Death unending!  Military spending!

What a waste! What a waste!

Reinstate some sanity,

Spend taxes for humanity,

Invest in peace! Invest in peace!

Let’s build schools instead of bombs,

We need jobs! We need jobs!

Don’t spend all our taxes

To fight the “evil axis.”

Invest in peace! Invest in peace!

Missile shields and drones and bombers –

What a waste! What a waste!

While we’re busy making war

We’re neglecting our own poor!

Invest in peace!  Invest in peace!

It’s time to end these wars of terror.

Bring ’em home! Bring ’em home!

How many more of us must die

In bloody wars all based on lies?

Invest in peace! Invest in peace!

Do you ever wonder why we always have the funds

For wars and corporate bailouts

And the banks so poorly run?

But we never have the money

For the urgent needs at home,

Like jobs and schools and health care

And homes for everyone?

Chorus:

   Wh – ere do our taxes go then?

   Wh – ere do our taxes go then?

   Forty-seven cents of each tax dollar

   Goes to fund the wars!

   And that’s got to stop right now!

We can help turn things around now

If we only will decide

To join together and elect

Officials on our side

Who will work to save our planet

And build roads and bridges, too,

To build and not destroy!

Repeat chorus

So call your Senators and Reps

And just be sure they know

That the way they’re spending our tax dollars

Simply has to go.

Be sure they get the message

That we want our taxes back

To build and not destroy!

Repeat chorus

Our taxes fly over the ocean,

To fund the Afghanistan war,

But our taxes are urgently needed

Right here for the jobless and poor.

         CHORUS:

         Bring back, bring back,

         Oh bring back those taxes and spend them here.

         Bring ‘em back, yes bring ‘em back, 

         And then how we Grannies will cheer!

Our bridges and highways are crumbling,

Our teachers and schools need support.

The money that’s now spent on killing,

Should be used to wage peace and not war.

REPEAT CHORUS

We should be supporting our students

Who struggle to pay for their loans,

And we should be supporting our families,

While the banks just foreclose on their homes.

REPEAT CHORUS

We’ve worked mighty hard for the money

That we pay every year to the Feds,

And we don’t want it paying for warfare,

When we all could have healthcare instead.

REPEAT CHORUS

We’ve always paid our taxes,

We’ve paid them right on time.

We never, ever cheated;

We coughed up every dime.

But we’re sick of always paying for these

Endless, bloody wars

Especially when the payment comes

From the pockets of the poor.

We don’t mind paying taxes

When they pay for things we need

Like schools and jobs and health care

And other worthy deeds.

But when we know our dollars go

To bailouts, bombs and guns

We’ll tell you true, it makes us blue

To see what they have done.

Those greedy corporations

Find loopholes by the score;

They hardly pay a single dime,

While we pay more and more.

Republicans say, “That’s okay,

‘Cause biz’ness needs a break,

So let them be, they ride for free.”

Now don’t that take the cake?

When Uncle Sam gets our tax dollars

We hope that he will heed

These Grannies when we say that they should

Pay for things we need.

We don’t need war and killing,

Or drilling off our shores.

Oh, my! Good grief! We’d get relief

If we stopped these God-damned wars!

It’s been two years now.
Our government’s broken and how!
It’s called Citizens United,
This wrong must be righted!

Montana ruled against it.
Wisconnies will protest it.
We loved our democracy,
Don’t want this plutocracy!

What is that you ask?
While the wealthy all bask,
In favors their PACs bought,
While we are distraught.

Think of a happy ending,
While this message we’re sending.
We’ll Move to Amend,
Don’t doubt it, my friend!

