That’s What I Want to Hear lyrics
by Phil Ochs
[Verse 1]
So you tell me that your last good dollar is gone
And you say that your pockets are bare
And you tell me that your clothes are tattered and torn
And nobody seems to care
Well, don't tell me your troubles
No, I don't have the time to spare
But if you wanna get together and fight
Buddy, that's what I wanna hear
[Verse 2]
So you tell me that your job was taken away
By a big old greasy machine
And you tell me that you don't collect no more pay
And your belly is growin' lean
Now if I had the jobs to give
You know I'd give them all away
But don't waste your breath calling out my name
If you don't have nothing to say
[Verse 3]
So you tell me that you don't have nothing to do
And you keep on wasting your time
And when you need to get your family some food
You gotta stand in a relief line
Well, it's a sin and a bloody shame
You know, the way they're pushing you around
But when you decide not to take no more
That's when I'll lay my money down
[Verse 4]
Oh, 'cause I've seen your kinds many times before
And I'll see 'em many times again
Oh, but every bad thing that's happened to you
Has happened to better men
So don't explain that you've lost your way
That you have no place to go
You got a hand and a voice and you're not alone
Brother, that's all you need to know
[Verse 5]
So if you're still wondering what I'm tryin' to say
Let me tell you what it's all about
Oh, nobody listens to a single man
When he's walking 'round down and out
So if you're looking for an answer
They're standing right by your side
And you never really know how far you can go
'Til you join together and try
[Verse 1]
So you tell me that your last good dollar is gone
And you say that your pockets are bare
And you tell me that your clothes are tattered and torn
And nobody seems to care
Well, don't tell me your troubles
No, I don't have the time to spare
But if you wanna get together and fight
Good buddy, that's what I wanna hear