As is appropriate on Veterans’ Day – and every other day – let’s reflect for a moment on how quick we are to start wars that benefit no one but the ultra-wealthy and corporate interests, and yet we can’t even house and feed the men and women who fight in those wars. Thanks to The Freedom Toast for their contribution of the lyrics for this video. Video editing and music performance by Parody Project.
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LYRICS to ON WALL STREET SO PLEASE GIVE
by The Freedom Toast
I have often begged on this street before,
but I’ve never had by-passers kick my feet before.
I own none of them shares of IBM,
I am poor on Wall Street, so please give.
Do they have a heart in this part of town?
Do they only care for millionaires of great renown?
My dad fought in ‘Nam and I fought Saddam.
Now I’m poor on Wall Street so please give.
And oh, that sickening feeling
not to know if I’ll eat tonight.
I refuse to resort to stealing,
but if you have candy-bar to spare, I’ll bite.
People stop and stare, they don’t really see.
They prefer to wave their flags pretending they are free.
Let the time go by, I don’t care if I
can just have one hot meal so I’ll live.
Am I better off than the ones shot down?
Did we only fight for billionaires of great renown?
We fought in those wars, something they ignore.
Now I’m poor on Wall Street so please give.
ABOUT THE SOURCE MATERIAL
“On the Street Where You Live – Lerner & Loewe
“On the Street Where You Live” is a song with music by Frederick Loewe and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner from the 1956 Broadway musical My Fair Lady. It is sung in the musical by the character Freddy Eynsford-Hill, who was portrayed by John Michael King in the original production. In the 1964 film version, it was sung by Bill Shirley, dubbing for actor Jeremy Brett.
The most popular single of the song was recorded by Vic Damone in 1956 for Columbia Records. It reached No. 4 on the Billboard chart and #6 on Cashbox magazine’s chart. It was a No. 1 hit in the UK Singles Chart in 1958.
Eddie Fisher also had a top 20 Billboard hit with the song in 1956, reaching No. 18. Lawrence Welk and His Orchestra released a version that went to No. 96 in 1956. Andy Williams’ recording appeared in the Billboard top 40 in 1964, reaching No. 3 on the adult contemporary chart and #28 on the Billboard Hot 100.
My Fair Lady is a musical based on George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion. The story concerns Eliza Doolittle, a Cockney flower girl who takes speech lessons from professor Henry Higgins, a phoneticist, so that she may pass as a lady. The original Broadway and London versions starred Rex Harrison and Julie Andrews.
The musical’s 1956 Broadway production was a notable critical and popular success. It set a record for the longest run of any show on Broadway up to that time. It was followed by a hit London production, a popular film version, and many revivals. My Fair Lady has been called “the perfect musical.”
AND WE HAVE SOME FUN STUFF IN THE PARODY PROJECT STORE
Juanita Imhoff
This another in a list of wonderful hits. As I wipe the tears from my eyes I hurt for my fellow Vets who are living on the street and hungry & those not on the street and hungry. There is no good reason for our troops to ever want for anything. As a Veteran we signed a blank check for everything up to and including our mortal lives, and to be left out in the cold is a bitter pill to swallow. We have many people who sit on billions of dollars that they made off the backs of these same veterans and their families, while they are begging for their very lives for a hot meal and a warm safe place to sleep. Somethings got to give soon.
Jan
This just waaay too sad. You said we can donate, but how? I don’t have much money, but right now I have an empty house that could provide warmth and food. Who could I safely contact as an elderly widow who would just like to help.