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14 Nov 00 - 12:02 AM (#340244) Subject: Lyr Add: YOU AIN'T BEEN DOIN' NOTHIN' IF YOU... From: John in Brisbane About a week ago I was accused of being a long-haired, hippie, yuppie Bolshevik. The yuppie bit really hurt! This is a song from Peace Songs, Ed. John Jordan. I've sent the MIDI to MMario. YOU AIN'T BEEN DOIN' NOTHIN' IF YOU AIN'T BEEN CALLED A RED Music, traditional; lyrics by Eliot Keenan (USA). 1. Oh, when I was just a little thing, I used to love parades, With banners, bands and red balloons and maybe lemonade. When I came home on May Day, my neighbour’s father said, "Them marchers are all Commies. Tell me, kid, are you a Red?” CHORUS 1: Oh, you ain't done nothin' if you ain't been called a Red. If you march or agitate, you're bound to hear it said; So you might as well ignore it, or love the words instead, 'Cause you ain't been doin' nothin' if you ain't been called a Red. 2. Well, I didn't know just what he meant. my hair back then was brown. Our house was plain red brick like most others in the town. So I went and asked my parents why my playmates called me Red. My mama took me on her knee and this is what she said: CHORUS 2: Oh, you ain't done nothin' if you ain't been called a Red. If you march or agitate, you're bound to hear it said; So you might as well ignore it, or love the words instead, 'Cause you ain't been doin' nothin' if you ain't been called a Red. 3. As I was growing up, I had my troubles, I suppose, When someone took exception to my face or to my clothes, Or tried to cheat me on the job, or hit me on the head; When I organised a fight back, why, the stinkers called me Red! CHORUS 3: Oh, you ain't done nothin' if you ain't been called a Red. If you organise your workplace, then you're bound to hear it said; So you might as well ignore it, or love the words instead, 'Cause you ain't been doin' nothin' if you ain't been called a Red. 4. When I was living on my own, one apartment that I had Had a classic rotten landlord. let me tell you, he was BAD. But when he tried to throw me out, I rubbed my hands and said, “You haven't seen a struggle if you haven't fought a Red.” CHORUS 4: Oh, you ain't done nothin' if you ain't been called a Red. If you organise your neighbours, then you're bound to hear it said; So you might as well ignore it, or love the words instead, 'Cause you ain't been doin' nothin' if you ain't been called a Red. 5. Well, I kept on agitating, 'cause what else can you do? Are you gonna let the sons-of-bitches walk all over you? My neighbour said, “You'll get fired hanging with that Commie mob!” I should be so lucky, buddy, I ain't got a job! CHORUS 5: Oh, you ain't done nothin' if you ain't been called a Red. If you organise your workplace, then you're bound to hear it said; So you might as well ignore it, or love the words instead, 'Cause you ain't been doin' nothin' if you ain't been called a Red. 6. Well, I been agitating now for forty years and more, For jobs and for equality and always against war, And I'll keep on agitating as far as I can see, And if that's what being Red is, well it's good enough for me! CHORUS 6: Oh, you ain't done nothin' if you ain't been called a Red, If you march or agitate, you're bound to hear it said; So you might as well ignore it, or love the words instead, 'Cause you ain't been doin' nothin' if you ain't been called a Red. Originally published in N. C.S. |
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29 Jun 12 - 07:55 PM (#3369841) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: You Ain't Been Doin' Nothin' If You ... From: GUEST Thought you all would appreciate this video of my father-in-law Eliot Kenin Entertainer playing the famous song he wrote - Aint Done Nothin If You Aint Been Called A Red. Who's heard this song before? http://youtu.be/EXWzQW0jV3o |
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10 May 13 - 02:40 AM (#3513648) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: You Ain't Been Doin' Nothin' If You ... From: GUEST My friend, that is the beauty of folk music, isn't it? |
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02 Apr 15 - 06:24 PM (#3699152) Subject: ADD Versi: Ain't Been Doin' Nothin' If You ... From: Joe Offer This is another one going into the Rise Again Songbook. Here's my transcription of the Eliot Kenan video, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXWzQW0jV3o AIN'T DONE NOTHIN' IF YOU AIN'T BEEN CALLED A RED (Eliot Kenin, 1983) When I was just a little boy I used to love parades With banners, bands, red balloons & maybe lemonade When I came home one May Day my neighbor's father said "Them marchers is all commies, tell me kid, are you a Red?" G - C - / D - - G :// Well I didn't know just what he meant, my hair back then was brown Our house was plain red brick like many others in the town So I went & told my daddy our neighbor called me red My daddy took me on his knee & this is what he said "Well ya ain't done nothing if ya ain't been called a Red If you marched or agitated then you're bound to hear it said So you might as well ignore it or love the word instead 'Cos ya ain't been doing nothing if ya ain't been..." (2x) As I was growing up had my troubles I suppose When someone took exception to the contours of my nose Or tried to cheat me on the job or hit me on the head When I organized to fight back then those suckers called me Red Then after I got married, one apartment that we had Had a classic rotten rotten landlord, let me tell you he was bad And when he tried to kick us out, I rubbed my hands & said "You haven't had a struggle if you haven't fought a Red!" So I kept on agitating, 'cos what else can you do? Are you gonna let the sons-of-bitches walk all over you? A friend said, "You'll get fired hanging with that Commie mob!" I should only have such troubles, buddy, I ain't got a job! So I been agitating now for fifty years and more, For employment & equality & always against war, And I'll keep doin' it forever, just as far as I can see, And if that's what being Red is, then it's good enough for me! Eliot Kenin On videos by him & by David Rovics & on Faith Petric When Did We Have Sauerkraut, Petric & Mark Ross S of the IWW. |