Irene M mentioned this on 16-Nov-07. You can hear it on YouTube.


IT’S A FREE WORLD
As recorded by Peggy Seeger on “An Odd Collection,” 1996.

I like Mrs. Britches.
I go to Mrs. Britches.
I eat at Mrs. Britches on a Friday for breakfast.
There are only seven tables,
Flowers on the tables,
And smokers at the tables on a Friday.

Now you may think I’m jokin’,
But some smokers when they’re smokin’,
Don’t notice if you’re chokin’ or you’re dyin’.
There’s this one fella, Andy,
A real chain smoker, and he
Blows smoke right at me ’til I’m cryin’.

I asked him quite politely.
In fact, I asked him nicely:
“Would you mind not smokin’ on a Friday?
Don’t like it when I’m eatin’.
Don’t like it when I’m breathin’.
Don’t like it any where or any day.”

He told me: “It’s a habit.
I choose to have it,
And you choose to come here on a Friday,
So you’re the problem, not me,
And if I choose to rock me,
You’ve got no right to stop me ’cause it’s my way.

“’Cause it’s a free world,
Democracy and all that; it’s a free world,
Laissez-faire and all that, and if industry can do it, so can I.”

The smokers cheered him loudly.
He lit another proudly.
As for me, I looked around me for a friend.
I thought of world pollution.
I thought of evolution.
I thought of revolution, but I paid my bill and left.

I thought of Mother Jones; I though of Rosa Parks,
Sojourner Truth, and Rosa Luxembourg; it’s them I have to thank.
Guerrilla folks have taught me: if freedom you are wanting,
If head-on fights are daunting. use the flank.

So I ate corn on Sunday.
I ate beans on Monday.
On Tuesday, leeks and lentils made a high day.
I tell you, I’m not jokin’.
By Thursday, I was floatin’,
But I’m ready for the smokin’ on a Friday.

I sat down next to Andy.
I smiled at Andy.
He lit up; I let off a beauty.
I sat and read the paper,
And chatted with a waiter,
And let my compass maker do its duty.

Beans are for pitching.
Leeks are malediction.
Sweet corn is for density and lentils for duration.
The recipe’s been tested.
It hasn’t yet been bested.
Add cabbage for perfume and concentration.

Andy he turns yellow.
The atmosphere is mellow.
The percussion section’s way over the top.
It soon put Andy’s fag out.
Andy hung the flag out.
Andy choked and swore and muttered: "Stop!"

I told him: “It’s a habit.
I choose to have it,
And you choose to come here on a Friday,
And if you don’t like it,
I guess you’ll have to hike it,
’Cause I’ll fight for farter’s rights until I die.

“’Cause it’s a free world,
Liberty and all that; it’s a free world,
Selfishness and all that; and if Andy can do it, so can I.”

He changed his day to Thursday.
I changed my day to Thursday.
He changed his day to Wednesday; so did I.
The waitress she was cheerin’.
Her bronchitis it was clearin’,
And she was volunteerin’ for the Tuesday.

I like Mrs. Britches.
I go to Mrs. Britches.
I breathe at Mrs. Britches on a Friday for breakfast.
There are only seven tables,
Flowers on the tables,
And no smokers at the tables any day.

’Cause it’s a free world,
Strategy and all that; it’s a free world,
Crude comedy and all that; but if I can do it, so can anybody.