Read the lyrics as you listen
in 3 parts, one part for each conductor
Click on the play button to listen to part 1
Grannies Stand for Peace & Justice
Tune: Glow Worm
Lyrics: Deborah Lofgren, inspired by Raging Grannies of Milwaukee
We are the raging, raging, grannies
We don't hide in nooks and crannies.
We stand up for peace and justice
Even when the po-lice bust us.
Join with the raging, raging grannies
Time to get up off your fannies
The world needs folks to take a stand
And that's why we are grans!
Do You Hear Wisconsin Sing?
Melody: Do You Hear the People Sing?
Lyrics: Sheila Plotkin for Raging Grannies of Madison
Do you hear Wisconsin sing?
This is the message that she sends
We are a people waking up
And we will not be fooled again.
We heard promises of wealth
Good-paying jobs were going to come
Corporate suits are doing great
While the farms / succumb.
Will you join in our campaign
Who will speak out and stand with me
Our mission is so clear, we need to save democracy
So join in the fight to insure that our country stays free
Do you hear the nation sing?
This is the message that she sends
We are a people waking up
And we will not be fooled again
He said he would drain the swamp
He hired crocodiles instead
Ethics are drowning in the muck
Competence is dead.
We will work for our ideals
Despite the pressure to retreat
Knowing that the threat is real, we will not lie down in defeat.
Our message will echo in chambers and out on the street! (raise fist)
Do you hear the nation sing?
This is the message that she sends
We are a people waking up
And we will not be fooled again
We have a nation to protect
We want corruption washed away
A President we can respect
From the very first day.
Our country’s soul is on the line
We can’t leave any task undone
Grannies are ready for this fight
We have just begun!
Grannies are ready for this fight
We have just begun!
The Best Democracy Money Can Buy
Tune: “99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall”
Lyrics © by Vicki Ryder (2010)
Did you ever wonder why our health care is in doubt,
Why rich folks have the Cadillac plans and poor folks go without,
Why all the news that’s fit to print is nothing but corporate lies?
It’s because… we’ve got the best democracy that ever money can buy.
Did you ever wonder why we keep on startin’ wars,
Why poor folks’ kids are sent to die while CEOs make more,
Why votes are counted up by those who sell the voting machines?
It’s because… we’ve got a corporaTOCracy – thanks to the Supremes.
Did you ever wonder who will run for office since
Supreme Court lifted limits – it really makes us wince.
The rich will buy the candidates, and if you wonder why,
It’s because… we’ve got the best democracy that ever money can buy.
Those with all the money now will run the whole damn show
And if we dare to disagree they’ll tell us where to go.
’Cause money buys elections, and that you can’t deny.
We’ve got the best democracy that ever money can buy.
(We wave dollar bills)
Follow the Money
Tune: Beer Barrel Polka
Original lyrics: Vicki Ryder, revised by Deborah Lofgren & Raging Grannies of Madison
Follow the money, to see why we go off to war
Follow the money, it’s not freedom we’re fighting for
Follow the money, profits aren’t worth dying for
Lockheed Martin’s got their billions,
And they don’t need more!
Boeing and Raytheon, Bechtel, and Koch brothers, too
Reap all the profit, and don’t give a fig about you
Families are hungry//schools don’t have funds that they need
Weapon Makers turn a blind eye
While the coun try bleeds!
Follow the money, it all leads to corporate greed;
The vets and the homeless, when will they get what they need
Big money int’rests dictate our nation’s war plans –
Now’s the time to take back our country
And give folks a helping hand!
People not profit, let’s make our government see,
War steals our treasure, killing cannot make us free;
Follow the money, once you have found where it leads
Raise your voice, get loud and louder
Singing out for peace!
Raging Grannies Anti-Gun Chorus Line
Tune: Ta ra ra boom de ay
Lyrics: Kathy Walsh, Gerri Martini, Sheila Plotkin, RGoM
Verse 1
We’re dear old grannies, as you see
Pillars of society
Here to save humanity
From NRA’s insanity
Chorus (with kicks)
Ta ra ra BOOM de ay (On “BOOM,” right leg kicks to the left)
Let’s stop the NRA (On “stop,” push out left hand)
Let’s pass tough laws today.
