Anybody have any idea who owns the rights to this and other songs by John Handcox? The editors of the Rise Again songbook would like to include it.
As far as I can tell, Handcox wrote the song in the late 1930s.

These are the lyrics Tom Juravich uses.

MEAN THINGS HAPPENING IN THIS LAND
(John Handcox)

There is mean things happening in this land
Mean things happening in this land
But the people are going on
The people are growing strong
There's mean things happening in this land

There is mean thing happening in this land
Mean things happening in this land
Children crying in the street
They ain't got no food to eat
There's mean things happening in this land

There are mean thing happening in this land
Mean things happening in this land
We sent our boys all off to war
Now tell me what was it all for?
There's mean things happening in this land

There is mean things happening in this land
There is mean things happening in this land

There are mean thing happening in this land
Mean things happening in this land
If you're black or brown or tan
You're in trouble with the man
There's mean things happening in this land

There is mean thing happening in this land
Mean things happening in this land
But the people are going on
The people are growing strong
There's mean things happening in this land

© 2006 Finnegan Music | Credits