Song picture
A Penny A Pound
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folk song about Immokalee workers strike against Wendy's for better working conditions and a penny more a pound for the tomatoes they pick; performed with Inari Jade and Wylie Robbins Thorne-Thomsen on mandolin
acoustic folk social commentary political satire western massachusetts oil coal climate change fracking incineration music for social change nuclear energy
Folk singer, social commentary, satire, people's stories, children's music
Hi Folks, The Bard Insurgent here. My comrade D.O. (the Poet Roofer) and I got that handle (The Bard Insurgents) from traveling town to town performing songs and poetry about people's lives. I've been performing since I was 3 years old, cutting my vocal chords on liturgical and classical music. I was a concert soloist as a child, when I wasn't herding cows, throwing hay and shoveling manure. During the Civil Rights movement and the Vietnam war, I began writing songs about social change. I left the country in 1970 and my dozen years in other countries, mostly in Africa & South America, have provided a global perspective to my music. My travels helped me realize that people all around the world are essentially the same in their basic life needs and their desires to live peacefully in their communities. These experiences have informed my commitment to working for international understanding as I organize at home. A powerful way to educate and inspire is with music. I tell people's stories, do social commentary with a touch of satire that I hope you enjoy and share with your friends, as well as sing together in the streets and in your living rooms. I also have children's music written for the children in my life with Jacob and Kayla as primary muses. Looking forward to seeing you on the road, Tom
Song Info
Charts
Peak #8
Peak in subgenre #1
Author
Tom Neilson
Rights
Tom Neilson 2018
Uploaded
September 14, 2018
Track Files
MP3
MP3 3.5 MB 160 kbps 3:01
Story behind the song
The Coalition of Immokalee Workers is asking the food industry to respect the human rights of farmworkers in their supply chain and pay a penny a pound more for the tomatoes they buy. Whereas other fast food franchises like Taco Bell, Burger King and McDonalds have agreed to this contract, Wendy's has not. Instead of joining the Fair Food Program, they have gone to Mexico for their tomatoes. www.boycott-wendys.org
Lyrics
A Penny A Pound What’s the matter with Wendy’s? Why can’t they pay Just a penny more a pound for tomatoes that come their way? They don’t have to go down to Mexico Just a penny a pound to me it sounds ok. That little red-headed girl with the braided hair Would she still have a smile on her face - If she knew where Her tomatoes come from and the wage stagnation, Forced labor and sexual exploitation. Wendy’s is a billion dollar industry. A wee bit more than the poverty we have in Immokalee. Sign on to the Fair Food Program. Get on the same page. And help us try and make a livable wage. 50 cents a cubeta; that’s 32 pounds Try putting it on your shoulder and carrying it around. We need potable water and to take a break. Stoop labor from early in the morning till our bodies ache Thanks to Taco Bell, Burger King, McDonalds, too For bringing Fair Food tomatoes from us to you. Join the coalition. It’s a human right And Boycott Wendy’s and join us in the fight.
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