O Stephen, ah pensions, pensions
You’re my prime minister
And you’ve got me doubting you
Honey, ah Stephen, Stephen
You’re my prime minister
And you’re stomping me again
I just can’t believe you’re attacking seniors too
(But I know it’s true)
That you’d raise our pension age up higher –ooo
(Yes, that is something you would do)
O Stephen, ah pensions, pensions
You’re my prime minister
Seniors are your target, ooo
Ah Stephen, ah faker, faker
You’re my prime minister
And you’re stomping me again
Others will lose pensions but yours is safe I see
(others lose while yours is safe I see)
Like your broken promises O pour your glibness over me
(slick as talk will ever be)
Pour a broken promise on it, honey
Pour a broken promise on it, baby
You’re gonna make our pensions so gone, yeah, yeah, yeah
Pour a broken promise on it, honey
Ah Stephen, ah, pensions pensions
You’re our prime minister
And you’re stomping us again
Fade out

Tune: To Know, Know, Know Him (Lively youtube versions all over the place – just google)
by Rose DeShaw
O Stephen Harper [spoken]– (exasperated lead in)
Headshaking in frustration: Gesture to audience & start singing:
Can’t trust trust trust him
With our old age pension funds
And I don’t and I don’t and I don’t
Just to see him smile
O that crocodile!
To know know know him
Is to doubt, doubt, doubt him
And I do (and I do and I do)
We’ve been good to him
Majority we’ve given him
Some people say that he’s quite the guy
Most shake their heads & they wonder why
Just to know him
Is to doubt doubt doubt him
And I do (and I do and I do)
Why can’t he see
Old age’s no cup of tea
Someday he will be
Richer by far than you & me
Oh oh oh oh oh oh
Can’t trust trust trust him
There’s no love, love lov’in
Just to see him smile
Chills me quite a while
To know know know him
Makes me doubt doubt doubt him
And I do (and I do and I do)

On the first day of taxes
my government said to me,
for Schools, Police and Fire Protection.

On the second day of taxes
my government said to me,
Clean drinking water, and
for Schools, Police and Fire Protection.

On the third day of taxes
my government said to me,
Food that’s safe to eat,
Clean drinking water, and
for Schools, Police and Fire Protection.

On the fourth day of taxes
my government said to me,
Emergency health workers,
Food that’s safe to eat,
Clean drinking water, and
for Schools, Police and Fire Protection.

On the fifth day of taxes
my government said to me,
Clean air to breathe,
Emergency health workers,
Food that’s safe to eat,
Clean drinking water, and
for Schools, Police and Fire Protection.

On the sixth day of taxes
my government said to me,
Good roads to drive on,
Clean air to breathe,
Emergency health workers,
Food that’s safe to eat,
Clean drinking water, and
for Schools, Police and Fire Protection.

On the seventh day of taxes
my government said to me,
Sewers to take waste,
Good roads to drive on,
Clean air to breathe,
Emergency health workers,
Food that’s safe to eat,
Clean drinking water, and
for Schools, Police and Fire Protection.

On the eighth day of taxes
my government said to me,
Prisons to hold felons,
Sewers to take waste,
Good roads to drive on,
Clean air to breathe,
Emergency health workers,
Food that’s safe to eat,
Clean drinking water, and
for Schools, Police and Fire Protection.

On the ninth day of taxes
my government said to me,
Parks for play and picnics,
Prisons to hold felons,
Sewers to take waste,
Good roads to drive on,
Clean air to breathe,
Emergency health workers,
Food that’s safe to eat,
Clean drinking water, and
for Schools, Police and Fire Protection.

On the tenth day of taxes
my government said to me,
Libraries for all,
Parks for play and picnics,
Prisons to hold felons,
Sewers to take waste,
Good roads to drive on,
Clean air to breathe,
Emergency health workers,
Food that’s safe to eat,
Clean drinking water, and
for Schools, Police and Fire Protection.

On the eleventh day of taxes
my government said to me,
Health care for our elders,
Libraries for all,
Parks for play and picnics,
Prisons to hold felons,
Sewers to take waste,
Good roads to drive on,
Clean air to breathe,
Emergency health workers,
Food that’s safe to eat,
Clean drinking water, and
for Schools, Police and Fire Protection.

On the twelfth day of taxes
my government said to me,
Help for our veterans,
Health care for our elders,
Libraries for all,
Parks for play and picnics,
Prisons to hold felons,
Sewers to take waste,
Good roads to drive on,
Clean air to breathe,
Emergency health workers,
Food that’s safe to eat,
Clean drinking water, and
for Schools, Police and Fire Protection.

