Talkin' Inflation Blues

Tom Glazer

The Home of Bob Dylan, Hibbing MN - september 1960  

Well, friends and neighbors of the United States
Come listen to a story that's hard to relate
Takes place in a town where the hot air blows 
Over the lobbies where the filibuster grows.
Hardy Perennial. 
Evergreen. 
Stinkweed. 

Now, down in that town there's a feller working there 
He ain't a barber but he gets in people's hair
He gets paid to squeeze, gets paid to twist
They call this critter a lobbyist. 
He's high pressure. 
All thumbs. 
Fits any size buttonhole. 
'Course, he's only doing his job. 
He's a hard worker. 
Gets a bonus 
From the National Association of Manufacturers
From the National Association of Real Estate Boards 
From the National Association of Dry Goods Merchants
Big shots. 

Well, this here feller, I'm sorry to say 
He's trying to kill the O.P.A.
He's trying to kill the housing bill
And other good things he's trying to kill 
He's a killer. 
But he's only doing his job. 
He's a hard worker. 
Gets a bonus 
From the National Association of Manufacturers
From the National Association of Real Estate Boards
From the National Association of Dry Goods Merchants
Big shots. 

Well, friends and neighbors of the U.S.A.
I'll tell you what'll happen if they kill O.P.A. 
Your beat-up buck won't be worth a cent
Prices'll fly to the firmament. 
Sky high rent. 
Sky high food. 
Sky high everything. 
But the lobbyist, he's only doing his job. 
He's a hard worker. 
Gets a bonus 
From the National Association of Manufacturers
From the National Association of Real Estate Boards
From the National Association of Dry Goods Merchants
Big shots. 

Now, if you don't want to spend ten dollars for a pound of steak
And if you don't want to spend fifty dollars a pound for cake
And if you don't want to spend twenty dollars a pound for greens
Two hundred for rent
And Lord knows what for beans, 
Write a card to your Congressman now
Today
Tell him to save that O.P.A.
Tell him to fight just as hard as he's able 
For the National Association of American People 
Biggest shots!