September 3, 2010

Working for Nothing: My Little Ditty for the Hard Core Unemployed

Job Data Casts Pall Over Economic Recovery and nobody, but nobody, believes 9.6% is true.
newyorklifeaugust2002.jpg
Wall Street, NYC Photo by Vanderleun

ONCE upon a time
Making money was a crime,
And I was in my prime,
And working for nothing.

Now that habit's hard to break,
And what I got you wouldn't take
The time to steal. Life's so unreal
When you're working for nothing.

        Working for nothing
                   -- ain't my act.
        Working for nothing
                   -- an un-natural fact,
        Working for nothing.


Those fat cats in the top hats
All know money's where it's at,
Say `You want it easy, want it fat?
Quit working for nothing.'

Those dudes hopping on The Line,
Making Fords and doing fine,
Do you think they'd take a shine
To working for nothing?

        Working for nothing
                   -- for pie in the sky.
        Working for nothing
                   -- in the sweet bye and bye
        We'll all be working for nothing.


That politician with the handshake,
His love for you's a stone fake.
He wants your love for his sake.
He ain't smiling for nothing.

He's got your vote in his sights.
He'll come out on top all right.
Still, his wife stays out all night,
Working for nothing.

        Working for nothing
                   -- Gotta break on through.
        Working for nothing
                   -- To where dreams come true.
        No more working for nothing.


Gotta make that bacon.
Gotta pay that rent.
Gotta give that loan shark
My last red cent.

Gotta make a final payment
And get my pistol outta hock.
Gotta press my three-piece suit.
Gotta darn my sock.

There's alimony, child-support,
And last month's union dues.
Then my baby needs a new pair
Of hand-made Italian shoes.

She says she's been broke before
And she won't put out no more,
If putting out just means
She's working for nothing.

        Working for nothing
                   -- But there ain't nothing free.
        Working for nothing
                   -- It's just the fool in me
        That's working for nothing.


I used to be a winner,
A syncopated sinner.
I handed out my gold and love for free
(Yes, that was really me.)

Now I jump when they push the button,
Trying to get a piece of somethin',
Trying to make a deal that beats
Working for nothing.

        Working for nothing
            -- Outside where Hell freezes.
        Working for nothing
            -- When even the baby Jesus
        Has quit working for nothing.


Gonna pull myself together,
Buy the papers, find a job.
Maybe dress up all in leather
And break legs for the mob.

Maybe wear those sharkskin suits,
Be the servant, play the clown,
For those jokers in the penthouse
That own the whole damn town.

Maybe be a jewel thief,
Or rob banks like Willie Sutton,
Or be a local discount hit-man.
It's better than working for nothing.

        If you're working for something
                   -- don't make no bets.
        It only seems like something
                   -- cause you ain't seen nothing yet.
        No, you ain't seen nothing yet.

Posted by Vanderleun at September 3, 2010 4:44 PM
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Comments:

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"It is impossible to speak in such a way that you cannot be misunderstood." -- Karl Popper N.B.: Comments are moderated and may not appear immediately. Comments that exceed the obscenity or stupidity limits will be either edited or expunged.

Where did that come from? It rocks.

Posted by: clazy8 at June 11, 2010 8:09 AM

Kind of reminds me of Bob Dylan's song, "Like A Rolling Stone". Has the same punch.

Posted by: Cilla Mitchell, galveston Texas at September 3, 2010 4:39 PM

Sad but unfortunately true and real.

Posted by: Darrel @ Israel at September 4, 2010 3:41 AM

Story of my life: Contando Cacahuetes (Ziroq)

I have blisters on my fingers, I don't sleep, working late.
On the radio I only get the news in brief,
working late.
This could be the cause of my disease. This could be my death.
This double time is killing me. I might as well be
Contando cacahuetes,
Contando cacahuetes,
Contando cacahuetes,
Contando cacahuetes.

I get minimum for working maximum supply,
working late.
All my life insurers say my coverage is denied, working late.
This could be the promise of my feast.
This could be my death.
This lack of luxury is debt.
I might as well be
Contando cacahuetes,
Contando cacahuetes,
Contando cacahuetes,
Contando cacahuetes.

This could be the cause of my disease. This could be my death. This double time is killing me,
I might as well be
Contando cacahuetes
Contando cacahuetes
Contando cacahuetes
Contando cacahuetes

H/T to every 3rd shifter in America.

Posted by: Jewel at September 5, 2010 12:00 PM