Who wrote the songs that made detainees sing,
Of terrorism plots and other things.
To kill Americans like you and I
Who wrote the songs
Who wrote the songs

Pearl Jam and Jackson Browne

And Rage Against the Machine
They put the F.O.I.A. request together

They’re the writers

And they are pissed . . . because . . .

Enhanced interrogators played their songs
At painful volume all day and night long
For information whether truth or lie
Who paid the bills
Who paid the bills
We’re the taxpayers, and WE paid the bills

Sometimes cops, they just seem to lose it
That’s what dark-skinned people must fear
There’s a long list of abuses to prove it
Here are a few of those mournful names.

Patrick Dorismond, killed for refusing
An undercover cop’s request for drugs
Shawn Bell, never got to his wedding
The cops’ 50 gunshots got to him first

Remember Diallo, armed with a wallet
Clifford Glover, only 10 years old
Timothy Stansbury, on his way to a party
So many more whose names we don’t know

Abner Louima was raped in a precinct
He’s still alive so the criminal’s in jail
Because Louima was able to counter
The slanders and smears that came his way

If you are white, please take a moment
A brief speculation, and then you may know
Imagine your children, their skin a bit darker
What will you tell them, when outside, they go

Will you tell them, police are their friends
With a mission to serve and protect
Or will you beg them to give cops a wide berth
Because the black and the brown never know who’ll be next

Marcelo Lucero
Worked for wages so very low
Kids who didn’t like immigrants
Went out hunting for someone like him
To torment and terrify
They wanted to terrify

Marcelo Lucero
To your murder we say no
No to the racism, hatred and fear
That took away your life so dear
We must remember your name
We will remember your name

Immigrants and native-born
To one race we all belong
All entitled to human rights
To work and live by our own lights
We must learn to live in peace
On earth in heavenly peace

Food, horrible food
Pumped into the nostrils
Through a finger-wide tube
Is not caring, it’s hostile

Over there on Guantanamo
A hunger strike is proceeding
The guards’ll show them a thing or two
If they refuse to be eating

Forced feeding is not
Ethical, moral or legal
On the conscience a blot
To all civilized people

If inmates go on a hunger strike
There’s got to be a good reason
Obama, why don’t you find out why
And stop this barbaric feedin

Of food, horrible food, sickening food, torturous food!

Sensory overload
Extremes of heat and cold
Sleep deprivation
Prolonged isolation
Stress and duress
What a bloody mess
We must investigate war crimes.

Enhanced interrogation
Cheney told the nation
But it’s torture under
Real adjudication
It’s a crime in every land
So here is our demand
We must prosecute war crimes
Investigate, prosecute Bush war crimes!!!

Try not to get sick
Or you might as well die.
Avoid accidents,
I’m telling you why
You can’t afford medical, care

You pay premiums,
Meet deductibles
Then you find out you’re
Not eligible
For that operation, you need.

BRIDGE

Well, Michael Moore, he said it
Hit the nail right on the head
Take the profit out of healthcare
Or dry we’ll all be bled

In Europe, Japan,
And Canada, too,
In Cuba, Thailand
And Sri Lanka, YOU [point to audience]
Will see universal healthcare.

BRIDGE

In lots of other places
That’s just what they have done
Told insurance and drug companies
To stop having so much fun.

Call us socialists,
We really don’t mind.
Just look at the facts.
We know you will find
Everybody must have healthcare.

PCBs, you’re under our skin,
Nuclear waste, you’re deep in the hearts of us
So deep in our hearts, you’re really a part of us
We’ve got you, under our skin

Pesticides, you’re in there too,
Genetically engineered food, what do we do with you?
Smog, dioxin, and diesel emissions too
We’ve got you, inside our lungs [cough]

(BREAK — uses the other melody)

Don’t you know, my friends, we must stop this trend;
Our world is polluted, It can’t be disputed;
And we must spread the word, and we can’t be deterred by polluters,
Who must be defeated; And we’ll get them out of our skin

Tune: No Place Like Home For the Holidays

Lots of better places than home
for the holidays
Maybe best to stay far away and roam
If you usually have a hard time there
on holidays
Think twice before you call that place your ‘home.’

