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The Starving Artist

by Pink Williams

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1.
I never thought I'd be the kind to wind up pan-handling online But rent is due and I ain't got enough I broke my back back in '09 Now labor is an uphill climg And working through the pain i getting tough Each day I wake up broken By the end I'm nearly dead Just to go to sleep, ake up, and work again Got no motivation It's just an obligation To work and work and spend and spend and spend Folks will say it's just a dream, unlikely to come true But that won't stop me singing and playing my little song for you I'm the starving artist, unemployed and finally free So won't you spare a dime for me? I don't need to make a million dollars with my tunes I just need enough to pay the rent I just need a little dough So I can go to the grocery store Before my hard earned money's all been spent I don't expect a bundle Just a little to get by I ain't trying to make the Fortune 5 I just wanna be able to say "Hey, my music got me paid" Just enough to keep the dream alive Folks will say it's just a dream, unlikely to come true But that won't stop me singing and playing my little song for you I'm the starving artist, unemployed and finally free So won't you spare a dime for me? Or grab a chair and keep me company
2.
Thank god for gay cowboys And gay rednecks, too. The folks that fly rainbows next to red white and blue. That old southern charm with modern world views Thank god for gay cowboys And gay rednecks too. Their truck may be muddy Their hats may be tall. They even say “howdy”, and “reckon” and “y’all” They like to go fishing, and hunting big game But they love who they love without stigma or shame. They listen to Johnny and Willie, and Merle. And Dolly, good golly, their favorite girl. Embracing the old ways to make them anew Thank god for gay cowboys And gay rednecks too. Thank god for gay cowboys And gay rednecks, too. The folks that fly rainbows next to red white and blue. That old southern charm with modern world views Thank god for gay cowboys And gay rednecks too. You can’t always judge from appearance alone The way someone looks ain’t enough on its own. That flag-waving, beer chugging, redneck you know Might be just as queer as Ru Paul’s drag race show. Thank god for gay cowboys And gay rednecks, too. The folks that fly rainbows next to red white and blue. That old southern charm with modern world views Thank god for gay cowboys And gay rednecks too. Thank god for gay cowboys And gay rednecks too.
3.
If the mere existence of somebody else Makes you feel so insecure you need to validate yourself By making up a brand new way to make sure no one thinks you're gay You've got some personal problems to work out If you don't like Queer folks, why don't you listen here The world will not stop changing to alleviate your fears You may not understand it, but there's no need to shout Just try to work your personal problems out The LGBTQIA ain't simply gonna go away Just because you bitch and moan and pout Instead of spreading hate online, why don't you take a little time to try to work your personal problems out Why do you let ignorance control the way you act? Your prejudice and bigotry ain't scientific fact But since we're on the subject, here's some facts you cannot doubt To help you work your personal problems out Gender nonconformity is part of human life It shouldn't make you angry or fill your heart with strife The fear that's deep inside you is what it's all about So look within and work those problems out The LGBTQIA ain't simply gonna go away Just because you bitch and moan and pout Instead of blaming everyone else, why don't you look inside yourself And try to work your personal problems out
4.
Pink Yodel 02:23
Drove from California to Memphis, Tennessee Drove from California down to Memphis, Tennessee For a pistol-packin' mama who doesn't really care for me. Got a baby in Chicago who calls me every night Got a baby in Chicago and they call me every night And when they call me "Daddy", I know I'm gonna feel alright. When they come and see me, I'm gonna jump and shout When they come and see me, I'm gonna jump and shout, oh lord. We're gonna run into the bedroom and we ain't never coming out
5.
Your high-paying job don't make you better than me The numbers on your check really don't do heck for your humanity Your rate-of-pay don't make it okay to stomp on those in need 'Cuz your high-paying job don't make you better than me The car you drive don't make you better than me There ain't no amount of shiny steel that can give you empathy I'm sure you feel impressive while you're driving down the street, but The car you drive don't make you better than me Your fancy clothes don't make you better than me Those thousand dollar sunglasses ain't gonna make you see That there is so much more to life than brand loyalty and your fancy clothes don't make you better than me. Being straight don't make you better than me There ain't nothing wrong with homosexuality The freedom to love who you love is part of being free Being straight don't make you better than me The church you like don't make you better than me, no Lord Judging other people ain't spirituality If Jesus Christ was here today, I'm betting he'd agree That the church you like don't make you better than me There ain't a thing on God's green Earth that makes you better than me Stop thinking 'bout "Us and Them", start focusing on "We" We're all in this together, we're on community And there ain't a thing that makes you better than me
6.
I'd say I wanna leave but I got nowhere to go and so I'll stay here, I guess, until the next thing comes But I start to feel uneasy when I turn out the light because I see you in my dreams when I'm sleeping at night Waking up each morning is becoming a chore because I know I won't be waking up to you anymore What's the point of getting up to spend the day alone? I'd rather keep on sleeping than wake up on my own You said you'd always love me, but I guess that ain't true 'cuz now I'm crying while I'm staring at a picture of you The things that made you beautiful are sickening now I wanna push you from my memory but I don't know how You always said your brain was gonna push you away but I meant it when I promised you that I was gonna stay I know just how it feels to have a heart full of pain because I know I'm probably never gonna see you again I know I couldn't save you from your life of despair but telling me you loved me when you didn't isn't fair I wish I'd only listened to the voice inside my head but I made the mistake of loving you instead The memory of what we had is fading away And getting out of bed is getting easier every day I'm starting to remember who I was before we met but the broken heart you left me with, I'll never forget.
