The Downturn

words and music: Allan Thomas

1 - Before the downturn it was caviar and champagne
Now its rice crackers tap water
And used coffee grains
I had a girlfriend a real good looker
When I lost my house and job someone else took her
Begin to wonder will it return
To life before the downturn

2 - Before the bubble burst life was pretty grand
Makin' decent money in huge demand
Now its creditors lawyers bankruptcy foreclosure
Step out on a limb someone gonna hose ya
Not to get nostalgic but I often yearn
For times prior to the downturn

3 - First Bernie Madoff then a sub prime loan
My 401K vanished with everything I owned
Supposed to retire but now thats just a joke
Feel like a bicycle tire just been poked
Bottom line turned red half of what I once earned
Can't escape the downturn no
Oy yoi yoi yoi yoi

4 - Small banks collapsed stock markets reeled
Smarty pants dudes on Wall street
Got caught in the cogwheel
Currencies plummeted with Chrysler and General Motors
Left us sinking like storm-stricken boaters
Too late now beat a hasty a u-turn
Avoid a train wreck called the downturn

5 - Even with the bailout unemployment just keeps rising
You hunt for work but business keeps downsizing
Had it up to here my bloods about to boil
Don't get me started 'bout the price of gas and oil
Hate to be an alarmist but I have some concern
Be camping out after the downturn

6 - Long as we're breathing how bad can it be
When they come for my surfboard I guess we'll get to see
I feel like a salmon trying to make it upstream
But the whole dang system is a big Ponzi scheme
If history repeats then will it return
Resemble life before the downturn
Oy yoi yoi yoi yoi

7 - I Love my country but will we ever learn
Guess things weren't so bad before the downturn
Back in the day no recession
Didn't wanna jump from a bridge
Or sink into a depression
So much greed causing such heartburn
Ever since the downturn

8 - Where its going don't have a clue
Be lucky to afford a cheap pair of shoes
Never been so down on my luck before
I thought my divorce was bad but this tops the score
Feel like tinder ready to burn
Blame it on the downturn

9 - Used to drive to grandmas till they repossessed my truck
Now I'm hitchin' in the rain my life gone amok
Trolling the high-tide line for whatever might appear
Only one direction you can go from down here
Be a survivor able to discern
Not be a victim of the downturn
Oy yoi yoi yoi yoi - eh yay yay yay yay
Aye yi yi yi yi - oy yoi yoi yoi yoi

© 2011 Black Bamboo Music - BMI