2)Sure everyone deserves a home but media
Have snuck schmaltz in where reality should be
Nobody’s home’s a picture perfect paradise
Check the Christmas misery site – you will agree

3) Grieve that home that never was (without self pity)
You survived now you can make one of your own
Find a friend and then a brand new way to celebrate
Mean something special now when you say ‘going home.’
Rose DeShaw

Guns and bombs, nukes and tanks

Mean lots of money in the bank

For KBR and Boeing too

Who foots the bill?

It’s me and you

Even if they replace tanks

Those for peace cannot give thanks

A company called ITT

Makes unmanned drones for you and me.

Every drone costs thirteen mil

A “safer way” they say, to kill!

Americans, not in harm’s way

But Pakistanis die each day.

Drones over Afghanistan

Kill many women, kids, and men

Controlled from half a world away

They stalk people at work and play.

Thirteen million dollars, wow!

We could use that dough right now

 For teachers here and nurses there

And for green jobs everywhere.

If I had a hammer,

I’d hammer for Mumi – ee -ah

I’d hammer for a new trial,

That follows the rules.

A proud black journalist,

Framed in a sham trial.

Let’s all tell, the state of Pennsylvania,

They must re-try, this innocent ma-a-an. (hoo-oo-oo)

If I had a bell,

I’d ring it for Mumi-ee-ah

I’d ring it for a new trial,

That follows the rules.

Blacks in the jury pool,

No racist ju-u-dges

Let’s all tell, the state of Pennsylvania

They must release, this innocent ma-a-an. (hoo-oo-oo)

If I had a song,

I’d sing it for Mumi –ee-ah

I’d sing it for a new trial,

That follows the rules.

Hear all the evidence,

He’s got a good lawyer now.

Let’s all tell, the state of Pennsylvania

They must set free, an innocent ma-a-an. (hoo-oo-oo)

Well, I’ve got a hammer, a bell & a song to sing

About Mumia, and justice denied.

Is this a police state?

Where is the Billll, of Rights?

We must petition, the state of Pennsylvania

Demand justice, for this innocent ma-a-an! (hoo-oo–oo)

(oo-oo-oo), This innocent man!

Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah, we’re the 1%

What a shame if you can’t pay your rent

You’re on the street now, who the hell cares

It ain’t no secret, we’re not gonna share!

Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah, war is so great

We love living in a fascist state

Sign up now, before it’s too late

We’ll fill the world with violence and hate!

Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah, you ain’t got no rights

We’ll stop and frisk you, you better not fight

Empty your pockets, and show us the weed

Didn’t you know, we’ve got prisons to feed!

Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah, yum yum pepper spray

It’s just a condiment, as Fox would say

Better not protest, or you’ll find out why

We love it so much when it’s in your eyes!

Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah, greedy are we

Mean and small minded is how we want to be

Helping the needy is so yesterday

We don’t give a crap so, just go away!

Deck the Capitol with cash,

Fa la la la la, la la la la.

We saved you from a Wall Street crash,

Fa la la la la, la la la la.

Rich folks don your best apparel,

Fa la la la la, la la la la.

If you’re poor come in a barrel,

Fa la la la la, la la la la.

All you rich get more before us,

Fa la la la la, la la la la.

Jobless go to soup line chorus,

Fa la la la la, la la la la.

We observe your merry pleasure,

Fa la la, la la la , la la la.

Celebrate your stolen treasure,

Fa la la la la, la la la la.

Deck our Liber-ty Park with cheer

Fa la la la la, la la la la.

Occupy Wall Street stays here!

Fa la la la la, la la la la.

Here’s where good ideas reside,

Fa la la, la la la, la la la.

Occupy Wall Street’s worldwide!

Fa la la la la, la la la la.

Good news! # # Occupy Wall Street’s a-coming!

Good news! # # Occupy Wall Street’s a-coming!

Good news! # # Occupy Wall Street’s a-coming!

And you don’t want us to leave you behind!

     If you can’t pay mortgage, student loan or rent

     Welcome to the ninety-nine percent!

Don’t you want to know where all the money went?

