Digital Tradition Mirror

Automation Song

Automation Song
(Phil Ochs)

Oh, I laid down your railroads, every mile of track
With the muscles on my arm, and the sweat upon my back.
And now the trains are rolling, they roll to every shore
You tell me that my job is through, there ain't no work no more.

Though I laid down your highways all across the land
With the ringing of the steel and the power of my hands
And now the roads are there, like ribbons in the sky
You tell me that my job is through, but still I wonder why.

   Oh, the wages were low and the hours were long
   And the labor was all I could bear.
   Now they've got new machines for to take my place
   And you tell me it's not mine to share.

Though I laid down your factories and laid down your fields
With my feet on the ground and my back to your wheels.
And now the smoke is rising, the steel is all aglow
I'm walking down a jobless road, and where am I to go?

   For the wages were low and the hours were long
   And the labor was all I could bear.
   Now they've got new machines for to take my place
   And you tell me it's not mine to share.

Though I laid down your factories and laid down your fields
With my feet on the ground, and my back to your wheels
And now the smoke is rising, the steel is all aglow
I'm walking down a jobless road and where am I to go?
Tell me, where am I to go?

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Copyright (1963?) Appleseed Music, Inc.
Rec.on "All the News That's Fit to Sing" Elektra EKS-7269
GF
Apr98

Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!

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