Song picture
Common Good
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Folk
acoustic folk social commentary political satire western massachusetts oil coal climate change fracking incineration music for social change nuclear energy
Folk singer, social commentary, satire, people's stories, children's music
Hi Folks, The Bard Insurgent here. My comrade D.O. (the Poet Roofer) and I got that handle (The Bard Insurgents) from traveling town to town performing songs and poetry about people's lives. I've been performing since I was 3 years old, cutting my vocal chords on liturgical and classical music. I was a concert soloist as a child, when I wasn't herding cows, throwing hay and shoveling manure. During the Civil Rights movement and the Vietnam war, I began writing songs about social change. I left the country in 1970 and my dozen years in other countries, mostly in Africa & South America, have provided a global perspective to my music. My travels helped me realize that people all around the world are essentially the same in their basic life needs and their desires to live peacefully in their communities. These experiences have informed my commitment to working for international understanding as I organize at home. A powerful way to educate and inspire is with music. I tell people's stories, do social commentary with a touch of satire that I hope you enjoy and share with your friends, as well as sing together in the streets and in your living rooms. I also have children's music written for the children in my life with Jacob and Kayla as primary muses. Looking forward to seeing you on the road, Tom
Song Info
Charts
Peak #127
Peak in subgenre #18
Author
Tom Neilson
Rights
Tom Neilson 2013
Uploaded
September 02, 2013
Track Files
MP3
MP3 3.5 MB 160 kbps 3:05
Story behind the song
William Spademan, Director of Common Good Finance, asked Tom to write a song for him.
Lyrics
It was in 2002, Wm knew just what to do He was tired of all the hungry people dyin. If your system is a bust, then turn to whom you trust & a new & better way to be tryin. You can give your taxes to a war or a coca cola store Or to corporate health insurance that’s a scam. Or grow food so you can eat it Build a home for those who need it To me that’s a common good plan Common Good, Common Good Take control in our neighborhood There’s really nothing to it just gotta wanna do it Sharing like we should for the common good. Why give a billion to a bank that’s forclosing on a home Millions more to clear cut our trees. We’d be better off if we could weatherize a home & invest in green, renewable energies. So let’s take control of our money A revolution with a bank. People & the planet first Not missles or a tank Sustain local economy – circulate our money ‘round For the common good, keep our money in our town.
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