Best Social Issue and Hardship Songs
"Mamma been laid off
Pappa been laid off
My brother's been laid off
For more than two years now
Ooh can't get a job
Billy can't get a job
Ooh they gotta listen to the blues
Help them to strive
Help them to move on
Help them to have some future
Help them to live long
Help them to live life
Help them to smile
Don't let them stay home and listen to the blues"
Social message: Poverty/Financial struggle
"As the snow flies
On a cold and grey Chicago morn
A poor little baby child is born in the ghetto
And his mama cries
Cause there's one thing that she don't need
Is another little hungry mouth to feed in the ghetto
...
Oh people don't you understand
This child needs a helping hand
He's gonna grow to be an angry young man some day
Take a look at you and me
Are we that blind to see?
Do we simply turn our heads and look the other way? "
Social Message: Poverty
"Get up, stand up: stand up for your rights!
Get up, stand up: don't give up the fight!
Preacherman, don't tell me,
Heaven is under the earth.
I know you don't know
What life is really worth.
It's not all that glitters is gold
'Alf the story has never been told:
So now you see the light, eh!
Stand up for your rights. Come on! "
Social Message: Injustice
"Yes I think I'm okay
I walked into the door again
Well, if you ask that's what I'll say
And it's not your business anyway
I guess I'd like to be alone
With nothing broken, nothing thrown"
Social message: Recognizing child abuse
"She wakes up early every morning
Just to do her hair now
Because she cares yeah
Her day oh wouldn't be right
Without her make up
She's never without her makeup
She's just like you and me
But she's homeless, she's homeless
As she stands there singing for money."
Social Message: Poverty