OUR PLACE & TIME (2011)
Lyrics to ALL 22 Songs

1. America

Lon ago the winds of change

Sweeping through the sky

Woke us up to rearrange

The way we live, and why

Something magical began

Freedom flowering in the land, America

Like a bell about to ring

Like a promise taking wind, Amerida

Sunrise turning to a new

Page in history

All eyes opening to view

The possibiligies

Something magical began

Freedom flowering in the land, America

Like a bell about to ring

Like a promise taking wind, Amerida

We are the dream

We are the Wong they were singing

We are the hope

We are the bell of liberty ringing

Fragile were the freedoms won

Which we defend today

It's a story only just begun

Barely underway

Something magical began

Freedom flowering in the land, America

Like a bell about to ring

Like a promise taking wind, Amerida

We are the dream

We are the Wong they were singing

We are the hope

We are the bell of liberty ringing

We are the dream

We are the Wong they were singing

We are the hope

We are the bell of liberty ringing

2. High Speed Rail

High speed rail, low speed brain

Walker pulled a switch, and Wisconsin missed the train

The future was rollin’ down that track

Crank up the Model-T, he sent the future back, boys

Crank up the Model-T, he sent the future back

President Obama sent 840 Mil

So we could build a railroad from Chicago to Mil-

Waukee to Madison and Minneapolis

Near a Trillion dollars free to be a part of this

High speed rail, low speed brain

Walker pulled a switch, and Wisconsin missed the train

The future was rollin’ down that track

Stoke the old steam engine, he sent the future back, boys

Stoke the old steam engine, he sent the future back

Think of all the jobs we lost when Walker threw away

All that infrastructure for which Washington would pay

Railroad construction jobs, maintenance and crew

Restaurants and hotels for travelers passing through, on

High speed rail, low speed brain

Walker pulled a switch, and Wisconsin missed the train

The future was rollin’ down that track

Saddle up your ponies, he sent the future back, boys

Saddle up your ponies, he sent the future back

“Open For Business” is the motto on the signs

Walker’s busy posting on Wisconsin’s borderline

Open for business, but not to you and me

Union workers, common folk, and clean, green energy, like

High speed rail, low speed brain

Walker pulled a switch, and Wisconsin missed the train

The future was rollin’ down that track

Rub two sticks together, he sent the future back, boys

Saddle up your ponies, he sent the future back

Stoke the old steam-engine, he sent the future back, boys

Crank up theModel-T, he sent the future back

He sent the future back

3. Hey, Governor Walker

Hey, Governor Walker

Get to know our State

We treat each other with respect

We bargain and negotiate

Hey, Governor Walker

Better go back to school

Study our democracy

Brush up on the golden rule

Hey, Governor Walker

You weren’t elected King

Your budget-repair bill wears no clothes

It’s a naked anti-union thing

Hey, Governor Walker

If you had the skill

To lead you wouldn’t push & shove

The way a playground bully will

Hey, Governor Walker

Acting like a prick

Is the tactic of all tiny men

With little skill in politics

Hey, Governor Walker

Bullys never win

The citizens you push around

Will defeat you in the end

Hey, Governor Walker

Did you think we wouldn’t fight

Your arrogant union-busting ways

And cold assault on worker’s rights?

Hey, Governor Walker

We all own a share

In the future of this state

That's no golden crown you wear

Hey, Governor Walker

Get ready for a brawl

Badger workers won't back down

We’ve got the power to recall

We won’t forget, we will recall

4. 14 Senators

14 Senators, sneaking' across the borderf

14 Senators, Capitol disorder

14 Senators, new Wisconsin heroes!

What's the score? Senators 14, Gov. Walker - zero!

Two thousand Monday, four thousand Tuesday

Ten thousand Wednesday,

Twenty-five thousand Thursday

Walker ignoring the people of his State

Won't listen, won't bargain, won't negotiate

That's why there's

14 Senators, sneaking' across the borderf

14 Senators, Capitol disorder

14 Senators, new Wisconsin heroes!

What's the score? Senators 14, Gov. Walker - zero!

