Rodney Crowell: Don't Get Me Started

We ran into trouble scamming for oil
The whole Middle East is coming to a boil
It's the Muslims and Kurds, Bedouin herds
Palestinians and Arabs and Jews in the news
There's to much to keep up with, it will jangle your head
And the whole situation's running way in the red

I said don't get me started, I'll like as not bend your ear
Don't get me started, I just want to make one thing clear

I was born in America and I'm proud of that fact
I wish the rest of the world would get off our back
But these slick politicians, Man you've got to admit
Seem as crazy as bedbugs and they don't give one whit
About a man on the street with his back to the wall
Who can't find a quarter for to make a phone call
Meanwhile back in Washington champagne will flow
Tell that to the homeless man with nowhere to go

I said, don't get me started, I came into this bar to unwind
Don't get me started, I'll like as not speak my mind

The rich corporations have turned a deaf ear
The don't care who goes hungry, they've made that much clear
You see the trouble with people is we want to believe
But they can't turn a profit without tricks up their sleeve
It's the roofers and truckers, the working class suckers
The fireman and nurses, soldiers and preachers
Who shoulder the blows, it comes and it goes
A six trillion dollar debt that you pay through the nose

I said don't get me started, I'm a drag when I've had a few drinks
And don't get me started, I don't care what anyone thinks
Cause it makes me angry

East Timor's genocide to the core
The Indonesian legions come and give 'em what for
When the coalition army doesn't come to your aid
You might as well face it, there's no made to be made
I had a dream last night I was Secretary of Defense
And I came to the conclusion war doesn't make any sense
Yeah, but nobody heard me when I tried to rescind it
There were too many people that just didn't want to end it

I said, don't get me started, you never know when I might stop
Don't get me started, we both need to just let this thing drop
Don't get me started, don't get me started, not now
Don't get me started because it makes me angry