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{Producer Gene called last nite & wants to do Music on "COUNTRY LOVE" and "MY LIFE IS LIKE A TRAIN"...Wheee! It's an Honor to write with this Guy!
Today's Li'l Effort arose from a snide comment by my Son, Max. He's not "into" Mowin' Lawns..etc, etc...calls it "Mexican Work" which is, I guess, in KidSpeak, a bit of a Slur. But I live in a Latino Neighborhood..& I also kinda LIKE workin' with my Hands...so this Lyric evolved yesterday as Alafia & I were en route to Gene's Breakfast Meetin' in Lakeland.}
Wouldn't Have No ORANGES Wouldn't Have No GRAPES We Better SEAL That BORDER SO..They CAN'T Escape!
They Help Us CLEAN Our CONDOS They Help Us SWEEP Our FLOORS GOD HELP This UNITED STATES WHEN There AIN'T NO MORE!
(CHORUS) THANK GOD FOR MEXICANS! We Just Can't GET ENOUGH! THANK GOD FOR MEXICANS! They DO The WORK That's TOUGH! They BEND Their BACKS They LIFT That LOAD Do ALL The WORK We DON'T..No MORE... THANK GOD FOR MEXICANS!
You Need RA-PHE-AL... To...Trim..Your TREES And...CON-SU-E-LA DOES Your LAUND-A-RY
They're USED To WORKING HARD They're TIRED of WORKIN' CHEAP But They Always Make MORE HERE Than in Their OWN Country...
(REPEAT CHORUS)
(BRIDGE) Now as I Watch These People Work They Make Me Mighty PROUD: They STILL BELIEVE in THE WORK ETHIC While My Own Kind..Sit Around...
(REPEAT CHORUS)
So If You See A SOMBRERO Worn PAIR of COWBOY BOOTS? On A Guy..in A Field By All Means..SALUTE!
THAT's an UNSUNG HERO Workin' For LOW PAY You'd Live In FILTH or STARVE If He Weren't WORKIN' THERE Today!
(REPEAT CHORUS)
(TAG) THANK GOD FOR MEXICANS!
(C) 2005 by Stan Good/John Larsen BMI All Rights Reserved.
[This message has been edited by TampaStan (edited 01-15-2005).]
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You've bent over backwards here to be kind to Mexicans in this lyric, but I think there's no way a lyric like this wouldn't be thought of as condescending or patronizing by some people. I'm on the fence myself. I couldn't agree more with what you say in the lyric. Then why should I feel a twinge of discomfort when reading it? Well, food for thought. Nice job overall, line for line. Good luck with the recording! Anthony
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I dunno Stan, I 'm in total disagreement with Anthony. Doesn't look like you bent over backwards to be kind...not even close. don't agree with much of the content either..LOL comes across as "thank God for SERVANTS. Mine do all the tough jobs I can't (make that won't) do and they do it for only peanuts. Dayum, I hope they never wise up....and ask for more or leave" I'da told your son..."well guess you're Mexican.....cuz that's your job!" (good thing I was never a mother??? ------------------ Harriet http://www.soundclick.com/bands/9/harrietamesmusic.htm
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Nice song Stan, & I agree with you all the way. It's too bad some of us are TOO GOOD to do jobs like they do.
Calvin
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Stan,
Finally got an internet connection again after our recent move. I think your observations in this lyric on on target, even if perhaps politically incorrect. (I'm not sure there is a take on such a hot topic that would be considered PC by all parties involved.)
I once worked with a man on custodial detail putting myself through grad school who was pretty down on the Mexicans. He claimed they came here with nothing, and before two or three years were driving pickups more costly than his own. I said, "They put their money into pickups because that's their portable wealth when they follow the harvests. If they're ready to do the work to get the money to buy the truck, why should that be held against them?" I'm pretty sure he wasn't willing to trade his job for theirs.
Keep writing.
Skip
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Hi Stan,
Love it!
Fave part: "While my own kind . . . sit around."
Very timely topic. . . polish it to a high sheen and pitch away!
------------------ TallT
[This message has been edited by Tall_Terry (edited 01-14-2005).]
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In total agreement with Harriet, any other thought process is rooted in severe prejudice; as if menial work is all they are capable of.
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Good Eve Evabody!
Thanks Anth', PowaLady, Cal, Rev. Skipper, Double-T, & Rittster for the Kind Visits & Enjoyable Insight!
I WUZ gonna add a Verse about Mexican Doctors & Lawyers, etc..for more "Balance", but it sorty drifted off my "Work Ethic" point. But there ARE surely Mexican Families in the US with More Money Behind them than my own..or Yours..or Hers..etc.
Yet "Servants" was NOT my point. ANY country's Economy DEPENDS on finding WORKERS to DO The Work. And it kinda Galls Me that so Many of my Anglo Bretheren (whose Ancestors frequently-enuf came over here..earler..as Indentured Servants) think they have the Right to look down their noses at Folks (really from ANY Country) who are forced..by whatever Parameters..to take the More Menial of Jobs.
