Wal-Mart in Songs

I found a couple songs that refer to Wal-Mart. The first is by Dave Lippman, a protest singer. The second is sung by Tracy Byrd, a popular country singer. (That one isn't anti-Wal-Mart.) Third is by Carla U. (Look them up on Google.) There are a couple more that mention the store that I've heard on the radio, but don't know what they are.

I HATE WAL-MART by Dave Lippman

I've always hated Blockbuster
Starbucks, not quite so much
If I'm not boycotting at least 3 oil companies
I start to feel out of touch
I wouldn't be seen near Nordstrom's or any such
And I hate Wal-Mart

I don't like whips, I don't like chains
I don't go choppin up my neighbors' brains
Don't really even like shopping
except at the Flea Mart
And I hate Wal-Mart

Now you may wonder, why all this fuss
If you don't like the plane, take the bus
Well I've found religion, and just between us
I hate Wal-Mart

If you didn't hear the story, here's how it is
Big company sells below cost
Drive mom and pop out of biz
Pretty soon all over the land
One big square store, identical brand
And that's why I hate Wal-Mart

Used to be you could drive around
Stop in at three or four towns
Encounter different sights and sounds
Different if not unique
Different accent, different smell
Different things to buy and sell
Now it's all Taco Bell
I hate Wal-Mart

Roads used to dip and wind
You drive slow, relax your mind
Never knew what you'd find
Round the next bend
Now the freeway goes so straight
It'd go right past the Pearly Gate
I don't feel human, I feel like freight
I hate Wal-Mart

I like to roam, I like to greet
Individuals on the street
You always know the one you meet is
One of a kind
But more and more they seem to be
Reflections of something on TV
When we're all alike, nobody's free
I hate Wal-Mart

I boycott Burger King
I boycott Newt Gingrich
I boycott everything which
I've seen advertised

I used to go out to dinner in a diner
Now they say fast food is finer
But it tastes like fell out of an airliner
It's enough to make you weep

I don't like board games
I don't like brand names
They make inflated claims
They're full of bleep
Everyone I meet is a high-tech dealer
Wants to sell me a digital potato peeler
And I don't like Garrison Keillor cause
He's so white

Turn on my radio dial
Like to hear something new once in a while
But it's the same old crap in a brand new style
It's audio rape
Still I try to pick and choose
Turn the dial but I always lose
They only play the worst rock and roll
And once in a while one little rhythm and blues
And that's why God made tape

Used to be we wore beads and bells
Sewed our own clothes in our own way
Now we all wear uniforms that say
Hard Rock Cafe
We're in a state of sartorial decay
That's why I hate Wal-Mart

If there's a pretty spot they'll pave it over
Put a cloverleaf over a four-leaf clover
Black paint on the White Cliffs of Dover
It never fails
Hope you like this song, thanks a bunch
I could go on, but I gotta go eat lunch
If you didn't like it, I've got a hunch
You work in sales

So grow your own, make your own
Be careful what you own
Develop non-shopping to an art
And whatever you do
Don't shop at Wal-Mart

Sisters of Swing, backup vocals
Bob Pearce, mandolin
Pat Balcom, drums

new labor-related verses since the recording:

They tell their suppliers to buy overseas
That’s even better than a wage freeze
We’re one big happy family
No unions allowed, this enterprise is free
It’s worker-free, we’re all associates now, see?
I guess that means it’s our Wal-Mart

They say we buy American whenever we can
We buy at home right here in Saipan
Worst of all every other store
Has to follow suit if they wanta sell more
But I don’t want to follow suit, see
Let’s get it over with, just shoot me
God bless Wal-Mart

Brought 6,000 jobs back to South Carolina
For a whole 6 months, then sent ‘em back to China
Where they work 12 hours on Easter and Earth Day
But they let em off for their seventh birthday
But the shift don’t seem so long
As long as they’re singing the company song
Which ain’t I hate Wal-Mart

So grow your own, make your own
Grow a union, don’t be alone
And maybe some day we’ll get overtime pay
from Wal-mart

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Pink Flamingos
(Wood Newton/Micki Furhman)

I was a rebel in my younger years
I'd...drink with the devil if he bought me a beer
Wore out two pickups just running around
Mama thought I never would settle down
That was before I met sweet Irma Jean
She made a new man outta me

We got pink flamingos in the front yard
Picture window with a view of Wal-Mart
Blue collar heaven domestic bliss
It just doesn't get any better than this
We got pink flamingos, pink flamingos, pink flamingos

Sweet Irma Jean is a den mother now
With a station wagon and a charge account
Bubba Junior pitches for his baseball team
Little sister's running for Rose Bud Queen
And me I'm doing good at the used car lot
Is this a great country or what

We got pink flamingos in the front yard
Picture window with a view of Wal-Mart
Blue collar heaven domestic bliss
It just doesn't get any better than this
We got pink flamingos, pink flamingos, pink flamingos

People slow down when they drive by
They wave and smile but there's envy in their eyes
We ain't rich and won't be for a while
But no doubt about it baby we got style

With got pink flamingos in the front yard
Picture window with a view of Wal-Mart
Blue collar heaven domestic bliss
It just doesn't get any better than this
With got pink flamingos in the front yard
Picture window with a view of Wal-Mart
Blue collar heaven domestic bliss
It just doesn't get any better than this
We got pink flamingos
Picture windows
Pink flamingos

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We Don't Need a Wal-Mart by Carla U.
co-written and sung with Bob Malone

12 miles to the East a Wal-Mart sets
12 miles to the North another one yet
12 miles to the South that’s right you bet
That's why I say we don’t need a Wal-Mart

We don’t need a Wal-Mart I’d rather have trees and grass
I’d rather have a hemherroid or an algebra class
They got no scruples They got no class
We don’t need a Wal Mart They can kiss my — butt

So we said hey Wal-Mart We don’t want you
We won’t rezone they said “Oh yeah we’ll sue