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Lyr ADD: They're Taking It Away (Ian Robb)

12 Jan 00 - 08:37 PM (#161933)
Subject: They're taking it away
From: George Seto - af221@chebucto.ns.ca

I heard a neat song today on the radio, but didn't get to hear who sang it or wrote it.

The chorus went something like

They're taking it away
They're taking it away
They're taking all the good things that


That's all I remember. Does anyone know the rest of it?

Thanks in advance.

12 Jan 00 - 08:42 PM (#161937)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: They're taking it away
From: Midchuck

It's by Ian Robb.

On his From Different Angels.

Peter.

13 Jan 00 - 01:56 AM (#162081)
Subject: Lyr Add: THEY'RE TAKING IT AWAY (Ian Robb)
From: Owlkat

Hi, With the hopeful forgiveness of Ian Robb, the author, here goes with the lyrics for his song...


THEY'RE TAKING IT AWAY
(Ian Robb) As recorded by Keith Kendrick on "Home Ground" (2008)

CHORUS: Oh, they're takin' it away; they're takin' it away.
They are takin' all the good things, you can hear the people say,
And they'll take it all tomorrow if they don't take it today.
From the poor and sick and helpless, they are takin' it away.

Oh, our government's elected in a democratic way:
Whining at the cost of all the things they have to pay,
And the bully-boys in Bay Street, you can hear the bastards say:
"To hell with paying taxes! Take the safety-net away!" CHORUS

If you're down upon your luck and need to keep the wolf at bay,
Just don't rely on welfare or the dole to pay your way,
For the rich they have decided not another cent to pay.
You can whistle for your supper for they're takin' it away.

And If you're native, black, or Asian, if you're feminist or gay,
If you're just a little different from the most of us today,
And if you want to make your point or if you want to have your say,
You can spit into the wind because they're takin' it away. CHORUS

If you're battered by your husband and you need a place to stay,
You'd best get down upon your knees and quickly learn to pray,
For the women's centre's phone was disconnected yesterday,
And there's no-one left to talk to, now they've taken it away.

If it's ever your misfortune in a hospital to stay,
You'd best not be impatient for a bed on which to lay,
For your health ain't worth the taxes that the healthy have to pay,
And the beds were too expensive, so they've taken them away. CHORUS

There are those who have and those who don't and those who are okay,
And those who understand that fairness is the only way,
But there are those who are so comfortable they look the other way,
And they vote for all the villains who would take it all away.

So if you've health and wealth and wisdom, stop and spare a thought today
For those who don't and those who can't; there is no other way,
Or we might as well give up the ghost and join the USA,
For there won't be any difference when they take it all away. CHORUS


Enjoy.
Owl/Mart

13 Jan 00 - 11:17 AM (#162178)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: They're taking it away
From: George Seto - af221@chebucto.ns.ca

Wow! Thanks. Owl! Much appreciated. Will print it out for the next time I hear it. Maybe I'll send the station a request to play it, now I know who performs it, thanks to Midchuck.

Again, thanks, Guys.

13 Jan 00 - 12:08 PM (#162202)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: They're taking it away
From: rhj

Credit should be given to Ian Robb, as he wrote the song

13 Jan 00 - 05:10 PM (#162334)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: They're taking it away
From: George Seto - af221@chebucto.ns.ca

I think, RHJ, if you'll look, the two people who gave the information above BOTH mentioned that. Midchuck even gave me the name of the recording so I can find it too.

13 Jan 00 - 05:58 PM (#162355)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: They're taking it away
From: Jeri

Not only that, when Midchuck typed in the name of the recording, a green clicky showed up, so you could order it from Mudcat. Personal opinion: great CD!

14 Jan 00 - 02:59 AM (#162639)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: They're taking it away
From: Owlkat

Hi hi,
It is a wonderful recording, and I look forward to getting my cd collection out of storage so I can listen to it again.
Cheers,
Owl/Mart

02 May 01 - 04:22 AM (#453616)
Subject: They're Taking It Away
From: Owlkat

Hi, Well in the midst of wrangling about non-irritating this and that and political crap, here's some lyrics I hope Ian Robb wouldn't mind being shared. I've been singing it for a while and trying to memorize it. It can be found on his album "Necessary Angels"....

