The Blues on Banjo
Todd Snider Lyrics

I WOKE UP THIS MORNING
I woke up and became aware

AND I REALIZED THAT I REPEAT MYSELF
I noticed that I keep saying the same things over and over

THEY SAY "ONE AND ONE IS TWO"
The common belief is that one plus one equals two

BUT I HAVE MY SUSPICIONS
However, I have doubts about it

I BELIEVE IT MAY WELL BE ANOTHER ONE OF THESE CRAZY OLD RELIGIOUS SUPERSTITIONS
I think it could be another irrational belief like ancient religious superstitions

WOULD YOU BELIEVE THAT THE SAME FINANCIAL INSTITUTION BACKING BOTH SIDES OF EVERY WAR SINCE BEFORE THE FRENCH REVOLUTION
Can you imagine that the same financial institution supports both sides of every war throughout history?

STILL RUN THE FEDERAL RESERVE IN ALL BUT JUST A SMALL HANDFUL OF NATIONS?
They still control the Federal Reserve in almost every country except a few

IT'S A PAPERCLIP OPERATION
It's a covert and secretive operation

BY EVEN THE MOST REASONABLE EXPLANATION
Even by the most logical reasoning

IT MAY WELL BE THE SINGLE LONGEST WHITEST BRONCO CHASE IN THE HISTORY OF THE CONSPIRACY OF TELEVISION
It could be the most extensive and drawn-out scandal in the history of television's conspiracies

IS ALL I'M SAYING
That's all I'm trying to convey

IT'S ONE FOR THE MONEY, TWO FOR THE MONEY, THREE FOR THE MONEY, FOUR FOR EVEN MORE MONEY
It's all about making money, more money, and even more money

THE SEVENTH WONDER WAS SAYING IN SEVENTH HEAVEN WATCHING THE SEVENTH BUILDING FALLING ON NINE ELEVEN
The seventh marvel was witnessing the destruction of the seventh building on September 11th

SCREAMIN LOCKHEED MARTIN, NORTHROP GRUMMAN, HONEYWELL AND L3 COMMUNICATIONS
Shouting out the names of major corporations involved in the military-industrial complex

THESE ARE THE CORPORATIONS SELLING PERPETUAL MURDER AND MASS DESTRUCTION
These corporations are responsible for selling weapons and causing continuous violence and destruction

UNDER THE FALSE FLAG OF MY PROTECTION
Under the guise of protecting me

FROM THE SHADOW BRANCH OF A GOVERNMENT STILL UNDER THE SPELL OF IT'S OWN ADDICTION TO UNTOLD COMMERCIALIZATION
Controlled by a hidden branch of the government addicted to undisclosed commercial interests

WHY IT WOULD SEEM EASY TO ME TO SEE WITHOUT TOO MUCH HESITATION
It seems clear and obvious to me without any doubt

HOW SOMEBODY COULD JUST WAKE UP ONE MORNING AND COME TO THE RICHARD LEWIS LIKE CONCLUSION AND OR REALIZATION
How someone could wake up one day and reach the conclusion that there is no hope for our civilization, similar to Richard Lewis' pessimistic perspective

THAT THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO HOPE WHATSOEVER LEFT FOR EVEN THE SLIGHTEST PORTION OF OUR ENTIRE CIVILIZATION
That there is no hope at all for any aspect of our society

SO ZIPPITY DOODAH MOTHER FUCKERS AND ZIPPITY AYE........
An expression of frustration or anger

MY OH MY WHAT A WONDERFUL CASE OF THE BLUES I AM EXPERIENCING TODAY
The intense feeling of sadness and despair I am feeling today

WHY THE AIR IN MY MOTEL HAS BEEN CONDITIONED IN JUST SUCH A WAY THAT IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY SINGLE NOTE I ASK THIS PRICELESS BANJO OF MINE TO PLAY
The atmosphere in my motel has been manipulated so that every sound my valuable banjo produces

TAKES THE UNMISTAKABLE SOUNDS OF MY DEPTHS AND MY PAINS AND MY SORROW
Reflected the unmistakable emotions of my innermost thoughts, suffering, and sadness

AND TURNS THEM INTO SOME KIND OF EMBARRASSING SOUNDING HOPE FOR A BETTER TOMORROW
Transforms those emotions into a hopeful sound for a brighter future, which feels inappropriate for the depth of my despair

AND THAT'S NOT ME, THAT'S NOT WHO I AM...
That doesn't truly represent me as a person

YOU KNOW WE MISTAKE DESPERATE PEOPLE FOR THE DEVIL ALL THE TIME
We often misjudge or demonize people who are desperate

SO THERE IS NO REAL WAY OF KNOWING WHAT KIND OF DEAL IT WAS THAT I ACTUALLY SIGNED
There is no certainty about the agreement I unknowingly entered into

BUT IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT I WOULD BE THE GREATEST BLUES GUITAR PLAYER IN THE WORLD BY NOW AND I AM NOT
But it was my belief that I would have achieved great success as a blues guitarist by now, which did not happen

IN FACT TO THE CONTRARY I AM JUST ANOTHER WORKING FUCKING SCHMUCK OUT HERE STANDING AROUND WAITING TO GET SHOT
On the contrary, I'm just an ordinary person struggling and risking my life in a dangerous situation

IN YET ANOTHER TRAGIC ADDITION TO AN ALREADY SORRY STATE OF AFFAIRS
Adding to the already miserable state of current events

WITH YET ANOTHER SET OF POLITICIANS TAKING TO THE TOP OF ANOTHER SET OF COURTHOUSE STAIRS
With politicians using another incident as an opportunity to gain power and influence

YOU KNOW YOU ARE OUT OF IDEAS WHEN YOU GET DOWN TO YOUR THOUGHTS AND YOUR PRAYERS
When you have no more solutions, and all you have left are your thoughts and prayers

BUT THAT'S JUST WHAT THEY ARE DOING DOWN HERE DOWN HERE ON THESE COURTHOUSE STAIRS
But that's exactly what they are doing here, on these courthouse stairs

THEY'RE SENDING OUT THEIR THOUGHTS AND THEIR PRAYERS
They are expressing their thoughts and prayers

SENDING OUT THEIR THOUGHTS AND THEIR PRAYERS (ALLOW 4-6 WEEKS FOR DELIVERY)
Sending their thoughts and prayers, with a sarcastic note about the expected delivery time

WELL I WOKE UP THIS MORNING AND I REALIZED THAT I REPEAT MYSELF
I woke up again and became aware of the fact that I keep repeating the same patterns and ideas