REQ: Any songs on GST(Goods & Services Tax)?

Subject: RE: REQ: Any songs on GST(Goods & Services Tax)?
From: belter
Date: 21 Aug 98 - 04:05 PM

You could sing One Dime Blues, and finish it off by saying. "that'll be 5 cents tax." Also, The Man Who Never Returned may be useful.

Subject: RE: REQ: Any songs on GST(Goods & Services Tax)?
From: Ireland O'Reilly
Date: 19 Aug 98 - 12:18 PM

That's always the problem with politics & elections. you're always having to vote for the lesser of two (?) evils. well, actually in federal elections in canada it's the lesser of 5 evils.

we've had government promise to get rid of the GST. Instead, in Nova Scotia, and a few other provinces, now we have the HST - 15% (harmonized sales tax). they were going to call it the BST (Blended...) but you can imagine the nicknames it got :>

Subject: RE: REQ: Any songs on GST(Goods & Services Tax)?
From: Helen
Date: 18 Aug 98 - 10:44 PM

Stop it, Murray, you're making me even *more* depressed. The only light at the end of the tunnel that I can see is that they'll probably lose the next election because of the GST - but then again, the next election winners might be worse - "The Perils of Pauline [Hanson]".

Helen

Subject: RE: REQ: Any songs on GST(Goods & Services Tax)?
From:
Date: 17 Aug 98 - 09:39 PM

I got so stuck into my own joke, that I forgot what I was going to say :)

Helen, It is not only what they are going to take away from the needy. It is also what they have already taken away. There has already been cuts in public spending. I am pretty sure that is where most of this budget surplus comes from. Now they want to use this money taken away from the poor and give it to the rich(er).

Murray

Subject: RE: REQ: Any songs on GST(Goods & Services Tax)?
From:
Date: 17 Aug 98 - 09:34 PM

Well, they certainly learned how to tax my patience.

Murray

Subject: RE: REQ: Any songs on GST(Goods & Services Tax)?
From: Bill D
Date: 17 Aug 98 - 02:04 PM

too bad Prime Ministers and Parliaments and congresses, etc. don't have to study traditional music...they might get an education about how the 'masses' have viewed their taxes, laws & such...dont most of 'us' know:

"Come one and all, both great and small
With voices loud & clear
And lets us sing 'Bless Billy the King',
Who 'bated the tax upon beer."

(it doesn't seem to be in the database...will post the rest if appropriate)

oh...old joke...
MP..(or congressman)giving speech..."Gentlemen, let me tax your memories.."
whereupon, one member leans over and whispers to another, "Good heavens, why haven't we thought of that before!"

Subject: Lyr Add: TWELVE AND A TANNER A BOTTLE^^ & YES...^^
From:
Date: 16 Aug 98 - 01:03 PM

I found a few complaints on the rising cost of living in general (not in the DT, it seems):

'A sorrowful lamentation on the recent price increases on ales, wines and spirits'
to the tune Olaim Puins (The Humours of the King of Ballyhooley)
Jimmy Crowley
on 'The Boys of Fair Hill', 1977 - sorry, no words.

'Twelve and a Tanner A Bottle^^'
Will Fyffe
sung by Hamish Imlach on 'Ballads of Booze', 1969, and 'I Was Born In Glasgow', 1991.

It's twelve and a tanner a bottle
That's what it's costin' today
Twelve and a tanner a bottle
Man it tak's a' your pleasure away
Afore ye can hae a wee drappie
You have to spend a' that you've got
How can a fella be happy
When happiness costs such a lot

It's really high time something was done
To alter the way the country is run
They're no daein' things the way that they should
Just take for instance the price of the food

There's taxes on this, taxes on that
While the people grow lean, the officials grow fat
You have to admit it's a bit underhand
Puttin' a tax on the breath of the land

I used to meet old pals o' mine
When whisky was cheap, went doon like wine
Noo I don't see them I'm sorry to tell
I slip roon' the corner and drink by masel'

On which Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger have this to say:
[1986:] On 19 April 1920, the price of a bottle of whisky rose from ten shillings and sixpence to twelve and six. On 27 September 1939 the price rose again, this time to fourteen shillings and threepence. The song was obviously made during that period. (MacColl/Seeger, Till Doomsday in the Afternoon 274)

'Yesterday's Bread^^'
Harvey Andrews, on 'P.G.' (1987)

'Cause yesterday's gone and yesterday's heroes
Are queueing for yesterday's bread