     You don’t want us to leave you behind!

Good news! # # Occupy Wall Street’s a-coming!

                  (sing  3 times)

And you don’t want us to leave you behind!

     If you’re a p’lice officer facing pension cuts

Are you sure we’re the ones who you want to lock up?

Why not arrest corporate criminals stealin’ our bucks?

     You don’t want us to leave you behind!

Good news! # # Occupy Wall Street’s a-coming!

       (sing  3 times)

And you don’t want us to leave you behind!

If you like to breathe the air and drink water too,

     Occupy Wall Street is the place for you!?

Stop the toxic corporate greed and let the earth renew!

     You don’t want us to leave you behind!

Good news! # # Occupy Everywhere’s  a-coming!

        (sing  3 times)

And you don’t want us to leave you behind!

Is there aught we hold in common

with the greedy parasite,

Who would lash us into serfdom

and would crush us with his might?

Is there anything left to us

but to organize and fight?

Occupy Wall Street makes us strong!

Solidarity forever, Solidarity forever,

Solidarity forever,

Occupy Wall Street makes us strong!

They have taken untold millions

that they never toiled to earn,

But without our brain and muscle

not a single wheel can turn.

We can break their haughty power,

gain our freedom when we learn

Occupy Wall Street makes us strong!

Solidarity forever, Solidarity forever,

Solidarity forever,

Occupy Wall Street makes us strong!

In our hands is placed a power

greater than their hoarded gold,

Greater than the might of armies,

magnified a thousand-fold.

We can bring to birth a new world

from the ashes of the old

Occupy Wall Street makes us strong!

Solidarity forever, Solidarity forever,

Solidarity forever,

Occupy Wall Street makes us strong!

Occupy Everywhere  makes  us strong!

Occupy Wall Street, Is what our country needs

To feed the poor and end the wars,

With the most urgent speed.

Bloomberg threw us out,

But let there be no doubt

Zuccotti Park was just the jolt,

To start this world revolt!

(chorus)

College costs, student loans, no jobs anywhere.

People’s Mike to one percent:

“You know it isn’t fair!”

Twinkle fingers say it’s time,

all our wealth to share

Let’s spend it on

education, housing, and healthcare.

Ninety-nine percent,

It’s almost everyone.

Let’s work together and we’ll see

How much we can get done

Fair economy,

Peace upon the earth

Clean up our environment,

Cause we know what it’s worth!

(chorus)

Occupy, occupy, occupy your mind.

We need everyone’s ideas,

so see what you can find.

Occupy, occupy, occupy the world,

To make a better future, for every boy and girl!

STRESS AT CHRISTMAS – EXPLANATORY CAROL
Tune: Joy To The World (Rose DeShaw)
What is the source of Christmas stress?
Why must things be this way?
It’s from the media, modeling
Illusory enobling
That we must get it right
No room for Christmas blight
Till your nerves and my nerves
Are strung too tight!
V2 No more let Christmas stress abound
Nor sorrow fill the air
We do the best we can
A holiday to plan
We are not Christmas ads
Not catalogue Moms & Dads
Flawed, often foolish
We make our way
3) Then let true happiness abound
As TV specials say
If they are right that family
(Not gifts for all humanity)
Is the best gift of all
Then we can skip the mall
Comforted by peace that will
Around us fall

Tune: O Come All Ye Faithful (Rose DeShaw) Songs for the heart in this time of bad economy & worry:

O come all ye fearful
Fretful about Christmas
O come ye
O come ye
To reason once again
Come and behold them
All the TV specials
That say it isn’t presents
Or everything just perfect
But who you are and what you do
That mak-kes the day
2)O Sing a little bet-ter
Christmas isn’t madness
All stressed out and chewing out
Your loved ones around
Your TV has nailed it
Calm down and embrace it
They want you sane and happy
And take a little nappy
This really is what’s wanted
On Chri-ismas day.
3) ‘My miserable Christmas’
Website tells the horrors
But all these are just about
How adults behave
Depressing reading
But they teach a lesson
We can improve so easily
Patient and kind so breezily
It’s attitude not plentitude
That makes Christmas day!
4) Whatever we’ve got then
Absolutely will content us
A messy house
A partner louse
They’re ours and we’ll cope
We’ll look for the fun parts
Stretchify our grinch hearts
Relax don’t sweat the small stuff
What we’ve got will be en-ough
The atmosphere at ours will be
Comfy and kind!