Protests are growing national attention

Walker ignoring massive diaaenaion

Pawn of the koch Brothers and the billionaires

But wait! Who's that sneakin' down

The Statehouse stairs?

Looks like it's 14 Senators

14 Senators - Fab 14!

Walker's agenda? Strict union-busting!

Down with the workers! GOP hustling,

Tryin' to shove something' down Wisconsin's throat

But wait! They need one Democrat,

Or nobody can vote!

That's why there's

14 Senators, sneaking' across the borderf

14 Senators, Capitol disorder

14 Senators, new Wisconsin heroes!

What's the score? Senators 14, Gov. Walker - zero!

What's the score? Workers 14, Gov. Walker - zero!

What's the score? People 14, Gov. Walker - zero!

What's the score? Wisconsin 14, Gov. Walker - zero!

5. Pay Their Share

They talk of ‘budget problems’

Someone’s got to solve them

They call for sacrifices

In a so-called "crisis"

Paying their fair share’s not their way

They don’t care to bear their own weight

They’re ruining Wisconsin

The working class is gone, son

Squeezing every penny

Workers won’t have any

Paying their fair share’s not their way

They don’t care to bear their own weight

They forgot the 'golden rule'

'Back in Sunday school

Cutting education

Doubling classroom population

Killing inspiration

Impoverishing the nation

Paying their fair share’s not their way

They don’t care to bear their own weight

Something's wrong when those so blessed

Are giving less

The rich won't pay their share

Paying their fair share’s not their way

They don’t care to bear their own weight

Welcome to democracy...

It don't come free.

6. Weasel

He’s a weasel! He’s not a badger,

And he don’t belong

In the governor’s chair

Sucking' up to billionaires

Let’s carve his own word on this bust, saying:

“He’s not really one of us!

No, he’s not really one of us!”

Hey, Governor, line one is for ya

All those billionaires adore ya

They're calling from shadowy places

Where nobody can see their faces

He’s a weasel! He’s not a badger,

And he don’t belong

In the governor’s chair

Sucking' up to billionaires

Let’s carve his own word on this bust, saying:

“He’s not really one of us!

No, he’s not really one of us!”

Hey, Governor, the lines are lit up

I hope you're ready to be hit up

There's lots of rich folk needing favors

All at the expense of labor

He’s a weasel! He’s not a badger,

And he don’t belong

In the governor’s chair

Sucking' up to billionaires

Let’s carve his own word on this bust, saying:

“He’s not really one of us!

No, he’s not really one of us!

No, he’s not really one of us

'Cause he's a weasel!"

7 Tore This State Apart

I hear you talkin’ / On the TV

A pitch-man hawkin’ / A false reality

You raised it to an art – you tore this State apart

Orchestrating / A grand illusion

Too many wading / In the confusion

You raised it to an art – you tore this State apart

You juggled numbers / Twisted statistics

All hunky-dory / unrealistic

You raised it to an art – you tore this State apart

Mug for the camera, / We see through you

Don’t need a polygraph / To know we’ve been lied to

You raised it to an art – you tore this State apart

You hurt our neighbors / With your agenda

Anti-labor, / Corporate defender

You raised it to an art – you tore this State apart

Painting things rosy / You caught ‘em nappin’

Common sense shows me / Your mouth is crappin’

You raised it to an art – you tore this State apart

8 Stand & Fight

Everybody’s looking for something

Everybody’s out for themselves

That’s alright so long as nobody

Gets it hurting somebody else

You’ve got to stand and fight - fight your whole life through

Or what was yours by right - they’ll take away from you!

Everybody wants to be winder

No one, in the end, wants to lose

That’s alright so long as nobody

Ends up being cheated or used

You’ve got to stand and fight - fight your whole life through

Or what was yours by right - they’ll take away from you!

We know this is the hour

We’re struggling for nickels and dimes

There’s plenty for the people in power

But what about yours and mind?

You’ve got to stand and fight - fight your whole life through

Or what was yours by right - they’ll take away from you!

9. Our Own “W”

We got our own “W” now

He’s backed by money, like the first one

When it comes to smarts, he’s the worst one

He’s our own “W” now

Where’s he come from? Wauwatosa!

