Ian Robb 1990
"They're Taking it Away was first penned in protest at a Canadian federal budget brought down in February 1990, which showed the way for many subsequent attacks on social programs by our various levels of government of all political stripes. It's the same the 'ole world over." 3rd and 4th verses tweaked by Alex Ellis.
Ian Robb: https://ianrobb1.bandcamp.com/track/theyre-taking-it-away
Chorus:
Oh, they’re taking it away, yes they’re taking it away
They are taking all the good things you can hear the people say
And they’ll take it all tomorrow if they don’t take it today
From the poor and sick and helpless, they are taking it away.
Oh our government’s elected in the democratic way
A-whining at the cost of all the things they have to pay
And the bully-boys on Wall Street, you can hear the bastards say,
“To hell with paying taxes, pull the safety-net away!”
If you’re down upon your luck and need to keep the wolf at bay
Just don’t rely on welfare or the dole to pay your way
For the rich, they have decided not another cent to pay
You can whistle for your supper for they’ve taken it away
If you’re native, black, or Asian, if you’re feminist or gay
If you’re pregnant or an immigrant or if you’re hair’s gone gray
If you want to make your point or if you want to have your way
You can spit into the wind for they have taken it away
If you fled domestic violence and you need a place to stay
You’d best get down upon your knees and quickly learn to pray
For the victims’ service agency was shut down yesterday
And there’s no-one left to talk to, now they’ve taken it away
If it’s ever your misfortune in a hospital to stay
You’d best not be impatient for a bed on which to lay
For your health ain’t worth the taxes that the healthy have to pay
And the beds were too expensive, so they’ve taken them away
Oh there’s those that have and those that don’t and those that are okay
And there’s those who understand that fairness is the only way
But there’s those that are so comfortable they look the other way
And they vote for all the villains who would take it all away