Tim McMullen's "The Governed's Mental Getcha'"

Written during Reagan's reign, this still has alarming relevance to today's political events; in fact, Dubya's propagation of the worst of the Reagan Era hypocrisies makes the song even more dismayingly true than it was nearly thirty years ago. Be warned, the ironic persona of the piece does use the "N-word" and other abusive epithets to make his point about the entitlements of the "haves" vs. the duly undeserving "have-nots."

The Greatest threat to Democracy is Hypocrisy.
Seek Truth! Speak Truth!
Tim McMullen

"The Governed's Mental Getcha'"
(A Pagan Refrain upon Reagan's Reign)

Oh, the Government'll getcha' if you don't watch out,
And the Niggers & Jews & the Chinks & the Krauts!
I know what I'm talkin' about:
The Government'll getcha' if you don't watch out!

All them Commie pinko's with their "pie in the sky"
Busin' kids to school;
"Everybody's equal!" you can hear 'em cry,
But I'm not such a fool.

If we let a nigger get a college degree,
And we open up the door,
That'll be the end of society
'Cause who'll shine the shoes
and who'll sweep the floor?

Oh, the Government'll getcha' if you don't watch out!
While the beaners and the faggots
And the libbers sit and pout.
I've got mine, so they can do without,
And the Government'll getcha' if you don't watch out!

The Equal Rights Amendment is another joke
That really makes me laugh;
Don't they know a woman's place is in the home,
Bein' the "better half"?
The half that does the cookin', and the cleanin',
and the ironin',
And the raisin' of the family;
For a maid she's actually overpaid
'Cause she gets her board and her room for free!
And if she's bored there's always me,
And a bottle a' beer, and a color TV—
What woman in her right mind wouldn't agree
That this is the way God meant it to be?

But, the Government'll getcha' if you don't watch out;
I know what I'm talkin' about!
I've got mine, so they can do without,
No, the Government'll getcha' if you don't watch out!

I got mine and it's only fair,
But now everybody wants to be a millionaire.
Equal rights? Equal Pay?
What ever happened to the "Good Ol' Days"?
The DAR? The NRA? Old John Birch and the KKK?
The 23rd Psalm? Vietnam? The Atom Bomb?
Ah-h-h, the "Good Ol' Days!"

But, the Government'll getcha'
If you don't watch out:
Tax your hard-earned dough
And then spread it all about.
And those nuclear freezers
And the crap they spout?
Naw, the Government'll getcha'
If you don't watch out!

It's time to show the world
What we're all about—
That we're not runnin' scared!
And if it ever comes to a world bout,
We won't be unprepared!
It's true the Russian bombs can
Blow the world to Hell
In thirty seconds flat,
But we can wipe the world out
In half the time,
So let 'em laugh at that!
For once we got our money's worth
'Cause every livin' creature
On the face of the earth
Can be killed twelve times...
The pentagon said!
I wonder what it's like to be
Twelve times dead?

But, the Government'll getcha'
If you don't watch out,
And those bleedin' heart liberals
Who picket and shout,
"No prayers! No guns!"
No fun, no doubt?
Whoa, the Government'll getcha'
If you don't watch out!


So gimme that Old Time Religion—
Gimme that Biblical Supervision—
Fear and inhibition, Lord,
They're good enough for me.
Gimme that Old Time Religion—
Gimme that Middle-income pigeon—
Confusion and derision, Lord,
They're good enough for me.
So gimme that Old Time Gospel Hour—
Gimme that Nuclear Missile Tower—
Who needs truth when you've got power?
God, it's great to be so free!

©1980 Tim McMullen All Rights Reserved

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Tim
• McMullen
• Reagan
• Choice
• ERA
• Nuclear
• anti-war
• protest
• topical
• satire
• patriot
• war
• bomb
• military
• hypocrisy
• history

[rockerdude29]

I agree with your nuke idea.but man youre a extreme right wing racist,sexist,biggoted fuck that tries to use religion to back up your idiotic beliefs.that being said,just an opinion.

[TimMcMullen]

Here, of course, is the danger of irony. If unrecognized, the point is completely misunderstood. This song could easily be the Teabagger's Anthem, except for the obvious ridicule of such racist, sexist, xenophobic foolishness.

Since some of the finest literature in the world utilizes satire & irony to skewer its targets, I've been trying to teaching irony to students for going on forty years. It isn't easy.

Rockerdude29, think Stephen Colbert. If he seems conservative to you, look again.

[Cyallaire]

Great lyrics, Tim. Do you recall Pete Seeger's "Give Me That Old Time Religion"? I loved his line "We will pray to Zarathustra, we will pray just like we used to (useta) I'm a Zarathustra booster, and it's good enough for me."

I read Billy Graham was in Angel Stadium during Reagan's stint telling a crowd that god wouldn't let nuclear war heads touch US soil; he'd clutch them out of the sky first - so why all the billion$ on $tar War$ missile defense? Why not a faith based shield?

[TimMcMullen]

Cyallaire—

Thanks so much for your kind words and for the Seeger song; I hadn't heard of it, and I will check it out. As you may have noticed, I enjoy parody and pastiche.

As for religion's impact on our collective thinking, you might also enjoy my two songs, "They Talk to God" and "Talking Herstory." Thanks again for the comments.

The greatest threat to Democracy is Hypocrisy! Seek Truth! Speak Truth!

Tim

[athensathens]

Truly, you need to get a productive job. Imposing yourself on people in some attempt to be recognized as an artist, to be validated... Do you actually do anything at all that is productive?

[TimMcMullen]

Imposing myself? I don't make you come back again and again to watch my videos and leave low ratings and nasty comments. You are clearly out of touch with most viewers. You have a site that doesn't allow comments, yet you anonymously trash others. If you wish to engage on the ideas, do so, but your pathetic and irrelevant ad hominems are meaningless and cowardly. You know nothing of me, so your attack is simply foolish and juvenile. I'll match my sites's contributions with yours any day!

[raymondcrooke]

Great song. 5* and favourited.

[spotk9]

Very nostalgic Tim. I remember a time when you could sing that song in public and not be labeled anything. Nice Guthrie flair.

[zenatural]

great song and wordplay 5*****

[cbyfate]

I have to say Tim ,Way to go ,I love IT !!! Ty

[meandmymandola]

FOKIES AGAINST FACISM

:-)

[SirCoughsalot]

I love it.

[jamesonbobby4]

I really love you man, you out did yourself with this one. This is good stuff, your friend bobby

[tuktukskagal]

Yeah;this could be applied to B..h today.Good song.