My First Job...Cleveland Plain Dealer Paperboy...paid $7 a week. Up at 5AM..pedalled close to a Mile a Day...but at the end of 7 Days, I had $7 that I'd EARNED. (& of course, Blew any which way I wanted!) Took the $7 on Saturday to local Bank..& went thru every roll of Dimes, Nickels, Pennies & Quarters they had behind the counter..& had a Coin Collection worth about $5K by the time I graduated HS. (Which still sits in Safe Deposit Box, in the Bank across the St. from my Clock Biz.)
I had Customers who thought I was "White Trashy"..& I had Customers who Appreciated What Service I provided. No Problemo..as long as they Paid Me I was On My Way Up. (Nowadaze I have Customers who call me "The Clock Guy"...& others who show me a bit more Respect....STILL Doesn't Matter, 'long as Their Check Clears.) ;-)>
And...I STILL like workin' with My Hands & Gettin' Ahead. STILL & ALWAYS WILL appreciate "The Little Guy"..whatever His Nationality.
I Appreciate Alla Your Input. WILL show this to a few Mexican Customers of mine I've already Mentioned This To...& see what THEY honestly think. (Actually sorty expect THEM to have Mixed Reviews as well.)
Structurally, this starts off Light-Hearted..but from the Bridge On, it's a Pretty Serious Conclusion..IMO.
Any of ya visitin' Tampa, come by the Clock Shop & we'll take ya across the Street to MIGUEL's..for over 20 Years, the Best Mexican Restaurant in Town!
Big Thanks & Big Hugs to Evabody, Stan
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Hi, Stan... You know that I am a huge fan of your work... I especially love your clever plays on words and humor...but...this one is just plain offensive to me. I live in California, where there is a huge Latino population...and, even though it may be true that any economy needs workers to sustain the progress...I still don't feel right about this one... I guess I would have reacted more positively to a song that salutes the worker... If this is applicable, I also worry about the commercial viability of a song like this...seems like we live in an over-sensitive world when it comes to comments about various races and cultures... Anyway...I just wanted to give you my honest opinion....I know that others here probably don't agree... Good luck with your music this year! Sounds like you are having a number of good breaks with your songs Emily [This message has been edited by Emily Sanders (edited 01-15-2005).]
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G'Mornin' Mz Emily!~
A Tribute is a Tribute. I've never been afraid to "Sing It Like It IS..." and I'm not afraid of "bein' Misunderstood".
&...if this Gets People Talkin', so much the better. From what I've seen, "The Work Ethic" has been takin' a Beatin' lately.
Sorry if this offends you..but I expect to offend a few folks along the way with some of my Babies..some (yourself included) I'll Apologize To. Others..?
Yep..my Musical Fortunes seem to be on the Rise..yet I'm already Too Aware this is a Mercurial Business..so won't be sellin' off the Clock Repairin' Tools any too quickly--
Thanks for the kind & honest Critique! Big Hugs back to Ya! Stan
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Hi, Stan - You are right - music really does get people talkin' and worked up about various issues...i admore your ability to atnd up for what you believe is right...even if I am offended I am hoping that this year brings you lots of success... You certainly work consistently at writing lots of cool songs and putting your music out there... Bravo! Emily
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Hmmm... don't know what I think about this. If I heard some honky tonker singing it as a lark one night at the bar, and I'd had a few cold ones, I might sing along (thinking of it as a novelty piece, like "Turning Japanese" or something of the ilk)... other times, I might be offended, lol. The only contact I have with immigrants and/or illegals seems to be in the line at Walmart on Sunday nights, ha. They certainly do a lot of hard work, tons of tree planting around this area. Anyway, an interesting read... as always!
CP
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Hi Huggin Stan... .. to the lyrics....Well crafted..... not every lyric penned is politically correct... and hey....good luck to both you and Chuck....on your song....I hope it goes through...without hitch...for you!!!!!!! When we're all buying Eric Clapton CD's...with Stan and Chuck songs..That will be exciting........!!!!! best to you..... Kaley....
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Stan man, Iliked this one a big kudos. Somebody once wrote a song about the everyday worker in America "Works a fourty hour week for a living just to , pass it on down the line" Don't remember who it was , but ; don't remember all this hubbub over political correctness then. Maybe 'cause I sorta know ya that I don't see any cause to assume racism is at work here. You're a musician, your only twenty bucks came from a table of Mexican fellers, Their appreciation comes from their cultural heritage and I don't see that being besmirched, not a tol. BigGuy Hugs Pete
Here we are wracking our brains today to write lyrics that rhyme and if we succeed, they'll end up in time as tommorrow's cliche's... Pete
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I'll probably catch hell for this, but there's always a flip side. 'Round these parts there are loads of Mexican landscaping crews, and if you want anything more detailed than mowing a lawn or sweeping leaves, you're in trouble; incompetent, inadequate, uncaring, sloppy, and arrogant to boot....yeah they work cheap, but as the saying goes you get what you pay for.
