t spend it for our health.
He’ll spend it on Iraqi war
And subsidize big wealth.
You better not cry, you better not pout,
War “surge” in, social needs out.
Santa Bush is coming,
Santa Bush is coming,
Santa Bush is coming to town!
(Monica Zucker)
THREE RAGING GRANNIES
(tune: Three Little Maids from School,
To be sung by three sopranos very delicately.)
Three Raging Grannies singing gently
Try not to act too temperament’ly
But we know a hundred percently
Nothing is going well.
War is the base of much bereaving,
Rights are gone, our jobs are leaving,
Homes are lost—we’re disbelieving
They’ll ever end this spell.
First two wars so devastating
Invasion labeled liberating
Then Katrina inundating--
Many more tales to tell
Let’s hope the new administration
Finds ways to use negotiation,
Ends our despair and deep frustration
Let peace and freedom swell!
Three Raging Grans sing very sweetly.
We’ll sock it to ’em oh so neatly.
We should impeach them all completely!
Everything’s gone to (cover mouth, deep bow).
(Monica Zucker)
UNIMPEACHABLE
(tune: Unforgetable)
(Duet by “Bush” and “Cheney”)
Unimpeachable, that’s what I am.
Unimpeachable, don’t give a damn!
There’s no way that you can get to me.
What you think don’t mean a heck to me.
Never before has someone been more
Unimpeachable, I’m glad to say.
And furthermore (and furthermore)
That’s how Ill stay (that’s how I’ll stay).
Here’s why darlings, I’m invincible.
All you slobs are so convincible,
To think that I am unimpeachable, too!
(All except “Bush” and Cheney”)
That’s why it’s indefensible,
When they’re so reprehensible,
That Congress thinks they’re
Unimpeachable, too.
(From E-Vine)
WE’RE WATCHING, O-BA-MA
(tune “She Loves You”, Beatles)
We’re watching, O-ba-ma,
We’re waiting, O-ba-ma,
We’re hoping O-ba-a-ma.
Although we wanted you,
We weren’t sure you could win,
Until John lost his mind
And selected Pa-a-lin.
Now we’re watching,
And you know that can’t be bad.
We’re waiting,
And we hope you make us glad.
So now you’ve got the job
You’ve got to move with haste
There’s so much you must do
To clean up Bush’s waste.
Because we’re watching,
And you know that can’t be bad.
We’re hoping,
And you know you should be glad.
It was a mighty fight
To get you to this place.
Now get your ass in gear
And put some change in place.
Because we’re watching, O-ba-ma,
And we’re waiting, O-ba-ma,
With the hope we have,
Just don’t let us down.
(Jo-Hanna Read)
YES, WE CAN
(tune She’ll be Coming ’Round the Mountain)
We can move our country forward,
Yes we can!
We can move our country forward’
Yes we can!
When we all work together
That will determine whether,
We can really move it forward
Yes it will!
We need universal health care,
Yes we do! (repeat)
Let’s keep telling our new leaders
In voices clear and constant,
We need universal health care,
Yes we do!
We can lead the way to peace in this old world,
Yes we can! (repeat
Wars breed more fear and hatred
They never solve a problem,
We must learn to wage peace,
Yes we do!
Let’s rebuild our infrastructure,
Yes we can! (repeat)
Let’s put people back to work now,
Rebuild our roads and bridges,
We can do it if we want to
Yes we can!
We can really house the homeless,
Yes we can!...
Let’s back up words with action,
Then we will house the homeless
We must move the issue forward.
Yes we must!
Oh we love family values,
Yes we do!...
Our new first family showed us,
Some real family values
And we thank them greatly for that.
Yes we do!
We must make our country greener
Yes, we must!...
We must curb our wasteful ways
And look for new solutions,
We can do it if we want to.
Yes we can!
(From E-Vine)
I'm a Granny with an attitude and I'm a rapper too.
I have a little song I want to rap for you.
I have grave concern about the feminine form,
‘Cause the fashion world dictates emaciation's the norm.
Paintings and movies say it wasn't always so.
Check out Ruben's full figured women and Marilyn Monroe.
Then along came Twiggie and the skinny look was in.
Women have been paying ever since to be thin.
We've got bulimia, anorexia, exercise and diet,
Money to be spent on gadgets that defy it.
Then, there's girdles, liposuction, tummy tucks and stays
And if that's not enough, there's so many other ways
But, I say, whether you're old, young, short tall, voluptuous or thin
Be proud of who you are! Don't let those fashion gurus win!
(From E-Vine)