She sits on the courthouse steps Playing songs she herself wrote Every word she sings she means Her heart there in every note. She sings of the pain she sees In the world that passes by. She sings to you and to me Her music makes you cry.
(She sings) We who have so much Give little to the others. We let our children starve And do not help the mothers And the fathers who work To make their daily bread While rich people won’t help Keep a house over their heads.
She manages to choose chords That sing of lonely suffering. Her angelic voice softens up The accusations she’s uttering. She tells of squandered glory In the wasting of our lives While the overfed rich people Go home to their gilded wives.
(She sings) We who have so much Give little to the others. We let our children starve And do not help the mothers And the fathers who work To make their daily bread While rich people won’t help Keep a house over their heads.
Few listen to the troubadour Who tells us all our name. They may drop in a penny To soften up their shame. But every day they pass her And soon they do not hear The wisdom in her lyrics. They do not feel the fear.
(She sings) We who have so much Give little to the others. We let our children starve And do not help the mothers And the fathers who work To make their daily bread While rich people won’t help Keep a house over their heads.