Ta ra ra BOOM de ay (On “BOOM,” right leg kicks to the left)
Verse 2
Bullets rip our days apart
Ending lives and breaking hearts
Cities, small towns, schools, and shops
Grannies say it’s got to stop
Chorus (with kicks)
Verse 3
We need federal background checks
Ammo limits must come next
Assault style weapons with a clip
End in slaughter/get a grip!
Chorus (with kicks)
Verse 4
We’re gentle grannies, MAD AS HELL!
We don’t fight but WE CAN YELL!
We won’t be quiet anymore
‘Til we end this shooting war!
Chorus (with kicks)
CLIMATE CHANGE
Tune “Baby Face”
Lyrics by Marjorie Matthews (Madison, WI, Raging Grannies)
Climate Change, We’ve got to slow the rate of climate change
The situation’s one of urgency/ emergency
/With short-sighted thinking/ We’ll see all coastlines sinking
Climate Change, Good science tells us about climate change
We need to cut down use of fossil fuels, Set up new rules
/Fracking gas and oil/ will make the planet boil
Climate Change,
Our kids and grandkids need a healthy place to live
Sustainability requires you and me
To take drastic action now
To slow down climate change
The planet cannot wait for us to change
Depend on energy from wind and sun, it must be done
/To outrun disaster/ we must act fast and faster
Climate Change,
Our kids and grandkids need a healthy place to live.
Sustainability requires you and me
To take drastic action now.
If My Uterus Were a Gun
Written by Lauren Mayer, adapted and used by Raging Grannies with author's permission
Solo: Have you heard the news of late, how Republicans in state after state
Are launching big legislative fights against women 's reproductive rights??
But … if … my … uterus were a gun these guys would leave it alone
They'd say, “oh go have fun, we won't quibble or moan”
They hate all forms of regu la tion 'cept when it comes to pro-cre-ation
Then they'll take away our choices , 'cause they can't hear women's voices!
If … my … cervix were a rifle they would keep their mouths shut
And may be they would stifle saying “the Pill is just for sluts”
When I want to get my eggs lost/ they tell me I should keep my legs crossed!
Ab stinence education// Not the an swer for our na tion
If … my … ovaries were semi-automatic wea pons, all these laws we'd escape
Our birth con trol they step on, while still talk ing a-bout rape
And in the guise of weird knight errant hood/ they try to get rid of Planned
Parent hood
Cause these men are just so damn sure… just ask the right wing in New
Hamp shire, or (1) Texas … or (2) Indiana … or (1) Florida… or (2) Alabama …
or (1) Missouri … or (2) Georgia … (all) or Wisconsin! (with questioning
(gestures)
If … our … va gin as were large-capacity ammu nition clips
Life for women would be a breeze
There would be acc e ss to contra cep tion to pre vent un want ed preg nancies…
To pro tect all fer tilized eggs they've sworn
But the kids are on their own as soon as they're BORN …
But all this debate would be done … If my uterus were only a gun !
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Part 2 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Click on the play button to listen to part 2
Homelessness
Tune & Lyrics by Lou and Peter Berryman, 2005
I never dreamed I’d ever be without a home to comfort me
’Til a friend of mine this very spring, lost his whole house and everything
So now I know that life is strange, that all is luck, and luck can change
And don’t forget it’s sad but true, the next time ’round it could be you!
One runaway truck, one slip in the muck, one stretch of bad luck/ Homeless
One family feud, one litigious old prude, one long bad mood/ Homeless
One toaster too hot, one investment that’s not, one tiny blood clot/ Homeless
One decision on gin, one pay check too thin, one dumb night of sin/ Homeless
My poor old pal is on the street; it’s extra sad ’cause he’s so sweet
But even if he were a creep, the lug should have a place to sleep.
So anyway it’s really true, the next time ’round it could be you
And when you say how can that be, it could be worse, it could / be / me!
