These lyrics are from Pete Seeger's "Gazette" album (Folkways, 1958):

THERE IS MEAN THINGS HAPPENING IN THIS LAND

1. There is mean things happening in this land;
There is mean things happening in this land.
Oh, the rich man boasts and brags,
While the poor man goes in rags,
There is mean things happening in this land.

2. There is mean things happening in this land,
There is mean things happening in this land,
Too much cotton in our sacks,
So we have none on our backs.
There is mean things happening in this land.

3. There is mean things happening in this land,
There is mean things happening in this land,
To much groceries on the shelves,
So we have none for ourselves,
There is mean things happening in this land.

REPEAT 1.

Since John Handcox, the author, was an organizer for the Southern Tenant Farmers' Union when he wrote this song, there were probably many more verses. This is almost a zipper song: add 2 lines and you have a whole new verse. H. L. Mitchell, founder of the Tenants' Union, used the song title for the title of his autobiography.