Lyrics: Radical Rags
1. Radical Rags
2. Kings of the Midway
3. Black Waters
4. Bourgeois Blues
5. A Piece of Sky
6. Political Science
7. Sidewalk Soldier
8. Nothing More to Say
9. Devil Take the Farmer
10. Little Things
Radical Rags
(R. Browning)
No child labor, minimum wages, a 35-hour week,
safey laws, worker's comp, the right to form a union when your boss is cheap...
when these ideas got started here, people stood and sang
good old-fashioned, all-American, left-wing radical rags.
Frederick Douglass, Reverend King and the NAACP
been teachin' folks, bringin' hope, dreamin' of a day when we are truly free;
from Selma to Montgomery people marched and sang
good old-fashioned, all-American, left-wing radical rags.
Rags, brother, rags, radical rags.
Justice, equality, that's what the radicals sang.
Red, white and blue radical
Doctors, lawyers, judges and astronauts, mothers with PHDs,
with a man, without a man, woman will be anything she wants to be.
The strong, steady voices of our great-grandmothers sang
good old-fashioned, all-American, left-wing radical rags.
Rags, sister, rags, radical rags.
Justice, equality, that's what the radicals sang.
Red, white and blue radical rags.
One day people might look back to the way things used to be:
the empty plates, the fear and hate, corporations raping our democracy,
and proudly remember how we stood and sang
good old-fashioned, all-American, left-wing radical rags.
Yeah, good old-fashioned, all-American, left-wing radical, crazy and fanatical,
folk-singin', hammer-swingin', tree-huggin', earth-muffin, homosexual agenda...
rags.
© 2007 by Randy Browning
Kings of the Midway A carnival is glowing, the sun is going down. Carney picks the rings up, a quick and easy touch. Kings of the midway know their game. At linen covered tables, by old and polished walls, Kings of the midway know their game. © 2007 by Randy Browning
A Piece of Sky In thick iron chains, they walk him to the rack, Satellites orbit suns. We draw constellations in the darkness, White cotton bales, blood on the sand. Satellites orbit suns. We draw constellations in the darkness, Black smoke and fear ascend to the clouds. Satellites orbit suns. We draw constellations in the darkness, © 2007 by Randy Browning
Sidewalk Soldier Crouching down behind a car, he waits 'til the streetlights flicker. Restless eyes aim from the shadows. Duct-taped boots and torn fatigues, a muddy trashbag jacket. Restless eyes aim from the shadows. The hollow voice of a speaker blares, dispatch breaks the static. Restless eyes aim from the shadows. © 2007 by Randy Browning
Nothing More to Say Hold on, where is this coming from? For God's sake, son, we're your parents. We're not discussing your cousin Albert. Alright, for the sake of argument, © 2007 by Randy Browning
Little Things bee, honey little things all together and the bird that flies so high in the sky drop, sprinkle little things all together and the bird that flies so high in the sky We're all related drip, puddle little things all together and the bird that flies so high in the sky little things © 2007 by Randy Browning Back to Late Bloomers: Music Back to Late Bloomers: Home
(R. Browning)
A Ferris Wheel, a carousel, and cages spin around.
A boy is at the ring-toss, aiming for a prize;
holes in both his shoes, behind the yellow line.
He throws a ring and watches it fly.
"Almost had it that time, didn't miss by much."
Kid's all out of money, so the carney winks an eye.
"If you find another dollar, I'll give you one more try."
He's waving up the next kid in line.
They've been runnin' these scams for a long, long time.
What you make in a year they steal in a day.
Overnight they slip away.
in measured tones with careful words, voices rise and fall.
They say they own the water. They say they own the sky.
Now they want the part of us that can't afford to buy
shining boxes of lies,
shallow hearts and narrow minds,
another chance at a worthless prize.
They've been runnin' these scams for a long, long time.
What you make in a year they steal in a day.
Overnight they slip away.
(R. Browning)
so an old man with arthritis in his back
signs their confession and atones betrayal.
"The Earth doesn't move, I spoke blasphemous lies.
Here witness the merciful and wise.
Forgive me this heresy" says Gallileo.
Galaxies and prophets speak in tongues to each of us.
divine endless ways through the night.
All anyone can see is a piece of sky.
A fat preacher with a dollar in his hand
chooses an African, strong for labor.
Deep, thirsty, brown, illiterate eyes
drink nightly from the dipper in the sky.
The sermon on Sunday is "love thy neighbor".
Galaxies and prophets speak in tongues to each of us.
divine endless ways through the night.
All anyone can see is a piece of sky.
Cries echo as we lay good people down
and ruin the altars of sacred places.
Crosses and stars, crescents and thrones,
high temples and palaces of stone,
eyes full of hatred in our children's faces.
Galaxies and prophets speak in tongues to each of us.
divine endless ways through the night.
All anyone can see is a piece of sky.
(R. Browning)
On patrol in Monument Park and the street by Patriot Liquors.
Sighting down his arm, he follows people.
His hands are empty.
Sidewalk soldier, looking for the enemy.
He fights for good for the land of the free; every night there's action.
He ducks his head and runs to an alley doorway.
His hands are empty.
Sidewalk soldier, looking for the enemy.
Standing tall in the blue light's glare, he salutes and the cruiser passes.
Dumpster at his back, he's a loyal sentry.
His hands are empty.
Sidewalk soldier, looking for the enemy.
(R. Browning)
Who put that in your head?
You played football; varsity running.
You're 20 years old, naive and confused.
It's not who you are, dear, it's something you choose.
I think we'd know if you were really that way.
We've known you all your life.
You stand there, straight as an arrow,
and tell us you're gay, explain coming out...
Give us a break. What's this really about?
Why would you want to destroy your own life this way?
He moved away years ago.
Talk about gay.
let's say you've hidden it well.
Girlfriends, Superman comics,
excellent grades, we've always been proud.
Of course we're afraid, for cryin' out loud.
This is a phase you'll outgrow someday.
In the meantime, there's nothing more to say.
(R. Browning)
grass, bunny
spout, fountain
rock, mountain
make the world go around
a forest of trees grows to be
from a seed in the ground
rides on many feathers
at night he sleeps in a nest of leaves
little things all together
gleam, twinkle
wave, sea-side
star, starlight
make the world go around
a forest of trees grows to be
from a seed in the ground
rides on many feathers
at night he sleeps in a nest of leaves
little things all together
every person, every plant, every elephant and ant
We need each other
We need each other
hug, cuddle
thought, notion
stream, ocean
make the world go around
a forest of trees grows to be
from a seed in the ground
rides on many feathers
at night he sleeps in a nest of leaves
little things all together
little things
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© 2007 Late Bloomers
