Back in 1987 I wrote a little talking blues song called "Trillion Dollar Budget Blues". This is the only song I ever wrote. The Reagan budget for 1987 passed the trillion dollar mark in that year and since I had a little folkie background, for some reason the words just flowed out of my pen (or pencil).
I recorded it with some of my band mates and then it faded into history. With all the brouhaha over the Cromnibus bill, my mind wondered back in time and I started remembering the lyrics. Searching through my stack of cassette tapes I found a copy!
Transferred it into digital form, made a title graphic and edited it all into a video. The tape desk runs a bit fast (it older than the hills) so its not at the original speed although we did record it at a pretty good clip.
Anywho that's my story and I'm sticking with it.
Lyrics below the fold.
Well I heard it on the news it was late last night
Something that gave me quite a fright
Concerning the budget for next year
But then what do I care it only a trillion dollars
That’s only a thousand billion and that’s only a million million
Well a million million dollars you say
Well I guess buddy that ain’t hay
But I tell you what things get worse
Wait until you hear the very next verse
It’s about the deficit projected at 150 billion dollars
And it just keeps rising
Yeah to spend that trillion dollars next year
We’re gonna have to borrow till we’re up to our ears
And interest rate were startin’ to drop
But tax increases you know won’t stop
Just call it revenue enhancements
Unless you’re too poor to pay taxes
Or rich enough to find the lawyers to find the loop holes
Then you won’t have to pay them either
Oh but being rich that isn’t a crime
Justice system proves it every time
But I tell you what gets my goat
Is every time I go to vote
It’s the rich guy that’s on the ballot
Paid his filing fees, advertising agency
Forgot about you and me -- his constituency
But trillion dollar budget is the name of this song
So I better tell you ‘bout the Pentagon
You know it’s filled with generals on every floor
Put in an extra side so they could put in more
More procurement officers, more cost overrun specialists
Most important – more chauffeured limousines
Eisenhower gave ‘em a name never used before
Said look out for these guys they’ll take you to war
Well he sure knew what he was talkin’ about
Of that you can have no doubt
Look at Viet Nam, Nicaragua and Star Wars
Brought to you by, the Military Industrial Complex
Well if there ever was a budget that needed cuttin’
It’s the one that’s got the finger on the button
You know nuclear madness has invaded the world
I just wish they’d give peace a whirl
It’s cheaper, it’s environmentally safe
Has a half life of forever
Come on give it a try