WHEN THE COUNTRY IS BROKE

(TOM GLAZER) (1946)

TOM GLAZER

Any copyrighted material on these pages is used in "fair use", for the purpose of study, review or critical analysis only, and will be removed at the request of copyright owner(s).

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...

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

Lyrics as reprinted ibid., p. 138.

If the workers are broke, then the butcher is broke,
And tbe baker is broke and the banker is broke.
And the broker is broke and that ain't no joke,
No, it ain't a joke when the country is broke.

If the workers make money, the butcher makes money,
The baker makes money, the banker makes money,
The broker makes money, the skies are all sunny,
If workers make money, the country's okay.

If the workers are broke, the butcher is broke,
And the baker is broke, the banker is broke,
And the broker is broke, that ain't a joke,
No, it ain't a joke when the country is broke.

If the worker makes money, the butcher makes money,
The baker makes money, the banker makes money,
The broker makes money, skies are all sunny,
If workers make money the country's okay.

TO TOP OF PAGE
TO TOM GLAZER PAGE
TO LATE 1940s/1950s PAGE
TO LABOR MOVEMENT PAGE
TO HISTORY IN SONG PAGE
TO STARTING PAGE

You can email me at
[email protected]