There is a far away land somewhere in our imaginations where labor is valued as much as capital.

Lyrics

Jimmy pulled his truck off the road
and parked by a Texaco sign
he’s paid by the parcel
he’s paid by the piece
he’s paid less every time
he’s cursed by the calendar
time’s not his friend
and he’s got to make St. Paul tonight
parts and labor
are all that we have
’til our souls are released to the light

Lula turns the bedsheet down
considers the tip by the light
she’s a teacher by day
a maid after that
tends bar until deep in the night
she holds down three jobs
so that she can get by
the rent is never on time
parts and labor
are all that we have
’til our souls are released to the light

Julio’s sweeping the factory floor
there isn’t a soul in sight
just robots and wires and the hum of a fan
and endless blinking lights
the board of directors
have scented hand soap
and in Washington a senator sighs
now parts and labor
are all that we have
’til our souls are released to the light

If you’re looking for casualties
of the class war
you don’t have to look very far
a yellow cab driver
replaced by an Uber
replaced by a driverless car
The Replacement Blues
float out of a jukebox
in a joint out on Route 49
now parts and labor
are all that we have
’til our souls are released to the light

Buffalo nickels and Roosevelt dimes
and a faded union card
one day we’ll all have a house on the hill
but we’ll all have to work very hard
the Captains of Wall Street
will pour us champagne
and we’ll dance under chandelier light
now parts and labor