Hey Mister

(album: A Message From The People Revisited - 2018)

Listen up everybody, I got an idea
I think we ought to write a letter to the congress of the United States and tell them what's on our minds
Because we're the richest country in the world and we can take care about own people
You know I believe we ought to say something like this

Hey mister, you better listen
Oh mister, you better listen
Mama got to wash the rich folk clothes
Just to keep the rich man from throwing us out the doors
Papa look for work with the morning sun
How can you get a job when there just ain't none
Hey legislation, if you can fix the nation
Why don't you open up your heart and listen to this part

A little child ask for bread with tears in his eyes
Mama say, we ain't got none and then they both cry
Don't you hear em, don't you hear em?
Listen to words they say

The world need love, I know, you admit it
What you doing to the poor man, lord knows you oughta quit it
How can he love you?
Tell me how can he smile?
When back at home there's a hungry little child?
Hey legislation, why don't you try a new route
Listen to the people and hear what they're talking bout

The poor people know that they can't impeach you
They just hoping that their cries will reach you
Don't you hear em, don't you hear em?
Listen to words they say

Many singers before me have sung this song
Trying to remind you to right this wrong
But what I'm wondering if you ever understand
That rich or poor a man's still a man
Hey legislation, when you start to fix the nation
Take a real good look at the present administration and then

Stand up, wave it goodbye
Find someone who can hear the people cry
Don't you hear em, don't you hear em, don't you hear em?
Listen to words they say

Hey mister, what you gonna do
People out here are trying to talk to you
You know we need help and we ain't gonna wait
No don't talk, get to doing before it's too late
Foreign aid is well and good
But why don't you give some of that money to the neighborhood
Hey mister, you better listen...