MEAT PLANT RAG

BACK IN CALIFORNIA I DIDN’T HAVE A HOME
FACT MISTER I HARDLY HAD A HOPE
COMPANY CAME AND TOOK ME OFF THE WELFARE ROLL
GIVE ME A BUS TICKET AND A PLACE TO GO

SO I’M NOT COMPLAINING I GOT A ROOF OVER MY HEAD
I GOT THREE SQUARES A DAY I GOT NOTHING BAD TO SAY
ABOUT THE WAY HEY RUN THIS PLANT
I’M NOT COMPLAINING MISTER UNION MAN

SURE MY HANDS ARE SORE FROM THE CUTTERS AND THE COLD
SURE I MAKE THE SAME CUT SOME TWELVE HUNDRED TIMES A DAY
BUT I AIN’T GOT NO SKILLS YOU COULD CALL SALABLE
AND THEY GIVE ME A DOLLAR MORE AN HOUR THAN THE MINIMUM WAGE

SURE I HEARD THE STORIES BOUT THE GLORY DAYS
A BODY COULD MAKE THREE TIMES WHAT I GET PAID
YOU COULD RAISE A FAMILY ON THAT WAGE
HAVE SOME SELF RESPECT YOU HAD A TRADE
SURE I DON'T KNOW HOW IT CAME TO B THIS WAY
WELL BUDDY THE TIMES HAVE CHANGED WELL IT MUST BE TRUE
I GUESS THE COMPANY MUST BE HURTING TOO
THAT’S WHAT THEY TOLD ME WHEN THEY TOLD ME NOT TO TALK TO YOU

BACK IN FEBRUARY A WOMAN ON THE LINE
GOT HER ARM CAUGHT UP IN THE CONVEYER BELT
BOBBY MITCHELL CUT THE BELT IN TWO JUST IN TIME
AND FOR HIS TROUBLE BOBBY MITCHELL WAS FIRED

SO I’M NOT COMPLAINING... THIS IS MY LAST CHANCE
GOT NOWHERE TO FALL IF I FAIL AT THIS
I DON’T KNOW NO ONE IN TEXAS

fall 1997 Texas
© MYSHKIN 1998