Another songwriter and old friend in Michigan is Paul Emery, currently residing in Eastern Grand Rapids. We used to do a lot of singing together and this is one of Paul's songs that has stuck with me through the years:

Lyrics by Paul Emery of Lansing, Michigan, circa 1980
Second verse & minor word changes by Charlie Ipcar in 1995
Tune: after Alice's Restaurant


I'D RATHER MAKE A REVOLUTION


(C)Well, I went down to see my shrink;
She said, "(F)Boy, have you got (C) any money?"
I said, "I've got Black & Blue Cross Insurance
And, (D) sure, I can chip in the other five (G7)dollars."
She said, "(C)Son, I know what's wrong with you;
You don't (F)appreciate the privileged position you was (C)born to –
White, male, (A)middle class, American,
You (D) ain't got no (G)reason to (C) holler."


Chorus:

(C)But I said, "I'd rather make a revolution
        Than (F) fifty dollars an (C) hour;
I'd rather make a good woman smile
        Than to (D)have her address me as 'Your (G7)Honor;'
I'd (C) rather sing a song with my friends
        Than to (F) sell a lot of life in-(C) surance;
Instead of becoming (A) Master of the World
        I (D) guess I'll just be- (G) come a (C) nuisance."


"Get your pad, nurse," the doctor said,
"I think this boy's insane.
Evil spirits have infused
The soft spots in his brain;
He's obviously insecure;
I bet he sucks his thumb;
He's a no good, rotten, un-pa-tri-ot-ic;
Bearded, Commie, bum."


Chorus:

But I said, "I'd rather make a revolution
        Than fifty dollars an hour;
I'd rather make a good woman smile
        Than to have her address me as 'Your Honor';
I'd rather sing a song with my friends
        Than to raise a lot of campaign dollars
Instead of becoming Master of the World
        I guess I'll just pick and holler ."


Well, gather 'round, friends, and listen to me
And I'll give you a tip on the level;
The trouble I've always had with success
Is – I get bored in the middle;
I start out fine; got my eye on the line;
Got my nose right down to the grindstone;
But it ain't long 'fore I'm singin' this song
And the chorus goes something like this:


Chorus:

I'd rather make a revolution
        Than fifty dollars an hour;
I'd rather make a good woman smile
        Than to have her address me as 'Your Honor';
I'd rather sing a song with my friends
        Than to sell a lot of vinyl siding;
Instead of becoming Master of the World
        I guess I'll just keep on idling.


Well, I joined that great march for Peace & Justice
But I sure hated to give up the goodies;
I took a bold step forward –
And a wistful look back;
But where I come from you knew which side you was on,
And the side I was on turned out to be wrong;
And the side that was wrong turned out to be right;
I'd rather not switch, let's fight!


Chorus:

I'd rather make a revolution
        Than fifty dollars an hour;
I'd rather make a good woman smile
        Than to have her address me as 'Your Honor';
I'd rather sing a song with my friends
        Than to sell a lot of Dot-Com syndications;
Instead of becoming Master of the World
        I guess I'll just try meditation.

Some day I'll get Paul to record this song!

Charley Noble