One letter too strong, one adventure gone wrong, one sick leave too long/ Homeless
One knock on the door, one slippery floor, one nuclear war/ Homeless
One slip of the pen, one downsizing trend, one backstabbing friend/ Homeless
One identity thief, one flaky belief, one slice of bad beef/ Homeless
Once I did agree with you that fiscal plans make dreams come true
Now I know that that was nuts, that fate is king and fate’s / a / putz!
For now I’d say that you’d be smart to squirrel away a shopping cart
And if they ever change your locks …
Mi cardboard box, su card / board / box,
My cardboard box, your card … board … box!
Voting Rights
Tune: “Battle Hymn of the Republic”
Lyrics by Vicki Ryder, Marguerite Coyle, Rebecca Alwin
We’re the Raging Grannies and it’s turning our hair gray
These legislative plots to take our voting rights away
Our mothers fought to vote and now we fight again today!
Not one step back! No way!
Voting's how we make our choices, Voting's how they hear our voices
We want a true democracy with voting rights for all!
Not one step back! No way!
They want to take us back in time when owners ruled the land
When women, blacks, and poor folks from the voting booths were banned
But this is our democracy and this is our demand:
Not one step back! No way!
Voting's how we make our choices, Voting's how they hear our voices
We want a true democracy with voting rights for all!
Not one step back! No way!
We’ve got to get together, young, old, brown and black and white,
The unemployed and union folks, and work with all our might,
To show these power brokers that we’ll fight to keep our rights.
Not one step back! No way!
Voting's how we make our choices, Voting's how they hear our voices
We want a true democracy with voting rights for all!
Not one step back! No way!
Kidneys for Tuition
Tune: Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
Lyrics: Granny Gail Sredanovic, revised by Joy Morgen, Rebecca Alwin & Kathy Miner
If you can’t pay tu-i-tion, we have got a tip for you
Just go and sell a kid-ney, you need only one, not two!
You need an ed-u-cation, not a pile of student debt
Find a buyer for your kid-ney, financial needs will be offset
Tuition’s steep and though you save, it will not be enough
Tax cuts for the wealthy/ have made your life so very rough
The fu-ture is on the line here, and you need to be debt free
Getting an ed-u-cation, should not be a misery
Your kidney’s a small sacrifice, the rich can’t be de-prived
Or we won’t get that trickle down on which they say we all will thrive
So / thank you for un-derstanding Right Wing budgets can’t help you
Just go and sell a kidney, you need only one, not two!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Part 3 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Click on the play button to listen to part 3
Go Ahead and Die! (Pirates Of The Health Care-ibean)
Austin Lounge Lizards. Sung with permission.
All: We are the captains of a health insurance company
We plunder and we profit, as we sail the corporate seas
Our sal’ries in the millions and our dividends obscene;
Our logo is the Jolly Roger on a field of green …
All: Our logo is the Jolly Roger on a field of green!
Group 2: Should ye fear ill winds will blow your ship upon the reef
We’ll offer our protection lest ye surely come to grief
We may spare your life if bloated premiums you’ll pay
But if you can’t afford this ransom, here is what we’ll say …
All: If you can’t afford this ransom, here is what we’ll say:
Yo Ho, Yo Ho, Go ahead and die!
From shingles, beri-beri or a piano from the sky
Yo Ho, Yo Ho! Go ahead and die!
I’ve got mine and I feel fine, so go ahead and die! //
Group 1: Senators and Congressmen make up our scurvy crew
They swab our decks and cash our checks, And cast a vote or two
When the universal health care serpent rears its ugly head
Our press gang fires broadsides, and our crew ensures it’s dead …
All: Our press gang fires broadsides and our crew ensures it’s dead!
Yo Ho, Yo Ho! Go ahead and die!
A charging moose, an angry goose, Or the dreaded tse-tse fly!
Yo Ho, Yo Ho! Go ahead and die!
Face your ills, and pay your bills, then go ahead and die! //
Group 2: You question why we buried a vast locker full of loot;
Of course we must maintain our yacht, the Golden Parachute;
There’s advertising, lobbying and junkets near and far,
Hard working C-E-Os / deserve their R & R,
All: Arr Arr Arr Arr! Arr and Arr and Arr!
