Addie Polk

It was on a Wednesday, in the early part of fall

When Fannie Mae and the right hand of the law

Came demanding back their loan, to kick Addie out her home

It's sad but that's how our country works

It was sad, it was sad

Read about it and I cried, cried, cried

Where are we at that things are going down like that?

It's sad but that's how our country works

She lived through it all before, before the second world war

When the robber baron stock machine made everybody poor

Unrestricted greed knocking over those in need

It's sad but that's how our country works

The bank made her a loan, knew it couldn't hold

Taking the basic needs of people and trading them for gold

Raking in the cash getting ready for the crash

It's sad but that's how our country works

Now the bank has come around, they coming all over town

Foreclosing homes, kicking everybody out

"If you can't pay get the hell out of our way"

It's sad but that's how our country works

Her home was getting stolen, she didn't have nowhere else

She took that long-barreled handgun and turned it on herself

Better to take your own than be ninety with no home

It's sad but that's how our country works

Bang, the bubble bursts, the turn goes for the worst

Excess profits, a blessing or a curse?

The obvious outcome of a bad job well done

It's sad but that's how our country works

Their banks implode 'cause their spending overflowed

Layoff half their workers and keep making shady loans

Take their bail-out bills and head for the hills

It's sad but that's how our country works

Now Addie Polk's alive, her strength let her survive

But greed and the law are still firmly intertwined

And their others just like her, clinging hard to what they've earned

It's sad but that's how our country works