Songs About Getting By in America
Misery has inspired some great art.
“Why I Sing the Blues”
Why I Sing the Blues
B. B. King
Oh, I thought I’d go down to the welfare,
To get myself some grits and stuff,
But a lady stand up and she said,
“You haven’t been around long enough.”
“Whitey on the Moon”
Small Talk at 125th and Lenox
Gil Scott-Heron
The man just upped my rent last night.
(‘Cause Whitey’s on the moon.)
No hot water, no toilets, no lights.
(But Whitey’s on the moon.)
“Hard Times in New York Town”
The Bootleg Series Volumes 1–3 (Rare & Unreleased)
Bob Dylan
Well, it’s up in the morning, trying to find a job of work.
Standing in one place till your feet begin to hurt.
If you got a lot of money, you can make yourself merry,
If you only got a nickel, it’s the Staten Island Ferry.
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