Private Property
(Randy Craig, Judy Abrams)
1. How many times have you been sittin' in the country,
Groovin' on the birds and the bees,
And you're layin' in the sun with no clothes on,
Naked as the flowers and the trees.
When along comes a man with a badge and a gun,
Says, "You're all gonna hafta put your clothes back on
'Cause the folks around here don't like to see your ass
And it's them that owns the land you're sittin' on."
Chorus
Private property, if you think livin' is free
Private property, come on and listen to me;
How can you be free to live the life you wanta be groovin' on
When a man who's got a paper says he owns the land you're sittin' on
And all the rest is owned by someone else?
2. How many times have you been walkin' through the city,
Watching all the kids in the street.
And they're playing on the cement and the broken glass
And you wish that they could walk on some grass?
So you get your friends together, find a vacant lot,
Plant some flowers and trees and make it a pleasant spot
When along come a hundred and fifty tactical police
Saying, "You think the land is yours - well, it's not!"
3. How many times have you tried living in a commune,
Groovin' on granola and greens,
And you've cooked a big organic supper and think you'll write a story
'Bout all the far-out places you've seen,
When along come a half a dozen muscular dudes,
Sayin', "Mind the kids and clean the house while we play a little
blues,
And mend my pants and change the sheets and take out the garbage,
I'll try to be in bed with you by two."
Last chorus
Private property, refers to you and to me,
Private property, you think a woman is free?
How can you be free to live the life you wanna be groovin' on
When a man has got a paper says he owns the ass you're sittin' on,
And all the rest is owned by someone else?
But we can change it, when everything is owned by everyone!
from the singing of Ruthie Gorton, who added the last line.
By Randy Craig, last verse by Judy Abrams
JB
apr97
Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!