"Vote" by Spook Handy

In 2003, Pete Seeger heard the song "Vote" written by Spook Handy and began singing it at concerts and festivals. Seeger and Handy have sung the song together on stage several times. This is just one of many Spook Handy tunes that address political and social issues. This song has also been described as similar to a Pete Paul and Mary or Tom Paxton song. Other songs have been compared to those of Phil Ochs and John Prine.

Here are the lyrics:

1. When politicians come to town and kiss babies til their noses turns brown you can bet your bottom dollar they want your vote.
So speak your mind, cause believe it or not
this world has become a big melting pot.
It's easy to get yourself lost in the lot
cause the world's made up of all kinds of people, so

Chorus:

2. We've got fuzzy headed peace loving carrot chomping farmer boys, Skin headed neo-nazi face bashing paranoids, Fat cats sitting back scoffing at the tabloids, yup.
And theres cross burning, homophobic, church going family types,
Flag burning, anti-war, give the poor more types,
Out of school, know it all, Cliff Clavin prototypes,.....

Chorus:

3. Weve got men hating aggravating right wing feminists Pro-life clinic burning gospel preaching terrorists City dwelling unemployed folks who can't stand it no more,
Sky choking river killing free market advocates
Tree loving owl hugging pro-environmentalists
Urban folk high on dope raising up their clenched fists.........

Chorus:

4. Now Farmer Josh lives up on the mountain. grows his own food drinks from Mother Nature's fountain and only gets down into town around once a week.
And all the pretty young gals from the near by high school
stop by his farm cause they think he's so cool
chewing on wheat grass and spitting out philosophy. He says, "Looking at life cosmologically, we're all cells in the body of the Almighty and with God-like nature we create our own reality.
But down here on Earth - that's a different ball of wax
We've got to eat, pay all kinds of taxes,
and form governments that have laws to pass cause the world's made up of all kinds of people, so Vote!

The recording of the song can be found on "Breakfast at Bill's."

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Spook
• Handy
• Pete
• Seeger
• 1960's
• protest
• style
• Folk
• Music
• 2008
• American
• President
• Presidential
• Election
• Song
• John
• McCain
• Barack
• Obama
• Sarah
• Palin
• Joseph
• Biden
• Register
• Get
• Out
• the
• Vote
• politics
• voting
• booth
• neo-nazi
• Democrat
• Republican
• non-partisan
• Ron
• Paul
• Bob
• Barr
• Peter
• and
• Mary
• type
• Harmonies.

[marauder08901]

Heard Spook sing this at the 2009 New Jersey Folk Festival, and loved it. My children did too; they were excited to see that it's on YouTube.

Great song, great performer. We'll have to catch him again.

[carlaulbrich]

we got a sample ballot in the mail. there's no excuse in this day and age for going into the voting booth uninformed.

[sanibelsandy]

Kudos to Spook Handy. I agree with the message--but one more thing. Get out there and vote for Obama!! We've got to end the nightmare of the last 8 years.

[swebbie]

Voting just to vote is idiotic. A much better message is STAY HOME if you haven't done your actual duty and learned about the policies each candidate espouses before you enter the booth.

[TonyLatootszy]

Every American should get out and vote

[DiscGolfer]

I vote for more Disc Golf!!!!!!!!!

[tonybilinski]

great Message. Everybody should hear this

[NathanielBlu]

Totally awesome. Reminds me of Peter Paul and Mary

[jenniferkolarsick]

I love it! A fun song with great message and the visual is awesome!

[carlaulbrich]

love these clips! barney fife! and of course the song.