City Sidewalks, Busy Sidewalks
Been replaced by the mall
Where the parking’s just awful and ba-ad
Fights will break out
Cops are called out
O the mall is the place
Where corporations all strut their stuff!
O their malls
They appall
Nothing about them says Christmas
Only ding-a-lings bring
Themselves to shop there today

2) If you must shop
Then you should shop
Craft shows, church bazares
Where the sellers made all of the presents
Or some online third world giftings
Like a goat or a well
That’s the sprit of giving – that’s SWELL!
But the mall
It appalls
Do not take part in its furor
Ding-a-lings buy their things
But Christmas day doesn’t mean THAT!

Carols to help you cope with Christmas

(Tune: Here Comes Santa Claus)

Here comes Christmas
I can’t handle it
Expectations by all
Parties, laughter, children singing
Friends who come to call
I’m learning how to say to all
I don’t feel merry & bright
But with your support
I’ll make it through
Another long Christmas night!

(Tune: I’ll Be Home for Christmas)
All those drunken Christmases
All those years of pain
We can put behind us now
Not visit them, again.
You & I are grown now
We can find a way
To keep those drunken Christmases
From killing us today.

(Tune: No Place Like Home For Holidays)
Wish that you had a home for the holidays?
Reach out your hand to those you see in pain
A happy family may be something
that you never had
Friends can help you start a better life again.

I’m dreaming of a just Christmas
Something I’ve never known before
Where the poor have voices
And many choices
Not homeless, cold & hungry anymore
I’m dreaming of a just Christmas
While doing all I can to help
Till a dawn breaks when our world’s come right
And Christmas for us ALL is shining bright!

It’s the most difficult time of the year
With the memories coming
And crowds all succumbing
Where everyone tells you to
Be of good cheer
It’s the most difficult time of the year

It’s the hard-hardest season of all
Boozy get togethers and fighting the weather
Temptations will call
It’s the hard-hardest season of all
But there’s meetings to go to
And others to talk to
No need to stay out in the snow
There’ll be advice for livin’
And life stories given of
Christmases long, long ago

It’s the most difficult time of the year
When your memory’s paining
Your struggles are draining
We’ve been there, my dear
It’s the most difficult time of the year

But there’s meetings to go to
And others to talk to
No need to stay out in the snow
There’ll be advice for living’
And life stories given of
Christmases long, long ago

It’s the most difficult time of the year
When your memory’s paining
Your struggles are draining
We’ve been there, my dear
It’s the most difficult time
It’s the most difficult time
It’s the most difficult time
It’s the most difficult time of the year!

Obama, we were hopeful, cautiously believing
You meant what you said to us — we’d get bo-old change!
Now we know better, here’s our warning letter:
OBAMA WE’LL BE WATCHING,
OBAMA WE’LL BE MARCHING,
OBAMA WE’LL BE HOLDING YOUR FEET TO THE FIRE!

Your first years were frightful — trying to get your bearings,
Oil men and gen’rals whisp’ring into your ears;
Outside, we’re shouting – listen to your people!
OBAMA WE ARE WATCHING,
OBAMA WE ARE MARCHING,
OBAMA WE ARE HOLDING YOUR FEET TO THE FIRE!

Barack, it’s disgraceful, see how things have worsened;
Folks losing jobs and health care, Wall Street running free!
And don’t get me started on military spending –
OBAMA WE ARE WATCHING,
OBAMA WE ARE MARCHING,
OBAMA WE ARE HOLDING YOUR FEET TO THE FIRE!

We are still hopeful, we think you can do it;
Show us real progress, not the same old politics.
Remember your promise, remember who elected you!
OBAMA WE ARE WATCHING,
OBAMA WE ARE MARCHING,
OBAMA WE ARE HOLDING YOUR FEET TO THE FIRE!