Sitting On Your Status Quo

(album: Pins And Needles - 1962)

Are you ready to hear your lesson for today?

Yes, Teacher! Yes, Teacher!

Are you ready to learn what History has to say?

Yes, Teacher! Yes, Teacher!

Then take your books and follow me to 1776 AD
And as the History page is turned
We will see what we can learn

Yes, Teacher! Yes, Teacher! Yes, Teacher!

In 1776, Tom Paine was writing books with might and main
The Tory said "Now man alive
Stop giving out with this here liberty jive!"

"Stop giving out with this here liberty jive"

"Don't sing of people's rights that way
They might believe in what you say
So stop your song, it's not polite
Pipe down before you start a fight"

You don't say, Teacher, is that right?

Aha, but Tom Paine looked ahead
And to those Tories Thomas said, "No, no, no, no
When you got to go, you got to go
You can't stand still on freedom's track
If you don't go forward, you go back
You can't giddyup by saying "Whoa"
And sitting on your status quo!"

Yes, Teacher! Yes, Teacher! Yes, Teacher!

To Washington at Valley Forge
A wise guy whispered "Slow down, George
Why stir up trouble for the king?
This freedom racket is a corny thing"

"This freedom racket is a corny thing"

"Your troops are ickys, they can't move
You'll never get them in the groove
So if you're wise, you'll just lay low
And play with the guys that have the dough"

You don't say, Teacher, is that so?

Aha, but George just looked ahead
And to that Tory Georgie said, "No!
When you got to go, you got to go
You can't stand still on freedom's track
If you don't go forward, you go back
You can't giddyup by saying "Whoa"
And sitting on your status quo!"

Yes, Teacher! Yes, Teacher! Yes, Teacher!

Now Paul Revere saw a belfry light
And that boy rode to town one night
Sang to the farmers near and far
"Here come the British beating eight to the bar"

"Here come the British beating eight to the bar"

One slippery Tory said, "Now, Paul
Your manners aren't nice at all
Turn back, don't be an old hep cat
The right people don't sing like that"

But Paul Revere turn him down flat

Aha, that's right, he rode ahead
And to that Tory Paul just said, "No, no, no, no
When you got to go, you got to go
You can't stand still on freedom's track
If you don't go forward, you go back
You can't giddyup by saying "Whoa"
And sitting on your status quo!"

Yes, Teacher! Yes, Teacher! Yes, Teacher!

So students, now you're hep, don't stop!
Keep stepping to that freedom hop
Although the Tories beef and blow
To keep you sitting on your status quo

To keep us sitting on our status quo

When they say, "Let's stand still a bit
Give up some rights, no harm in it"
Remember those are just the tricks
That did not work in '76

Now ain't that right, the same old tricks?

Though Tories talk, don't be misled
And do what all those others said

No, no, no, no
When you got to go, you got to go
You can't stand still on freedom's track
If you don't go forward, you go back
You can't giddyup by saying "Whoa"
And sitting on your status quo
Sitting on your, sitting on your, padded status quo!

Woah!