Speedy Delivery: A Weekly Song EditorialPumped Up as FolkClick to Listen Notes: One of my songwriting missions involves singing out against injustice. This week's song strikes out against the media's refusal to cover the out-of-control steroid use that's driving a hammer through American Folk music. If the media doesn't quit wasting its time on baseball players and start attempting to put a cork in this Folk music 'roids use, then we'll all be bombarded with beefed up Bob Dylans who have lungs like horses and are able to blow on harmonicas for days. Steroid-Using Folksinger by: Jake Speed 4/24/06 Woke up and hammered out another folk song It’s the seven hundred and 15th one That’s a record-setting number for a 28 year-old boy And I wrote every one while hopped up on steroids I’ve penned more tunes than Babe Ruth ever did And Hammerin’ Hank Aaron, Lord I’m closing in on him And every single note was enhanced by ‘roids But I can’t even get my name into the Tabloids Put my name in lights I deserve the press I’m a steroid-using folksinger I’m a mess Put my name in lights It’s just not fair I cheated just as bad As all the famous baseball players I wrote a few folk songs when I was quite young But after taking steroids, the songs just kept coming I’m not proud, but I’d like to come clean And I’d like to do it live in concert on national TV Where’s my interview? Where’s my subpoena? Congress, did you somehow forget about me? Won’t someone write a book that exposes all my lies And get my name in bold in all the headlines Put my name in lights I deserve to be accused I sold my soul to steroids When I learned to play the blues Put my name in lights It’s just not fair I cheated just as bad As all the famous baseball players I’ll pitch this question: What’s the big deal? So a guy took some ‘roids to hit a ball out of a field I took ‘roids to write all my folk songs I’m a one-man folk revival, that’s just sick and wrong Ladies and Gentlemen, please hear what I say When your finger feels ready to ridicule and blame Lay off the ballplayers; they don’t need no more It’s the steroid-popping folksingers that want your scorn Put my name in lights Make sure I’m belittled I took a double ‘roids To learn the banjo and the fiddle Put my name in lights It’s just not fair I cheated just as bad As all the famous baseball players
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Recent Songitorials11.3.07Magic City Hall A Cuz'n Jake tune about the candidates running for Cincinnati's City Council. 3.2.07 The Bockfest Song A song about Cincinnati's most eccentric parade and fest, Bockfest. 2.16.07 All Roads Lead to Cincinnati A Cincinnati love song with Tracy Walker 12.26.06 The World Will Come Clean A dream of hope for the New Year. 12.19.06 Footprints in the Snow A tribute to James Kim, the father who gave his life to save his family. ArchivesDecember 2006November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 View All Songitorials ![]() If there's anyone who could be called the "Woody Guthrie of Cincinnati," it's folksinger Jake Speed. Speed is again making moves that would do Woody proud. Speed's "songitorials" are weekly songs about current events. Think of it as a singing editorial with a healthy dose of wit and humanity. Each week, Speed will unveil a new song, dealing with different social issues of the day in much the way Guthrie's "Woody Sez" column once did. by Mike Breen, Citybeat |