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Ta Ra Ra Boom De Ay

from The First Shall Be The Last by Matt Rivers

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about

Originally a pop song from the late 19th Century; reworked by Joe Hill, and called "the Wooden Shoe". I reworked this one shortly after the expulsion of Representative Justin Pearson, and Representative Justin Jones, from Tennessee's House of Representatives. I added the second and third verse after, having been voted as their own substitutes by their constituents, they returned to the House.

lyrics

Will someone please tell Tennessee

The year is twenty twenty-three
Don’t joke about the hanging tree
While gutting our democracy
Well Tennessee’s a lovely land
Also the birthplace of the Klan
They’ll wash the blood from off their hands
But first there’s books and drag to ban
Ta ra ra boom de ay
White hate on full display
Expel Pearson and Jones
But leave Johnson alone
They came to the defense
Of their constituents
Two gone, but one can stay
Ta ra ra boom de ay

When word came down to Nashville town
They voted to turn Jones around
And serve as his own substitute
Then Memphis went and followed suit
Before they drained their glasses dry
Republicans, they cried, oh my!
Hey Cameron Sexton, this just in
You’ll have to let them both back in
Ta ra ra boom de ay
The people said no way
Oh, Speaker, by the way,
Where do you live, you say?
I heard just down the street
Is where you sleep and eat
Crossville’s so far away
Ta ra ra boom de ay

To say, I’d have to be a fool,
It’s the exception; not the rule
Just take a look at any state
It’s how the system operates
From city, state, up to the Fed
They don’t care just how many dead
With campaign checks signed NRA
It’s always gonna be this way
Ta ra ra boom de ay
We keep kids safe they say
Until the day they’re born
And then they’re on their own
You’ll have our prayers and thoughts
Legislation must be bought
God Bless the USA
Ta ra ra boom de ay

credits

from The First Shall Be The Last, released May 1, 2023

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Matt Rivers

Matt Rivers is a modern relic & torchbearer for the old ways of song craft & performance; following in the footsteps of such artists as: Woody Guthrie, Blind Willie McTell, Harry McClintock, & countless nameless & forgotten forebears of the folk tradition. ... more

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