They've opened a shop at the end of our street
And me mom says, Aer kid, it's a hard one to beat
Us old uns are queueing and dancing our jigs
To buy yesterday's bread they once fed to the pigs

It's only half price for the old staley loaves
And I'm there in the queue with some right funny coves
There's Harry the Bagman who fought in Korea
And he spends what he saves on a half pint of beer

There's Aggie next door, well she's eighty and three
And she's walked to the queue and she's chatting to me
She stands in her frame at the back of the line
Just like she used to do in nineteen twenty-nine

So I ate mom's bread pudding and said, See you soon
She said, Don't worry son, 'cause I'm over the moon
They're planning a new shop to give us a treat
Then the cats and the dogs won't get yesterday's meat

I'll try to avoid double-posting again. Unfortunately, my program switches right back to the main forum site after posting, so I don't know how to stop it yet. I've taken to switching off the moment I've posted. Bear with me, please. - Susanne

Subject: RE: REQ: Any songs on GST(Goods & Services Tax)?
From: Helen
Date: 16 Aug 98 - 12:43 AM

Yes, Murray, I was just watching a business program on television, and the business people interviewed all sound so sure of the good things which will come out of the GST - which may or my not be true, but it's the people who are less well-off, who don't run businesses, who will really feel the pinch. But, these people probably won't get much publicity about the effects on their incomes and their lives.

Helen

Subject: RE: REQ: Any songs on GST(Goods & Services Tax)?
From:
Date: 15 Aug 98 - 08:48 PM

Not only that, Helen; but the Government is buying full-page ads in the newspapers now. Don't expect to see to much more negative info from them! I recall a few years ago when everyone was worried about the pollution in the sea, especially Manly beach. The papers were really after the State Govt. until they began to take out the ads. Then even the letters to the editor about the subject came to an end.

Besides the unfairness of the thing, what bothers me most is the fact that the budget surplus comes from taking money away from people who really need it--like the pensioners and the people going into old-age homes--and now want to give it to the prople who have it already.

Murray

Subject: RE: REQ: Any songs on GST(Goods & Services Tax)?
From: Helen
Date: 15 Aug 98 - 07:47 PM

Thanks, everyone. I'm starting to feel a little more sane after seeing your songs, but more and more worried about the GST. The more I hear about it, the worse it gets, but we are getting so much fanfare, and certain television stations are throwing us only the good/convincing bits, but to make it interesting, the government funded radio & tv media - ABC (Australian Broadcasting Commission) is giving a more balanced view.

But, keep the comments and songs coming, please, it helps to see the cynical/humourous side of the situation.

Helen

Subject: RE: REQ: Any songs on GST(Goods & Services Tax)?
From: Ireland O'Reilly
Date: 15 Aug 98 - 12:58 PM

Actually, the low point of (lyin')Brian's political career may very well have been the late, great Meech Lake Accord, which failed spectacularly. Other notable points of Brian "Irish Eyes" Mulroney's reign of terror are Airbus and the loonie. okay, the physical presence of the loonie isn't so bad, even if the loonie as currency is in very, very bad trouble (no fault of Brian's, so far as we know).

There is a song called "I'm grateful when my plate's full" which has some lines that go like this:

I'd just like to stop and say that some changes should be made. I don't like the GST, Not so sure about free trade. But on this we can agree- We're just like a family. No one else can hit my brother; the hittin's up to me.

It's not really a song about the GST per se, but it is a pretty good song about Canada. :)

Cheers,

Ireland

Subject: RE: REQ: Any songs on GST(Goods & Services Tax)?
From: rich r
Date: 15 Aug 98 - 12:10 AM

When I was in Canada recently, there was a certain amount of controversy about former Pime Minister Mulrooney being put up for the Order of Canada or something, mostly because he brought the GST. A professor from U Winnipeg talking on CBC said Mulrooney is remarkable because his negative ratings are in the 90% range which is worse than Nixon when he resigned or even Nuke Grinch at his low point. All because of the GST

rich r

Subject: RE: REQ: Any songs on GST(Goods & Services Tax)?
From:
Date: 14 Aug 98 - 09:41 PM

Well, I made a start at a song. Perhaps others can expand on it.

