rich man’s war
poor man’s fight
buddy, what gave
you the right
to profit offa
blood and misery?
warbucks fill
your bank account
tell me what’s
the right amount
to make you
be the best that you can be
i seen things
you can’t erase
i lost friends
you can’t replace
i pray to God
you worship property
your blood freezes
my blood burns
you seek silver
i just yearn
to be stateside
with my lovin family
Richard W. Bray
I fell in love with your heart
Ain’t never been very smart
My passion making me a slave
Love is gonna put me in my grave
I fell in love with your heart
Your eyes are like a paira’ poison darts
Your tender love is hollow and untrue
Lord knows what I ever saw in you
I fell in love with your heart
I knew I shoulda’ run from the start
Smiling while you cut me to the bone
I’d be so much better off alone
I fell in love with your heart
Why you gotta pick my world apart?
My soul is freezing naked in the rain
I guess it ain’t no secret I’m insane
I fell in love with your heart
Ain’t never been very smart
My passion making me a slave
Love is gonna put me in my grave
Richard W. Bray
Muy Muy Macho
I’m muy muy macho
You don’t wanna mess with me
I ain’t lost a donnybrook
Since Nineteen Eighty-Three
I shave with a machete
I eat razor blades for snacks
For fun I take my clothes off
And roll around in tacks
I’m muy muy macho
I never shed a tear
I swallow all my problems
And wash them down with beer
I floss my teeth with barbed wire
I wash with Brillo pads
Got a PhD in danger
And I wrote the Book of Bad
I’m muy muy macho
Don’t got no time for friends
And if you try to touch me
There’s a chance your life will end
Richard W. Bray
i broke the vase
you gave me
the vase that
had survived
i sat down
for a minute
i thought that
i would cry
i just thought
about you
didn’t hurt so much
as before
the vase was
not our love
i didn’t need it
any more
by Richard W. Bray
The Road
road runs uphill
every day
you go out there
every day
logging miles to earn your meals
road runs uphill
every day
if you don’t struggle
every day
you’re probably spinning wheels
road runs uphill
every day
a tilted treadmill
all the way
washing clothes and scraping grills
road runs uphill
every day
and if you stop
to look away
you might end up taking a spill
road runs uphill
every day
so dance your song
all the way
and get your fill before you pay the bill
by Richard W. Bray
Abandoned
For twenty-seven years
I worked the ‘ssembly line
Till traders bought the company
And robbed my pension blind
They crated up the factory
And shipped it overseas
Left fifteen thousand workers
Blowing in the breeze
Been outta work so long
I don’t know what to do
Been double-dealt and curb-kicked
Till my hide is black and blue
Filthy politicians
Say they love the working man
Seeking bribes and kickbacks
From stockbroker hand
Thievin’ doublecrossers
Drove this country off a cliff
Ain’t no golden parachute
For the working stiff
Been outta work so long
I don’t know what to do
Been double-dealt and curb-kicked
Till my hide is black and blue
The folks who run this country
Would sell they mamas’ soul
For a thousand votes
Or thirty bits of gold
The Dream that was America
Is swirling down the drain
This country used to build things
Now we manufacture pain
Been outta work so long
I don’t know what to do
Been double-dealt and curb-kicked
Till my hide is black and blue
by Richard W. Bray
Tyrant
I’m the boss, so listen you
Cuz I’m the one on top
If the sunshine makes me blue
Then you must make it stop
Get up, sit down
Do everything I say
Come here, go there
Now please just go away
Guys like you need guys like me
To keep y’all on track
You’re competent and diligent
It’s leadership you lack
Get up, sit down
Do everything I say
Come here, go there
Now please just go away
I am here to govern you
That’s how life turned out
You must cry when I am blue
And listen when I shout
Get up, sit down
Do everything I say
Come here, go there
Now please just go away
You don’t need to thank me
For long hours and paltry pay
Adversity builds character
You’ll understand some day
Get up, sit down
Do everything I say
Come here, go there
Now please just go away
by Richard W. Bray
My Favorite Work of Art
You raise my spirit when I’m tired and down
And reprimand me when I act the clown
You bring me coffee when I need a lift
And motivate me through that second shift
You warm me when I’m naked to the bone
You’re the reason why I never feel alone
You clean my wounds and listen to me bleed
And give my soul the sustenance I need
You heal my mind and protect my heart
That’s why you’re my favorite work of art
by Richard W. Bray
This Beautiful World
When cantankerous killjoys
Got me feeling down
There’s puppy dogs and rainbows
To eradicate my frown
So many wonderful things
In this beautiful world
Just soak up the sunshine
And listen for the birds
There were so many times
Life kicked me in the teeth
While nattering bullies
Laughed about my grief
So many wonderful people
In this beautiful world
So don’t get distracted
By discouraging words
When senseless disaster
Annihilates my dreams
I dust myself off
And find another scheme
So many wonderful things
In this beautiful world
Just soak up the sunshine
And listen for the birds
When life gets pernicious
And leaves your dreams in shards
Think of grandmas knitting sweaters
And friendly crossing guards
So many wonderful people
In this beautiful world
So don’t get distracted
By discouraging words
by Richard W. Bray
Other People’s Problems
Ever’body got a gift
And I was born to see
Other people’s problems
It’s my spesh-ee-al-i-tee
I’m just here to help them
Be the best they’ll ever be
Got so much time to do it
Cuz there’s nothing wrong with me
My daddy is a sweetheart
But he likes to take a swig
He lives to serve his country
When he ain’t in the brig
And you know I love my mama
Despite everywhere she been
And all my friends and neighbors
Are such paragons of sin:
Sarah is a diva,
Lester is a drunk
Harold is a pervert,
And a weasel and a punk
They tell me “mind your business”
But I know it’s bunk
They pretend that they’re all rosy
When they really smell like skunk
Ever’body got a gift
And I was born to see
Other people’s problems
It’s my spesh-ee-al-i-tee
An Egyptian river is
Where I ought to be
Thinking about you
Replaces thinking about me
by Richard W. Bray
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