I’ve got holes in my old blue jeans,
got no soles on my walkin’ shoes.
All this red they got me seeing,
is called the poor workin' man’s blues.
I got a second job last week,
now my mind is all filled with rage.
Because when I opened up my paycheck,
they'd taken half my minimum wage.
Now something didn’t look quite fair,
and I snuck a peek at it again.
Guess their mammas didn’t tell them,
that robbing folk is still a sin.
Wonder how I’m supposed to live,
on what little they didn’t steal.
By the time I pay for healthcare,
I can’t afford another meal.
Can’t live these days without a phone,
that is pretty darn plain to see.
Not to mention gas and water,
trash cans and electricity.
So, by the time I paid those things,
all my money had come and went.
There ain't a penny left over,
and I still have to pay the rent.
Course I couldn’t afford the gas,
even if I could buy a car.
Work must be close to where I live,
because this old man can’t walk too far.
Well, what on earth can a man do,
but to kneel before God and pray.
That his children just might be
able to live a better way
Yeah, got holes in my old blue jeans,
got no soles on my walkin’ shoes.
All this red they got me seeing,
is called the poor workin' man’s blues.
Tag: poor
Dear Son; Don’t Panic
I know how frustrating life can be at times. The world is all too quickly closing in on you and the doorway back to your sanity is getting farther and farther away. Growing smaller until it appears you’ll never fit back through it. The weight on your shoulders is so heavy it’s grinding you to the ground. It’s like you’re constantly swimming against the waves and every time you get near the surface you get dragged under by the current again and again and again… a seemingly never ending cycle.
Trust me; I’ve been on that treadmill where it seemed you’re always chasing the elusive breakeven point. No matter how hard you work it never seems to get any closer.
Then one day an old surfer friend of mine taught me a valuable lesson. He told me, “When the big wave hits and pulls you down don’t struggle against it. Just relax and let the buoyancy float you back to the surface.”
Isn’t that how life works? When the big waves come crashing down drowning you in the oceans of despair and pulling you farther into the icy depths of depression, sometimes you just have to stop struggling and relax. Stop panicking, take a deep breath, and slowly dissect your situation into those things that can be controlled and those that can’t. Then concentrate all your efforts on those things that you can change.
Figure out what it is that you NEED. Not what you WANT. Not what it would be NICE TO HAVE, but what you REALLY NEED. Then decide the best way to handle them and move on. If it’s something you don’t need, get rid of it.
In hopes that you can forgo the harsh realities I had to learn from firsthand experience, I would like to share with you a few lessons I’ve stubbornly learned throughout the years.
First, you must understand that the world is not fair. You’re not owed anything. No fairy godmother will appear and wave her wand to turn your pumpkin into a coach. Hard work done smartly is still the only key to success. Besides, a pumpkin will go a long way to fill empty stomachs. Better than any coach ever would.
There are many people who are more than willing to help if you just ask. No one in this world can succeed without help from someone and there is no shame in asking. But remember, just as there are times in your life you have to say NO, it is also ok for other people to say NO to you. That’s alright; everything is not always about you.
Secondly, you are not perfect. No one on this earth is. Accept other people’s imperfection and they will accept yours. There are always going to be certain people that will not love or appreciate you no matter what you do. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and it makes no difference if you agree with it or not, respect it. Don’t try to change them and don’t try to change yourself for them. Just let them go. On the other hand, there are those that will always love and appreciate you no matter what you do. Surround yourself with them. Reflect their love and appreciation back to them. They are all you need. Embrace them. A sincere smile is always worth more than words.
Your life belongs to you. You’re responsible for it. Stop blaming everyone else for your problems. Others can help guide you but never do anything that you don’t think is right just because someone else thinks it might be right for you. They won’t have to live with the results, you will. Always remember, there is nothing more important than honesty, integrity, values, love and forgiveness. These are not just words; they are a way of life.
Sometimes people will say things they don’t mean and other times they will do things they said they wouldn’t. Accidents happen and bad things can happen to good people. You are not God; you do not have all the answers. Get over it. Anger and resentment can build a very strong fort around your heart. Only forgiveness and kindness will tear it down. Admit it when you’re wrong and learn from those mistakes.
Life is not always about work. Just like you need sleep to refresh your mind and body, you need relaxation to refuel your spirit. Be thankful and take comfort in the simple things. Remember, no matter how horrible your life is or at least how horrible you think it is there are millions of people that would gladly trade places with you.
Finally, things are never as bad in reality as your imagination can make you believe. If you keep your head and don’t panic, you will eventually float to the top.
Just Another Poor Man
It don’t make no difference
Who sits in the office at the top
The poor will still get beaten down
And that ain’t never going to stop
The game is fixed so that the rich get rich
While the poor man is doomed to fail
Don’t even think to try to better yourself
Or they might throw your ass in jail
Or they can send you off to a foreign war
Started by those that never have to fight
The poor ass bastards are the ones they always call
Because dying is our only right
So why the hell do we make a fuss
If we think the wrong one got elected
If a good man ever tried to enter the game
You know he sure as hell would be rejected
So we, the poor, don’t stand a chance
Our ship will never come in
Because it sank out in the harbor
Another hole drilled in it by the rich men
So don’t think that you got choices
And someday your time will come
Because you’re just one of the billions of voices
Living underneath their thumb
So scream your screams and cry your tears
If you think that it will make it right
Lay down your head at the end of the day
And pray they will let you make it through the night