Along Came the GST

To the tune of the Carter Family's "Engine 143"

(Chords are in square brackets right before the phrase to which they apply)

A[C]long came the GST, a commin' [F]along the line
[C]Coming out from Canberra about {G7]three centuries behind its time
[C]Spreading joy and lagesse [F]to the rich and rich alike
[C]Taking from the elderly, the studens and the sick

Howard came to Costello with a bucket under his arm
Said, "Here's a few more sweeteners, I'm sure they'le do no harm"
They come from this year's surplus, from the cuts in aged care
We'll make it up to them someday, when The Economy is in repair

Well, that's as far as I got.

Original words and tune can be found here

Murray

Subject: RE: REQ: Any songs on GST(Goods & Services Tax)?
From: Moira Cameron
Date: 14 Aug 98 - 08:59 PM

God! Are they doing it there too? Our ex-Prime Minister, Brian Mulroney, brought in the GST (7% Goods and Services Tax) in Canada about the time the VAT in Britain was inspiring tax revolts. Unfortunately, unlike Britain, Canadians are great at complaining, but not great at organizing tax revolts. Nevertheless, the musical group I am singing with was ready to stir the masses with our own Anti-GST song.

If you are already familiar with the kids round, "Bottle of Pop" or "Fish 'N Chips 'N Vinegar", you're all set to learn this one.

"GST Round" by Ceilidh Friends (Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada)

1 GST, 2 GST, 3 GST, 4 GST 5 GST, 6 GST, 7 percent GST.

Added to our purchases Purchases, purchases Added to our purchases And it's making us mad.

Don't throw your tax at my pocketbook My pocketbook, my pocketbook Don't throw your tax at my pocketbook My pocketbook's empty!

Ok, so it's not supremely inspiring. But everyone we sang it to really got a kick out of it.

My heart goes out to you all down there. Good luck, Moira

Subject: RE: REQ: Any songs on GST(Goods & Services Tax)?
From: John in Brisbane
Date: 13 Aug 98 - 10:48 PM

Haven't heard it for yonks, but I have in the past mangled the (Pete Seeger?) 'A Dollar Aint A Dollar Anymore' for this sort of intent.

The snippets I can recall:

I was feeling rather hungry so I thought I'd buy some bread. I went down to the corner grocery store, I took out the usual money but the grocer shook his head, Cos a dollar aint a dollar anymore

Chorus

No, a dollar bill won't. Buy what it used to X3 A dollar bill won't buy what it used to, Cos a dollar aint a dollar anymore.

From the knockshops in St Kilda to a frosty Fosters can, You find now that you get less for dough, Let's Canberra by the collar, 'Pull those prices back' we'll holler. Cos a dollar aint a dollar anymore.

And just composed on the spot:

Now we’re used to paying taxes, levies, rates and subsidies, P.A.Y.E., I just uphold the law, Yes we’re vengeful, mean and spiteful, This country’s had a shiteful, Cos a dollar aint a dollar anymore.

Cheers John

PS The tune in the chorus is vaguely similar to The Old Grey Mare.

Subject: RE: REQ: Any songs on GST(Goods & Services Tax)?
From: alison
Date: 13 Aug 98 - 08:20 PM

Hi,

There has to be one in the UK about VAT (value added tax) or the VAT-man.

Can't think of any though.

Slainte

Alison

Subject: RE: REQ: Any songs on GST(Goods & Services Tax)?
From:
Date: 13 Aug 98 - 07:38 PM

I was in the UK when they started theirs and I don't recall any songs being generated. We will have to write our own.

I have been mulling around with a skit called "rabid and costello", but, like a lot of limericks I think, I can't get past the first line. Rabid was originally Pauline; but in my latest version it is ol' John himself.

There is a Leadbelly song called Po' Howard he is dead an' gone which we can perhaps sing until the real thing comes along.

Murray

Subject: REQ: Any songs on GST(Goods & Services Tax)?
From: Helen, in Australia
Date: 13 Aug 98 - 07:14 PM

Hi all,

This week our beloved Prime Minister in Australia and fellow pollies are jamming down our collective throats their new proposal for a GST (Goods & Services Tax). I know that other countries have this system and I haven't heard a good word about it yet - (but I guess I am open to persuasion, but you'll have to give me some worthwhile facts to consider).

But, without starting a huge political and fiscal debate, what I was wondering was - has anyone written any pointed political songs about GST? Preferably something to relieve the stress of having to watch politicians in bluebird-of-happiness mode as they try to be *really* convincing, and they try to buy off each sector of the country's voters with sweetened pills of questionable composition.

Sorry, is my cynicism showing??

Helen