Yo Ho, Yo Ho, Go ahead and die!
Kick the bucket, bite the dust, and dryly say goodbye! (wave)
Yo Ho, Yo Ho, Go ahead and die!
Group 1: A poison frog or too much grog — Go Ahead and Die!
Group 2: From falling, mauling or keelhauling — Go Ahead and Die!
All: Got our share // and we don’t care — Go Ahead and Die!
DACA Dream Song (All I Dare to Do is Dream)
Tune: All I Have to Do is Dream, written by Boudleaux Bryant, recorded by the Everly Brothers
Lyrics: Kathy Miner, Raging Grannies of Madison WI
Dre-e-e-e-eam, dream dream dre-eam
Dre-e-e-e-eam, dream dream dream …
Sometimes I’m scared / In the night
Will anyone care / To make this right?
I counted on DACA
All I dare to do is dre-e-e-e-eam, dream, dream, dre-eam …
When I came here / I was a child;
My family feared / For our survival –
I counted on DACA
All I dare to do is dre-e-e-e-eam.
I am not to blame / I have earned the name American
In my he-eart;
This country is my home / All I’ve known
My dreaming was only the sta-a-art!
I had no voice / I was afraid
My parents’ choice / Is what was made
I counted on DACA
All I dare to do is dre-e-e-e-eam, dream, dream, dre-eam, dre-e-e-e-eam.
I am not to blame / I have earned the name American
In my he-eart;
This country is my home / All I’ve known
My dreaming was only the sta-a-art!
I want to stay / For all my life,
To send me away / Cuts like a knife /
I counted on DACA
All I dare to do is dre-e-e-e-eam, dream, dream, dre-eam, dre-e-e-e-eam,
Dream, dream, dre-eam, dream … (fade out)
Gun Control Now! Now! Now!
Tune: “Bella Ciao”
Lyrics: Eugene Oregon Grannies, edited by Peggy Demsey, Vicky Ryder & Madison Grannies
We need to wake up. We need to rise up!
We need to o-pen our eyes
And do it Now! Now! Now!
We need to build a safer future
And the time to start is now.
We are a country, that has a problem.
Too many guns, too many shootings
We ask How? How? How?
Can we build, a safer future?
‘Cause we need to start right now!
We are a-wa-re, that thoughts and pray-ers,
While kindly meant, don’t prevent
Hearing Pow! Pow! Pow!
We need new laws, that have some claws
And we need to pass them now!
No more bump stocks or semi-autos
Make background checks uni-ver-sal
Do it Now! Now! Now!
We need to build, a safer future
And we need to start right now.
No more waiting, or hesitating,
Time to wise up, time to rise up
Do it Now! Now! Now!
We need to build, a safer future
And we need to start right now!
We need to build a safer future
And we’re gonna start right now!
Get on Board with Black Lives Matter
Tune: Old Dan Tucker Lyrics: Carol Tyler
It’s not easy being black
Always have to watch your back
Judged by color wherever you go
Why does justice come so slow?