THEY'RE TAKING IT AWAY
by Ian Robb

Ch:
Oh, they're taking it away,
yes they're taking it away
They are taking all the good things
you can hear the people say
And they'll take it all tomorrow
if they don't take it today
From the poor and sick and helpless,
they are taking it away.

Oh our government's elected in the democratic way
A-whining at the cost of all the things they have to pay
And the bully-boys on Bay Street, you can hear the bastards say,
"To hell with paying taxes, pull the safety-net away!"

If you're down upon your luck and need to keep the wolf at bay
Just don't rely on welfare or the dole to pay your way
For the rich, they have decided not another cent to pay
You can whistle for your supper for they've taken it away

If you're native, black, or Asian, if you're feminist or gay
If you're just a little different from the most of us today
If you want to make your point or if you want to have your way
You can spit into the wind for they have taken it away

If you're battered by your husband and you need a place to stay
You'd best get down upon your knees and quickly learn to pray
For the women's centre's phone was disconnected yesterday
And there's no-one left to talk to, now they've taken it away

If it's ever your misfortune in a hospital to stay
You'd best not be impatient for a bed on which to lay
For your health ain't worth the taxes that the healthy have to pay
And the beds were too expensive, so they've taken them away

Oh there's those that have and those that don't and those that are okay
And there's those who understand that fairness is the only way
But there's those that are so comfortable they look the other way
And they vote for all the villains who would take it all away

So if you've health and wealth and wisdom stop and spare a thought today
For those who don't and those who can't, there is no other way
Or we might as well give up the ghost and join the USA
For there won't be any difference when they take it all away

Bay Street is the Toronto equivalent of New York's Wall street.
Cheers
Owl.

02 May 01 - 08:13 AM (#453710)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: They're Taking It Away
From: Charley Noble

And let's all join in on the chorus...

08 Jun 17 - 09:56 AM (#3859613)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: They're Taking It Away (Ian Robb)
From: FreddyHeadey

I do particularly like the
Keith Kendrick

https://youtu.be/couGaX0bw5E

16 Jan 23 - 08:36 PM (#4162704)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: They're Taking It Away (Ian Robb)
From: Joe Offer

Additional verses from Elizabeth Block:

If you're in a wheelchair and you need to get from B to A,
Though the TTC* keeps telling you to take the "better way,"
There's no elevator in the station down to the subway,
There's no money in the budget, they have taken it away.

If you've been released from Queen Street** and to Parkdale*** made your way,
And it's all that you can do to try to live from day to day,
No community facility provides a place to stay
It was never there at all. They haven't taken it away!

Oh our blue boxes and composters are making some headway
In reducing all the garbage that we cover up with clay,
But the styrofoam containers and the cps we throw away,
They all end up in the dump -- I wish they'd take them all away.

And the rain is filled with chemicals whose names are hard to say,
But they're causing all our lakes and trees and rivers to decay,
And God knows what the stuff is doing to our DNA,
But somehow they haven't got around to taking it away.

Perhaps it has occurred to you you might be old some day
And in December you might need the help you didn't need in May.
You'll just have to struggle on alone, if you cannot pay,
Or you can kill yourself at 65 and take yourself away.

*Toronto Transit Commission ** Big mental hospital *** Nearby neighbourhood

07 Sep 23 - 07:33 PM (#4180925)
Subject: RE: Lyr ADD: They're Taking It Away (Ian Robb)
From: GerryM

Also recorded by Australian group, The Roaring Forties: https://fortydegreessouth.bandcamp.com/track/theyre-taking-it-away

07 Sep 23 - 07:33 PM (#4187088)
Subject: RE: Lyr ADD: They're Taking It Away (Ian Robb)
From: GerryM

Also recorded by Australian group, The Roaring Forties: https://fortydegreessouth.bandcamp.com/track/theyre-taking-it-away