Noel "Paul" Stookey - Give a Damn lyrics

You remember the song called "Give a Damn" Some group sang last summer? About people livin' with rats and things The paper couldn't cover? Well, it wasn't very popular Nobody wanted to hear And that's a shame 'cause a pretty tune Was just what we needed that year The first thing nobody wanted to hear Was "damn" - that was on the label I mean it's okay if you just read it there But you didn't bring it up at the table So the radio didn't play the song Except on the FM stations Until some looter worked his way Down to the United Nations Then word got around that there's this song All about the riots and stuff So, they played "Give A Damn" on the noon report Just once, but that was enough Some cameraman with groovy footage Of glowing embers and charred remains Put the pictures with the song on the six o'clock news Following the baseball game Then everybody said it was a real fine song "Why didn't we hear it before? Let's all blame the radio stations For bringing on the domestic war Oh sure, we'd seen some articles We knew some people needed help But social workers take care of that I mean, why give a damn yourself?" Well, the reason that you didn't And the reason that you won't Is you think you got a lot to lose And the other fella don't Oh you give a damn, well so does he 'You think the rest of us are just fakin'? I mean what do you need that you got to give Less than what you're takin'? Where could you go? Who could you see? What could you do the best? The book is in your left hand Your right hand knows the address Address your questions, address your money Address your telephone number But above all else, please address yourself To give a damn this summer