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Looking for the Leatherwing Bat

from 이​산​: This Mountain by 이산 / Seth Martin

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Based on the traditional "Leatherwinged Bat" folk ballad.

lyrics

1.
Heyo! Said the preacher to the folks in his choir
Could you grab a bucket? Help me put out this fire!

My people are angry, they got nothing to eat.

Could you sing 'em something sweet,

Put 'em back to sleep?




2.

Heyo! Said the bigoted billionaire.

Don't talk to me about what's unfair.

I busted my ass to get what's mine.

And your moaning and whining's

Just a' wasting my time.




3.

Listen here! Said the cop to the sandlot kids.

You know just what your sister did!

And I asked her twice, and she still said no.

You give me those names

And I'll let her go.




4.

Said the nice white fella without a clue,

Never did no wrong to people like you!

Nothing personal, really, just protecting my kids.

Hope you find another

place to live.




5.

Heyo! Said the slick to the girl from the sticks.

Wanna ride in my car? Wanna learn a few tricks?

Keep your face nice and pretty,

And remember don't talk.

You can ride with me--

Why would you walk?




6.

Oh me oh my the things you see

If you take a walk in the land of the free!

It's a high-speed chase, we all know how it ends.

You clean up the mess,

Then you do it again.




7.

Like the layers of an onion

That you keep peeling back,

Still the same old pot calls the kettle black.

Keep on polishing these apples

Though they're rotten to the core,

Keep on drilling deeper, boys--

And we're bound to find some more!




8.

Heyo! Said the dog from the top of the pile,

The view from here goes on for miles!

My shit drops down, don't smell a thing!

Had to bite a few brothers--

But it's good to be king.




9.

Oh me oh my! The things you see,

If you walk with me in the land of the free.

There's Ol' Glory flying in the putrid air,

Smell the same stew brewing

Everywhere.




10.

There's old Jesus groaning blues on a plywood cross,

Blind homer's wand'ring quarries

Scraping off the moss.

Ford and Starbuck in the sauna

Trading notes with Constantine,

While the pious paper pushers

Try to keep their fingers clean.




11.

And the bison lying bloated in the burning fields of corn,

Cattle trampling vintage where

The grapes of wrath are stored,

While the bosses in the penthouse all a' sipping fine wine,

Canary's gone quiet

Way down in the mine.




12.

If you're scared of what's comin'

Well that's okay,

Do your best to keep busy

And stay out of their way.

Progress heaves on with an audible sigh,

New shiny machines--

Baby, don't you cry.




13.

But have you seen an ancient bat with little leather wings?

Yes sir! Kind sir! Down aisle three.

Do you think there's still some life

In his worn out little shell?

They say formaldehyde

Has kept him well.




14.

Oh me, oh my! The things you see

On the winding trail of American dreams.

It's a zero-sum game, with the stakes so high,

Burying my brothers--

Who gave it a try.




15.

I'm still singing 'bout a savior of the lily and the thorn,

While the Green Man swings a hammer for the company store.

The only thing that makes him smile is demolition day,

And the dandelions growing

Where the rubble's pulled away.




16.

And little Jack Horner crouching back in his corner,

Fingers sore, new high score, video game,

After hovering all day, his drone found prey,

Can't tell from the screen

What's work and what's play.




17.

Merry Mary FTA on the ferry USA,

Don't you know your garden's growin' on the backs of slaves

And Indian graves that won't keep quiet?

Better get below deck--

'Fore the freedmen start a riot.

credits

from 이​산​: This Mountain, released November 7, 2016

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Seth Mountain 이산 South Korea

Seth Martin (aka Seth Mountain or 이산), is a roots musician originally from the Pacific Northwest (US).

Continuing in the radical tradition of artists like Pete Seeger, Woody Guthrie, and Utah Phillips, Martin has been living in Seoul since 2015. He regularly performs with Korean and foreign folk, indie and rock acts.

"Quite possibly the closest thing we have to Woody Guthrie."
--Bill Mallonee ... more

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