MONEY IN THE POCKET

(BOB RUSSELL/CARL SIGMAN)

TOM GLAZER

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Like Josh White. Tom Glazer continued broadening his popular audience, primarily through his 1945-47 ABC radio show 'Tom Glazer's Ballad Box.' Finding steady employment as a popular entertaine, he acted and/or sang on various New York based radio productions. Like White, Glazer continued to support C.I.0. affiliated unions -- or at least those not associated with the American Communist Party.

These... songs were soundtruck recordings designed to enliven the spirits of and call attention to picketing workers... ["Money in the Pocket" and "Our Fight Is Yours"] were cut in support of a Kearney, New Jersey garment workers strike. "Money in the Pocket" was written by Bob Russell and Carl Sigman. Russell is best known as lyricist on Duke Ellington's "Don't Get Around Much Anymore."

Ronald D. Cohen & Dave Samuelson, liner notes for "Songs for Political Action," p. 129.

Lyrics as reprinted ibid., p. 138.

Money in the pocket is food on the table,
Food on the table is cash in the till.
When the till is loaded the merchant is able
To fill up the counters he has to refill.

Money in the pocket can buy what's required,
Clothes for the kiddies, a dress tor the wife.
Money for the doctor, a show when you're tired
Is living a normal American life.

From the worker to the merchant
The dollar takes a business trip.
Then off to the farmer to buy new equipment
And back to the worker in a salary slip.

Everybody prospers, the butcher, the grocer.
Great is the country and fine is the blend.
Must there be depression? The answer is "No, sir.
Money in the pocket is money to spend."

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