Richard And Mimi Farina

"House Un-American Activity Blues Dream"


i was standing on the sidewalk
had a noise in my head
there were loudspeakers babbling
but nothing was said
there were twenty-seven companies
of female marines
there were presidential candidates
in new levi jeans
it was the red white and blue
planning how to endure
the fife drum and bugle
marching down on the poor
god bless america without any doubt
and i figured it was time to get out
well i had to flee the in-between scene good people
went and a gun in the sun good people
tourist information said to get on the stick
you ain't movin' 'til you're groovin' with a cuban chick
so i hopped on a plane
i took a pill for my brain
and discovered i was feelin' alright

when i on the strolled down the prado
people looked at me weird
who's that hippy-hoppy character
without any beard
drinking juice from papayas
singing songs to the trees
dancing mambo on the beaches
spreading social disease
now the castro convertible was changing style
there was a whole lot of action
on a blockaded isle
when along came a summons in the middle of night
saying buddy we're about to indict

i went up on the stand
with my hand good people
got to tell the truth in the booth good people
started out with information
kind of remote
when a patriotic mother
dragged me down by the throat
when they ask you a question
they expect a reply
it doesn't matter if you're fixing to die
i was lying there unconscious
feeling kind of exempt
when the judge said that silence
was a sign of contempt
he took out his gavel
and banged me hard on the head
he fined me ten years in prison
and a whole lot of bread
it was the red white and blue
making war on the poor
blind mother justice
on a pile of manure
say your prayers
and the pledge of allegiance every night
and tomorrow you'll be feeling alright

--richard farina (1937-1966)