Addie Polk

It was on a Wednesday, in the early part of fall
When Fannie Mae and the right hand of the law
Came demanding back their loan, to kick Addie out her home
It’s sad but that’s how our country works

It was sad, it was sad
Read about it and I cried, cried, cried
Where are we at that things are going down like that?
It’s sad but that’s how our country works

She lived through it all before, before the second world war
When the robber baron stock machine made everybody poor
Unrestricted greed knocking over those in need
It’s sad but that’s how our country works

The bank made her a loan, knew it couldn’t hold
Taking the basic needs of people and trading them for gold
Raking in the cash getting ready for the crash
It’s sad but that’s how our country works

Now the bank has come around, they coming all over town
Foreclosing homes, kicking everybody out
“If you can’t pay get the hell out of our way”
It’s sad but that’s how our country works

Her home was getting stolen, she didn’t have nowhere else
She took that long-barreled handgun and turned it on herself
Better to take your own than be ninety with no home
It’s sad but that’s how our country works

Bang, the bubble bursts, the turn goes for the worst
Excess profits, a blessing or a curse?
The obvious outcome of a bad job well done
It’s sad but that’s how our country works

Their banks implode ‘cause their spending overflowed
Layoff half their workers and keep making shady loans
Take their bail-out bills and head for the hills
It’s sad but that’s how our country works

Now Addie Polk’s alive, her strength let her survive
But greed and the law are still firmly intertwined
And their others just like her, clinging hard to what they’ve earned
It’s sad but that’s how our country works