Lyr Add: American Democracy is Almost Over

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: American Democracy is Almost Over
From: UncleSam
Date: 20 Jun 25 - 10:19 PM

It was suggested that this would make more sense if I posted Steve Goodman's original lyrics. I added them here, but feel free to move them to a new post (or ask me to).

Back in 1899, when everybody sang "Auld Lang Syne"
A 100 years took a long, long time for every boy and girl
Now there's only one thing that I'd like to know
Where did the 20th century go?
I'd swear it was here just a minute ago / All over this world

And now the 20th century is (x3) almost over
The 20th century is almost over
(x3) All over this world
The 20th century is almost over, all over this world

Does anyone remember the Great Depression?
I read all about it in True Confession
I'm sorry I was late for the recording session
But somebody put me on hold
Has anybody seen my linoleum floors
Petroleum jelly, and two World Wars?
They got stuck in the revolving doors / All over this world

The winter's getting colder, summer's getting hotter
Wishin' well's wishin' for another drop of water
And Mother Earth's blushin' 'cause somebody caught her
Makin' love to the Man in the Moon
Tell me how you gonna keep 'em down on the farm
Now that outer space has lost it's charm?
Somebody set off a burglar alarm
And not a moment too soon

Old Father Time has got his toes a tappin'
Standing in the window, grumblin' and a rappin'
Everybody's waiting for something to happen
Tell me if it happens to you!
The Judgment Day is getting nearer
There it is in the rear view mirror
If you duck down I could see a little clearer
All over this world!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: American Democracy is Almost Over
From: UncleSam
Date: 20 Jun 25 - 10:18 PM

Joe, it's from "Ein Volk, Ein Reich, Ein Fuhrer".

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ein_Volk,_ein_Reich,_ein_F%C3%BChrer.jpg

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: American Democracy is Almost Over
From: Joe Offer
Date: 19 Jun 25 - 11:48 PM

You're close, Vikki, so I didn't bug you. The main thing is that we should have a title and a songwriter name at the top of the lyrics.

Charles, how does the "Ein, Ein, Ein" fit in? I recall him saying "Heil, Heil, Heil," but not a triple "Ein."

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: American Democracy is Almost Over
From: YorkshireYankee
Date: 19 Jun 25 - 11:17 PM

Charles/UncleSam, nice work!

Joe, I didn't know about the format for adding lyrics. None of the songs I've added are in that format...

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: American Democracy is Almost Over
From: Pappy Fiddle
Date: 19 Jun 25 - 08:47 PM

For the tune, I will refer to Steve Goodman singing it. He yaks a while, song starts a 1:00

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: American Democracy is Almost Over
From: Joe Offer
Date: 17 Jun 25 - 11:57 PM

Yes, and I am always at your service.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: American Democracy is Almost Over
From: UncleSam
Date: 17 Jun 25 - 11:53 PM

Joe, thanks for the edits and info!

It doesn't look like I can edit the original post, but I gather you can. Songwriter is Steve Goodman (tune and original lyrics), "American Democracy" words written by me, Charles Roth, apparently channeling(??) the ghost of Steve Goodman.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: American Democracy is Almost Over
From: Joe Offer
Date: 17 Jun 25 - 05:35 PM

Hi, UncleSam,

Welcome to Mudcat! Please note that Mudcat has a set format for posting lyrics. They should be titled, with the title in ALLCAPS on the first line, then the songwriter name in parentheses on the second line, then skip a space and then the lyrics. Any notes should go at the end, or in a paragraph above the title.

Thanks.

Joe Offer, Mudcat Music Editor.

Subject: Lyr Add: American Democracy is Almost Over
From: UncleSam
Date: 17 Jun 25 - 05:04 PM

This is parody -- or perhaps an homage -- to Steve Goodman's "The Twentieth Century is Almost Over".

I'm a newcomer -- my friend Yorkshire Yankee suggested I join -- so be gentle! :-)

In early May 2025, I woke up from a dream in which Steve Goodman was yelling at me. And I was singing "The Twentieth Century is Almost Over"... except the words came out differently. 75% of it just poured out immediately; the rest I had to wordsmith.

AMERICAN DEMOCRACY IS ALMOST OVER
(Charles Roth, parody of Steve Goodman)

Back in 1939, Hitler started singing his Ein, Ein, Ein
100 days of Trump, & we're back in that time, yes every boy and girl
Now there's only one thing that I'd like to know
Where did American democracy go?
I'd swear it was here just a minute ago / All over this land

Chorus:
And now American democracy is (x3) almost over
American democracy is almost over
(x3) All over this land
American democracy is almost over, all over this land

Does anyone remember the Great Depression?
Neither Xi nor Putin makin' any concessions
Read all about the on-coming recession
'Less the tariffs get put on hold
Has anybody seen my lithium ores
Silicon wafers, or Rare Earth stores
They got stuck in the MAGA trade wars / All over this land

Winters getting warmer, summers getting hotter
The southwest states are runnin' out of water
Mother Earth's fryin' cause somebody oughter
Save the planet 'stead of flyin' to Mars!
Tell me how you gonna harvest crops on the farm
Since immigrant workers have lost their charm
I-C-E set off a burglar alarm
Xenophobia's gone too far!

Cory Booker's best is long filibuster yappin'
SCOTUS barely gave Trump's knuckles a rappin'
Everybody's waiting for their arrest to happen
Tell me if it happens to you!
Election Day proved a real disaster
We traded cheaper eggs for an ego-centric master
If you duck your part we'll lose a little faster
All over this land!