As promised, this is (sort-of) a twofer. I had the song, complete, and I liked it. That first version was a country version. I thought, though, that the song had a lot more to give, and tried a hard-rockabilly version, which gives a lot of snap and attitude, plus it’s 40 seconds shorter.
I like them both. Let me know what you think.
A full catalog along with links to original posts with lyrics (I use it to stream music while I drive and work) can be found HERE.
It’s a Country, Not a Company: The Hard Rockabilly Version
It’s a Country, Not a Company: The Country Version
It’s a Country, Not a Company
By John Wilder
They chase that green line up the chart
Sellin’ out the soul, tearin’ us apart
Factories shuttered, jobs shipped away
While the soulless suits count their pay
We built this land on blood and sweat
Not balance sheets and corporate debt
But now it’s all ’bout endless growth
Turnin’ patriots into ghosts
They don’t care if we make computer chips or potato chips
As long as the numbers climb, they let the future slip
Financial games, hedge fund bets
Makin’ billionaires while we drown in debts
It’s not about the GDP
It’s about our place in history
I got to the point where I don’t care
If America’s an idea, foreigners can have it over there
It’s a problem they have in Washington
They can’t figure out it’s a country, not a company, son
We’re more than units in a global machine
We’re the heart of the red, white, and blue dream
Citizens turned to cogs on the wheel
No roots, no pride, just cuttin’ deals
Borders wide for cheap labor flow
While our kids fight for scraps below
New York City deals are the poison pill
Hollowin’ out the heart, stealin’ the will
Bleak horizon if we stay this course
Turnin’ a free man into a rented horse
They don’t care if we make computer chips or potato chips
Long as the stock ticks up, they tighten their grips
Globalist chains, Hamptons parades
Leavin’ Main Street in the shade
It’s not about the GDP
It’s about our place in history
I got to the point where I don’t care
If America’s an idea, foreigners can have it over there
It’s a problem they have in Washington
They can’t figure out it’s a country, not a company, son
We’re more than units in a global machine
We’re the heart of the red, white, and blue dream
Remember the farms, the factories proud
The families strong, standin’ unbowed
Not pawns in a game for the banker elite
We fight for our own, not Wall Street’s treat
This path leads to ruin, a nation erased
But we’ll rise up fierce, reclaim our space
It’s not about the GDP
It’s about our place in history
I got to the point where I don’t care
If America’s an idea, foreigners can have it over there
It’s a problem they have in Washington
They can’t figure out it’s a country, not a company, son
No more slaves to the globalist scheme
We’ll take back the land, live the American dream
Country, not a company… yeah, son.
And you know where you can stick your spreadsheet.
Both good but guess I would have to go with the country version. I seems to hit harder to me. Easier to understand and “hear/feel” the message. Rockabilly version just feels a little rushed.
Thanks for the feedback, it helps!
The country one is a bit better but I was gonna say they both seemed kinda too upbeat, the idea and the lyrics are good but if you have that many lyrics and heavy subject matter I’d say think more heavy metal like Megadeth or something.
More metal on Thursday . . . thanks for the feedback! I’ll roll it up on Sunday’s song.
Wow!!!
Dang Good!!!!
Not sure which version I like best, really like the Rockabilly version, but it’s easier to follow the Country version without reading along.
one vote for the rockabilly version, though my personal tastes may be part of the cause for that being my preference. Either works though IMO.
It does get the blood flowing . . .
Now you see the problem I was having!