Gouge 'Em Till They Bleed
Winter is the perfect season for Oil Companies to triple their profits. Celebrate their blizzard of new profits with this Holiday tribute.
A dozen of Mike Nobel's topical comedy/commentary songs were featured on National Public Radio's "All Things Considered" (on separate occasions) from 1979-1984.
Mike Nobel Songwriter/Performer
Lyrics
Gouge 'Em 'Til They Bleed
Author: c 2004 by Mike Nobel, Gorham, Maine
Here comes another winter
Boy, are we surprised
We, the oil companies are
Short on our supplies
Whoops, we forgot
You’re gonna need some heat
If you want the oil we got we’re gonna
Gouge ya’ til you bleed (hey!)
Chorus:
Gouge ‘em til they bleed, boys
Gouge ‘em til they bleed
Double all the prices on the stuff they really need
Turn off the faucets in a few refineries
When the people start to panic we can
Gouge ‘em til they bleed (hey!)
For too many years we’ve been
Generous and fair
Our profits have been modest
A trillion here and there
But now we got it right
What a great epiphany
Why should we be nice when we can
Gouge ‘em til they bleed (hey!)
Chorus:
Gouge ‘em til they bleed, boys
Gouge ‘em til they bleed
Double all the prices on the stuff they really need
Sorry for the pain when you buy your gasoline
But our profits are insane when we
Gouge ‘em til they bleed (hey!)
Well, are you feelin’ poor
Do ya think we’re bein’ mean
Then leave your motor car
Sitting empty in the street
Let your furnace die, and
Watch your family freeze
Or take it with a smile, while
We gouge ya’ til you bleed (hey!)
Gouge ‘em ‘til they bleed, boys
Gouge ‘em ‘til they bleed
Double all the prices on the stuff they really need
Like the medicine you buy at your local pharmacy
If you wanna stay alive we’re gonna
Gouge ya ‘til you bleed
People are so innocent
So easy to be fooled
We own the politicians
And the television news
“The emperor’s new clothes”, that’s a
Book we love to read
And our naked motivation is to
Gouge ya ‘til you bleed
Gouge ‘em ‘til they bleed, boys
Gouge ‘em ‘til they bleed
Double all the prices on the stuff they really need
It’s par-tay time in the oil industry
When the market is chaotic we can
Gouge ‘em ‘til they bleed
Fisherman and farmers
Truckers on the road
Families and children
Carrying the load
Have some happy holidays
Now I guess you know…
We really got ya by the
Ho, Ho, Ho!
Gouge ‘em ‘til they bleed, boys
Gouge ‘em ‘til they bleed
Double all the prices on the stuff they really need
Blame it on the bums over in the Middle East
But we’re all havin’ fun when we
Gouge you ‘til you bleed!
Copyright 2004 Mike Nobel, Gorham, Maine
"As consumers stagger, press reports cite overt evidence of market manipulations by the oil industry. It's time to donate a theme song to these resourceful and good-natured corporations, whose profits are skyrocketing even as we speak."
