Plain Talk

Performed by Carson Robison
Recorded April 1942
Written by Carson Robison

The hand that fit a golf club will also fit a hoe
And between me and you, a billiard cue never won a war you know
But a couple of barrels of turnips to have on hand in the fall
Will do a heck of a lot more good than a silver cup on the wall
Oh don't think I'm preaching a sermon, 'cause I'm just as bad as you
But it's time we had some darn plain talk 'cause we've got a job to do
We better wake up and get to work while we still got a home to protect
Or we'll all be doing the goose step with a rope around our neck

Hey, hey, what are we going to do?
Hey, hey, it's up to me and you
Hey, hey, here's something to think over twice
If we don't get busy and win this war we'll all be living on rice

The hands that rocked the cradle not too many years ago
Are working 24 hours a day for Willie, Jimmy, and Joe
Those boys are still her babies, don't think she'll ever forget
But Winston Churchill told us all about tears and toil and sweat
Us guys who're always complaining, what are we, men or mice?
What did we ever have to give up to compare to her sacrifice?
Ever hear her squaking about a spare tire for the car?
If it's inspiration we're needing, we don't have to look very far

Hey, hey, pull up our belts and grunt
Hey, hey, it's working, not talk we want
Hey, hey, we've all been asleep at the switch
And now we've got more scratching to do than a guy with a seven-year-itch

A lot of us guys who criticize the men in Washington
Suppose it was us running the show, I wonder what we would have done?
If nobody ever made a mistake in peacetime or in war
There'd be no need for that rubber mat around the cuspidor
The hands of our boys out yonder can only be filled by us
Are we letting'em down while we set around and squabble and squawk and fuss?
They're giving their lives for you and me, all right men, let's be fair
How much are they gettin' for what they give and how do our wages compare?

Hey, hey, we've all got a duty to do
Hey, hey, neighbor and capital too
Hey, hey, they'll be no profit and loss
And they'll be no five o'clock whistle to blow if we work for a Nazi boss

[lyrics transcribed by listening. Send corrections via the contact link on the main page]