Chorus: Get on board with Black Lives Matter
Time for more than idle chatter
Time for us to come together
And get on board with Black Lives Matter
Denounce mass in- carceration
Curb police mil-i-tar-i-zation
Housing now and education
Start to balance the equation
Chorus
Time for radical transformation
Economic justice, repa- rations
Community control and political power
Come on people, this is the hour
Final Chorus: Get on board with Black Lives Matter
Time for more than idle chatter
Time for us to come together
So get on board with Black Lives Matter
Time for ALL to come together
We all know that Black Lives Matter
The More We Get Together
Lyrics by Carol Tyler, Susan & Alan Bickley, Nicole Bresnick
The more we get together, together, together
The more we get together, the happier we’ll be
(Group 1) ‘Cause I’m gay (Group 2) and I’m straight
(Group 1) and I’m bi (Group 2) transgender
The more we get together the happier we’ll be
The more we show our respect, our respect, our respect
The more that we can connect, the happier we’ll be
(Group 1) ‘Cause I’m gay (Group 2) and I’m straight
(Group 1) and I’m bi (Group 2) transgender
The more we get together the happier we’ll be
What’s my preferred pronoun - please listen, here’s the lowdown
So what is in a pronoun - there’s much to be learned
(Group 1) I’m Susan - I’m she hers
(Group 2) I’m Alex - I’m they theirs
And this is who we are and how we want to be known
We’re gender nonconforming / non binary / fluid
I like to dress in rainbows, and she wears a tux
(Group 1) ‘Cause I’m gay (Group 2) and I’m straight
(Group 1) and I’m bi (Group 2) transgender
And all of us together are many shades of blue
It’s time to show we’re loving, we’re caring, respecting
‘Cause we all need accepting, and we must stand tall
For those who are out and for those who are struggling
Let’s open our arms widely embracing us all
Blame It on the First Amendment
Tune: Blame It On The Bossa Nova by Weil and Mann Lyrics: Carol Tyler
Well, I have the right to express my view
And the great thing is the same is true for you
I can burn the flag and burn my bra, too
And you can protest everything I do
Blame it on the First Amendment - with its many rights
Blame it on the First Amendment - keep it in your sights
Oh, it all began with just James Madison
And finally he got nine states to sign on
Now we have the First Amendment - And speech is really free!
(Large group) Can we gag the press?
(Small group) No, no, the First Amendment
(Large group) Restrict religious views?
(Small group) No, no, the First Amendment
(Large group) Can I speak my mind?
(Small group) Yes, yes, the First Amendment
(All) It really rocks!
Now I’m sad to say -
Mr. Trump can’t see - why the press can say he’s a travesty
He would like to say - criticism’s wrong (of him)
But speech is free and we will sing our song (Sing along!)
Chorus - Blame it on the . . .
(Large group) Can we gag the press?
(Small group) No, no, the First Amendment
(Large group) Stop assemblies
(Small group) No, no, the First Amendment
(Large group) Can we sing our songs?
(Small group) Yes, yes, the First Amendment
(All) ’Cause expression’s free!
Down at the Polling Place
Tune: Down by the Riverside
Lyrics: Kathy Miner, Raging Grannies of Madison WI
Gonna go down and cast my vote (clap clap)
Down at the polling place (clap clap), down at the polling place (clap clap)
Down at the polling place
Gonna go down and cast my vote (clap clap)
Down at the polling place, ain’t gonna suffer fools no more!
I ain’t gonna suffer fools no more
I’m gonna settle up the score
I’ll vote for peace instead of wa-a-ar --
I ain’t gonna suffer fools no more
The people’s will you can’t ignore
I’ll vote for peace instead of war!
Gonna go down and cast my vote (clap clap)
Down at the polling place (clap clap), down at the polling place (clap clap)
Down at the polling place
Gonna go down and cast my vote (clap clap)
Down at the polling place, ain’t gonna suffer fools no more!
I ain’t gonna suffer fools no more
The law’s for rich as well as poor
Clean government we will resto-o-ore –
I ain’t gonna suffer fools no more
I’ll raise my voice, now hear me roar (next line louder)
Clean government we will restore!
These Are the Days My Friend
Tune: “Those Were the Days” suggested by Kathleen McQuade
Lyrics by: Rebecca Alwin
Raging Grannies of Madison
Once we had a country we believed in
We talked of fairness and a chance for all
Then came a man with no regard for others
Now we have cages near the border walls
CHORUS: These are the days my friend
There’s so much we must mend
We’ll volunteer and get our friends on board
We’ll canvass door to door
Democracy restore
Faith in ourselves will be our first reward!
Taxes were cut mostly for the wealthy
Schools and roads are left in disrepair
People’s needs were slighted for big business
Our water’s damaged, now we must beware
CHORUS
We can’t allow this liar to continue
We must not let him drag us down so low
We need folks of all kinds working with us
We’ll fire him and cheer to see him go
CHORUS followed by La la la la la la
La la la la la la
La la la la La la la la la la
La la la la la la
La la la la la la
These are the days
Oh yes these are the days
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