The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #120609 Message #2625454
Posted By: Charley Noble
06-May-09 - 11:16 AM
Thread Name: Michigan Musically Revisited (2009)
Subject: RE: LYR.ADD: I'd Rather Make a Revolution
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.