The Middle-Class Liberal Well-Intentioned Blues

Written over 30 years ago, but there's nothing quite as timeless as liberal guilt. From Gold Turkey: National Lampoon Radio Hour/Greatest Hits:

I wish I was a Negro
With lots of Negro songs
So I could stay true to my ethnic roots
And still play rock 'n' roll

If I was a funky Negro
Eating soul food barbeques
I wouldn't have to sing
The middle-class liberal well-intentioned blues

Intentioned blues
Intentioned blues . . .

I wish I was an Indian
A grown-up Sioux papoose
So when I get drunk on a beer and a half
I'd have a good excuse

I'd be a noble savage
Wouldn't ever wear no shoes
And I wouldn't have to sing
The middle-class liberal well-intentioned blues

Intentioned blues
Intentioned blues . . .

I wish I was a Wetback
On strike in a lettuce patch
Or a slant-eyed peasant with Viet Cong
Stashed underneath my thatch

I only ever cross a picket line
To pay my union dues
To keep on singing
The middle-class liberal well-intentioned blues

Intentioned blues
Intentioned blues . . .

But I am not a Negro (c'mon!)
Not a Red Man nor a Mex (join me kids!)
I'm a member of the oppressing color
Language, age, and sex

I sympathize with the Arab cause
I feel for the put-upon Jews
And I keep singing
The middle-class liberal
Humanitarian
Meaningful dialogue
We are all responsible
Well-intentioned blues

Intentioned blues
Intentioned blues . . .

Comments

[Bud Webster]

This originally came from the National Lampoon off-Broadway show, "Lemmings," which starred John Belushi and Chevy Chase pre-SNL, and also Christopher Guest. Among other things, Belushi does his justly-famous Joe Cocker, Chase does an immaculate Neil Young, and Guest sings "Middle-Class Liberal, Well-Intentioned Blues" as Pete Seeger, complete with banjo.

[Bud Webster]

This originally came from the National Lampoon off-Broadway show, "Lemmings," which starred John Belushi and Chevy Chase pre-SNL, and also Christopher Guest. Among other things, Belushi does his justly-famous Joe Cocker, Chase does an immaculate Neil Young, and Guest sings "Middle-Class Liberal, Well-Intentioned Blues" as Pete Seeger, complete with banjo.