[This message has been edited by sweetjoyce (edited 01-18-2005).]
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Rittman, Now, there's a statement I can take exception to. What you call incompetance may be nothing more than a lack of education (something taken for granted, here). What you're calling lazy may be nothing more than tired , bone-tired from working after scraping up the bucks to get smuggled here to work so they can support their families in between running from the border gaurds and getting extradited back to Mexico , only so they can start the process all over again. Uncaring seems a bit uinfitting for someone who goes through all this in order to keep their Family fed or Doctored. Seems like every group of immigrants to settle here or commute has a deeper appreciation of what we have here than those been here a while (Generations). Biggest incentive to come here is the disparity of the two respective Currencies. You really can't blame someone who comes here to work when working for a few months could earn them what they could otherwise earn in a year , or so. And if they seem to be ineffective at lawnwork maybe it's because they may be better suited to being a Music Teacher , backhoe operator , engineer or maybe even Doctor. Not able to find work at home , they come here and do the best they can at whatever someone will hire them at, regaurdless if they know how. I'm only too hapy to see Peopole willing to work being given an even break, like getting social security when they've put in 40 1/4's same as you and me . Fact is most should be compensated for being bounced back , maybe it's illegal , but what harm , what foul to look for a job? Pete (you think you were in for it!)
Here we are wracking our brains today to write lyrics that rhyme and if we succeed, they'll end up in time as tommorrow's cliche's... Pete
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Thanks Pete,
I had strained my redneck not to comment after that last statement because I did'nt want to clutter Mr. Stan's thread BUT I've never believed in the ol' cop out " ya' get what ya' pay for" YOU GET WHAT YOU ASK FOR"
Mr. Stan
Good tribute, nuff said!
Hope ya' understand
KC
[This message has been edited by kc (edited 01-18-2005).]
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BTW It's funny but the only thing about this lyric that won't work IS it is not HIP-HOP enough so that you can mention a single race without being shot at or in their case they do get shot , don't they. Oh Well The ones I've known would probably be singing along. in the fields as they make sure your eating and their families are too.
Also , just had 2 plants about 2 years ago here talkin' 'bout closing and moving to mexico so they wouldn't have to pay us. I worked for one of them .
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Hi Pete
Yet another flip side to ponder, I was talking to a learned gentleman a proffessor in the university, a historian, and he explained to me there's no such thing as an utopian society where everybody was well educated and got to revel in their dreams come true. If such a utopia were to exist, who would clean the streets, toil in the fields, scrub toilets, and at what expence if all were fairly compensated based on their level of education? Society would go bankrupt if orderlies made the same money as doctors. The word balance has utopian ideals attatched to it, but balancing societies needs comes attatched with the sad fact that within that balance some will prosper and some will not; towards the end of societies benefit, if not betterment.
[This message has been edited by sweetjoyce (edited 01-19-2005).]
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Hi kc
If you hired me to take out the garbage and I left half of it in the middle of the street, would you be concerned about my socio-economic position, or would you be saying, what's up with that? The bottom line being, if your hired to do a job, then do it right, or don't do it at all. You get what you ask for is the only rhetorical statement I see on this thread.
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Jus BARELY enuf time to Thank Ya Guys for havin' a Polite Discussion here, & keepin' the Thread Alive while I beat my addlepated brains for Yet Another Subject to write a Thoughtprovokin' Lyric about.
I think EDUCATION is the Root of People bein' "Adequate" for whatever Task is at Hand. & I still salute Mexicans..of WHATEVER Country they actually HAIL From, for not bein' afraid to roll up their sleeves & WORK.
Thanks Gents, & now I got a few Clocks need Fixin'!
Big Guy-Hugs, Stan
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Stan...take two steps..back from that tickin' clock and repeat after me..... Kaley and Emily are NOT Gents...... best to you this mornin ..((just teasing you)).......I mean...no I'm not... on the Gents... We aren't...no sir....we're not.....<G>..... Kaley
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G'Mornin' Mz KaleyGal~
SORRY Ladies...I scrolled down FAST & Shoulda Taken More Time T'Read!
DID This AM, & THANKS to ALL who Commented, Especially You Gals!
(Amazin' how I can Allus Offend Somebody..without really Tryin'..these days!)
La Femme reminds me we got a Mortgage or two t'pay in 6 days...so I gotta get back to dem Tickers!
THANKS Evabody AGAIN, & a Big Hug to Alla You Hard-Workers! Stan
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Thanks, Kaley, for reminding Stan to address us a ladies However...Stan, you are such a gentleman...I wasn't too upset...don't worry- Emily
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