Excerpt from "Talking Union" Words by Lee Hayes, Millard Lampell and Pete Seeger - inspired by Woody Guthrie's "Talking Dustbowl". "Talking Union" ©1958 Stormking Music, Inc., BMI Lately I've been picking up strange vibrations I hear my music now on oldies stations "Put out a CD called "the best of what I was" My picture's on the cover and no one knows Just when you think you've got the wisdom of the ages Nobody seems to want to turn your pages I used to think I was the cat's pajamas Now I'm about as hip as Fernando Lamas (cause I'm) Old enough Old enough to be your father Old enough Old enough (and then some) And now my kids are taking me to the shows There's hip-hop, rap, grunge music I don't know I like to think I'm still part of the crowd But, how can they hear the lyrics When the music is so loud?! I dig rock and roll music (I been saying that for a while) But I wonder if you knew That rhythm & blues begat the rock and roll style? And just like that, way before rap Woody Guthrie spread the news He told it straight, let us relate This Talking Union Blues: Well if you want higher wages, let me tell you what to do You've got to talk to the workers in the shop with you You got to build you a union, got to make it strong But if you all stick together, boys, it won't be long You get shorter hours, better working conditions Vacations with pay, take the kids to the seashore Well I remember I was seventeen I was a Birmingham High School rock and roll king The paper talked about how I'd strut my stuff I'd like to read it, but my arms aren't long enough I kinda like my new senior status I don't even care what the latest fad is My g-generation's rediscovered me And now I'm on the cover of modern maturity