7.
Your limited worldview does not dictate reality. What might be right for you may not apply to me. If something works for you, then make it your reality, But don’t pretend it true universally. If you grew up wealthy, you don’t understand poverty So don’t go judging poor folks for what they do to live. Reality for you is not the same for folks in need. And they don’t need the chastisement you give. If your skin is white, remember it’s a privilege It doesn’t mean your life wasn’t difficult for you. If you think that POC have the same opportunities You’re sheltered by your limited worldview. And Your limited worldview does not dictate reality. What might be right for you may not apply to me. If something works for you, then make it your reality, But don’t pretend it true universally. Folks with disabilities are human beings like you and me We want a normal life and we want a chance to thrive. Able bodied folks could learn a thing or two about empathy Instead of mocking us when we go by. Everyone is different, but everyone is still the same We have hopes and dreams and our own perspective, too. Before you pass a judgement, think about their side of things And open up your limited world view. Because Your limited worldview does not dictate reality. What might be right for you may not apply to me. If something works for you, then make it your reality, But don’t pretend it true universally. Your limited worldview does not dictate reality. What might be right for you may not apply to me. If something works for you, then make it your reality, But don’t pretend it true universally. At
8.
Don't use religion to justify hate Pretending your bigotry's something it ain't if that's what your God wants, he isn't that great So don't use religion to justify hate If your spirituality's based around fear of anyone different, let's make it clear That isn't religion, it's just an excuse to harm other folks with your bigoted views When you tell a stranger they're going to Hell don't be suprised when it doesnt end well Most folks don't like it, and they'll let you know They didn't sign up for you revival show So don't use religion to justify hate Pretending your bigotry's something it ain't If that's what your God wants, he isn't that great So don't use religion to justify hate Don't use religion to justify hate
9.
For the life of me, I don’t understand Why we put the most powerful job in the land In the greedy, heartless, blood-soaked hands Of another old white man Since 1776 they’ve tried, A couple were younger and a few of ‘em died But the large majority reached seniority Before we granted them supreme authority Businessmen, movie stars, layers, and cops Who relied on their families to get to the top Most of ‘em millionaires, all of ‘em men And every election, we pick ‘em again Old white man, old white man Another president, another old white man There’s gotta be someone better than Another old white man Half of ‘em promise that they’ll promote peace While voting in favor of racist police They shout all the slogans to get on the news But they do it to hide White Supremacist views The other half uses religion to hide The fear and resentment they’ve locked up inside They shout about freedom, ignoring the fact That their policies put freedom under attack We pick a new president every four years But if you look at the history, the bias is clear With the exception of Barry O They’ve been older than dirt and whiter than snow It doesn’t matter if you vote Red or Blue When they’ve already made the decision for you Even when qualified P.O.C ran They put all their faith in an old white man. Old white man, old white man Another president, another old white man Let’s think outside the box if we can ‘stead of picking an old white man. Old white man, old white man Another president another old white man A woman of color would be better than Another old white man
10.
Fuck Fox News and all the hateful pricks they put on air. Sexist pigs in suits and “Pick Me” girls with bleach blonde hair. Pandering to racists with that nationalistic junk And old conspiracy theories they’re too stupid to debunk. Fox News was created way way back in ‘96 When that rich dick Rupert Murdoch saw a problem he could fix. There were no republican shows on the network news. So he started his own station to promote his biased views. He hired his friend Roger Ailes as founding CEO And they started airing garbage like that Bill O’Reilly show. And that fucker Tucker Carlson screaming bout immigrants and rights “Fair and Balanced” quickly turned to loudmouths picking fights. Fuck Fox News and all the hateful pricks they put on air. Demagogues in suits and gun nut girls with bleach blonde hair. Pandering to racists, sexists, homophobes, and more Each new lie is crazier than the lie before Flagrant propaganda has become their go-to move. They make outrageous claims they know they’ll never have to prove. They claim to be the only network telling you the facts, And when they’re caught in vicious lies, they say they’re being attacked. 2 and ½ Million people tune in every show. The more the anchors lie, the more the ratings numbers grow. They spread fear and prejudice to the ignorant and old. ‘Cuz getting people all worked up is television gold. Fuck Fox News and all the hateful pricks they put on air. Evangelicals in suits and Stepford Wives with bleach blonde hair. Pandering to white nationalists and neo nazi fools Discrediting the media is the fascists favorite tool. Fuck Fox News Fuck Fox News And if you like 'em, fuck you too!

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released April 29, 2021

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Pink Williams Memphis, Tennessee

I'm the Man in Pink.
I'm also a Country and Folk singer/songwriter in Memphis, Tennessee!
There's no place for racism, sexism, homophobia, or bigotry of any kind in the 21st century. My style may be retro, but my views sure as hell aren't. Power to the people! ... more

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