New, alternative lyrics for Leonard Cohen’s “Democracy is coming, to the USA” (see videos below)
Lyrics (c) Donald A. Smith
D G D
It's coming from corruption that's profane
D A D
From Grover Norquist's government-hating brain
G
It's coming from the spiel
G_sus G
That makes your head reel
D G D
when you listen to the right wing refrain.
F#
From the MAGA crazies
Bm
From the Chamber of Commerce hacks
F#
From neocon imperialists
Bm
From Karl Rove's Super-PAC
A G D
Plutocracy is comin, to the USA.
---------------------------------
D G D
It's coming from tax cuts for the rich,
D A D
From the Supreme Court, the 1%'s bitch.
G
It's coming from evil folk
G_sus G
like David and Charles Koch
D G D
and from Bill and Barry's traitorous rightward switch.
F#
From Citizen United
Bm
From Clarence Thomas's smut
F#
From John Robert's smirk
Bm
From Anton Scalia's butt
A G D
Plutocracy is comin, to the USA.
---------------------------------
D G D
It's coming from the wars. Open your eyes.
D A D
Killed millions. Wasted trillions. Hear the cries.
G
From the disaster in Vietnam
G_sus G
to the debacle of Afghanistan
D G D
to the war in Iraq based on lies.
F#
From the CIA's dirty deeds
Bm
From collateral clone attacks
F#
From targeted assassinations
Bm
From illegal wire taps
A G D
Plutocracy is comin, to the USA.
---------------------------------
Bail out, bail out,
O sinking Ship of State!
To the Shores of Greed
Past the Reefs of Need
To the Squalls of Hate.
---------------------------------
D G D
It's coming from your neighbor's SUV
D A D
From the toxins that are killing off the bees.
G
It's coming from Big Oil,
G_sus G
and the fracking and the spoil
D G D
and climate change denial fantasies.
F#
From ugly suburban sprawl
Bm
From filthy factory smoke,
F#
From the local big box mall
Bm
From fumes that make you choke,
A G D
Plutocracy is comin, to the USA.
-------------------
D G D
It's coming from right-wing media hosts
D A D
From the wingnuts with their hate-filled posts.
G
It's coming from Fox News
G_sus G
and its pro-corporate views
D G D
that are unfair and unbalanced at most.
F#
From Limbaugh and Glenn Beck
Bm
From Bill O'Reilly's rants
F#
From Hannity and Savage's drek
Bm
From Dennis Miller's cant
A G D
Plutocracy is comin, to the USA.
---------------------------------
D G D
It's coming from income inequality,
D A D
From tax loopholes for Apple and GE.
G
It's coming from tax havens
G_sus G
and accounting tricks so brazen
D G D
it's a wonder they're not on TV.
F#
From low capital gain tax rates
Bm
From Walmart and Goldman Sachs
F#
From Boeing and Microsoft
Bm
From tax enforcement cutbacks.
A G D
Plutocracy is comin, to the USA.
Here are two versions of Leonard Cohen’s original song.
