Billy Bragg - Meanest Man текст песни

If the folks next door to me wasnt so good

Id do all the mean things anybody could

Id drink and Id gamble and Id louse around

Id be the meanest man in this whole town

If I hadnt seen the light in that old ladys eyes

Id try to be a man that you would hate and despise

Id rave and Id rant and Id scream and yell

And Id chase all my neighbours from here to hell

If I hadnt heard those kids laugh playing games

Id have nervous fits and Id go insane

Id turpentine cats and tin can dogs

And Id smother people to death inside of holler logs

If the people around me wasnt so nice

Id freeze my heart into a cake of ice

Id steal money from soldiers and working folks too

Id lend you a dollar and take back two

If my wife didnt kiss me the way she does

Id carry four or five daggers and three or four guns

Id shoot craps and ramble and hang out late

And Id steal baby buggies and cadillac eights

If my friends didnt write me those letters I get

Id get to be a dictator and be the worse one yet

Id be the only smart bird and youd all be fools

All Id send you all away to war and Id set home and rule

If it wasnt for them songs I hear all of you sing

Id put a crown on my dome and Id say Im your king

Id kidnap some and blackmail others

Id peddle black market stuff and rob sisters and brothers

If it wasnt for your talking I hear along the street

Id be the oneriest man that you ever did meet

Id preach the gospel of hate and Id drink your blood

But I cant be this bad because my folks are too good

Words: woody guthrie (1945) - music: billy bragg (1997)