Is he educated? No, suh!

Where’s he governor? Wisconsin!

Hey, them’s “w’s”! Right on, son!

He’s no badger! He’s a weasel!

And he wants to put the squeeze’ll

Hurtin’ who? Wisconsin workers!

Wonder which “W’s” berzerker?

10. Definition Of Freedom

The definition of freedom?

You can toss the old ones, you don't need 'em

They've got a new one, and this is it:

you're free to do what they permit!

That crumbling' parchment Bill of Rights won't set you - free

'Cause under Walker's oversight, they've redefined democracy

And the definition of freedom?

You can toss the old ones, you won't need 'em

They've got a new one, and this is it:

you're free to do what they permit!

That musty, dusty Bill of Rights is history

'Cause under Walker's oversight - he decides how free you'll be!

And the definition of freedom?

You can toss the old ones, you won't need 'em

They've got a new one, and this is it:

you're free to do what they permit!

That old, decrepit Bill of Rights won't guarantee

'Cause under Walker's oversight - freed, pf Asse,b;u

And the definition of freedom?

You can toss - you don't need 'em

They've got a new one, and this is it:

You're free to do what they permit!

The ones who penned the Bill of Rights might disagree

But under Walker's oversight - speech can only be so free!

And the definition of freedom?

You can toss - you don't need 'em

They've got a new one, and this is it:

You're free to do what they permit!

11. Less Government

If you want to sing for freedom

Grab a freedom choir and lead ‘em

To the Capitol, but know

You’ll be handcuffed if you go

Guess that’s what the right-wing meant

When they talked about “Less Government”

They say you can sing anytime

But they’re calling it a crime

If you use the Bill of Rights

Without right-wing oversight

Guess that’s what the right-wing meant

When they talked about “Less Government”

You may think it dis-resembles

The freedom to assemble

When they order you to bring

A permission slip to sing

Guess that’s what the right-wing meant

When they talked about “Less Government”

Next up they’ll be tellin’ Kermit

He’s got to get a permit

To be green and hop around

Free Frogs got to be bogged down

Guess that’s what the right-wing meant

When they talked about “Less Government”

Where’s old ‘W‘ when we need him?

He said, “They hate us for our freedom!”

They’re really gonna love us now

With freedom being disallowed

Guess that’s what the right-wing meant

When they talked about “Less Government”

12. Kennecott Mine

“Oh lord,” the voices whisper

From other towns in other times

“Don’t buy what they’re sellin’ you, Mister…

Keep out the Kennecott Mine.”

You’ve got the land of milk and honey

You’ve got the land of the tall, dark pine

Don’t sell it for the company money -

Keep out the Kennecott Mine

They’ll paint a picture of greed and glory

Oh, how bright the future shines

But there’s a big hole in their story

Keep out the Kennecott Mine

If you don’t want your sons and your daughters

Wakin’ up one day to find

They can’t drink their poisoned water

Keep out the Kennecott Mine

Oh, don’t you think it’s strange

All the ghost towns that you find

Up and down the iron range?

Keep out the Kennecott Mine

“Oh lord,” the voices whisper

From other towns in other times

“Don’t buy what they’re sellin’ you, Mister…

Keep out the Kennecott Mine.”

13. Labor Built This Land

The labor of our fathers,

The labor of our mothers

Our sisters and our brothers

Labor built this land

Blood and sweat and toil

In factory and on soil

Brains and brawn uncoiled

Labor built this land

Not the money of the wealthy

Who want nothing less than more

Not the false-god job creators

They ask us to adore

But the ones who came before us

Whose shoulders forward bore us

For them we sing this chorus

Labor built this land

Not the money of the wealthy

Who want nothing less than more

Not the false-god job creators

They ask us to adore

But the ones who came before us

And built a nation for us

History can’t ignore us

Labor built this land

For them we sing this chorus

Labor built this land

14. Devil's In The Open

The Devil went to Wisconsin

He was looking for a State to buy!

Winter was so warm

And the reason it was warm