The Wal-Mart Greeter Blues

After walking away from it for about 25 years, I've started writing songs again. 

I heard some guy on a radio program say that if you're upper class in America, your name is on the building.  If you're middle class, your name is on your desk.  If you're working class, your name is on your shirt. 

When I heard that, I was reminded of this old-timer I once heard ranting at The White Elephant Saloon in the Fort Worth Stockyards.  He was talking about how his land was disappearing, how he couldn't make it as a rancher, and how "that Wal-Mart Greeter job is looking better every day". 

This is what I did with it.  Will put up a YouTube as soon as I meet someone with the time and the camera.

Intro:

Granddad lifted me up high, and he put me on his saddle,

He said “Look at that horizon, boy, y’know one day soon all of that’ll,

That’ll be the land where your whole clan can feed and herd your cattle.”

But he didn’t prepare me for this concrete prairie,

My new home on the range, where the shopping carts rattle….

Here’s how I got the Wal-Mart Greeter Blues:

Verse:

My granddad built an empire, and my old man drank it dry,

Then I lost a lot in Vegas, and those taxes were so high,

Some went to my last three wives, and the cost of just getting by,

That’s how I got the Wal-Mart Greeter Blues.

Chorus:

So keep those steers a movin’, boys!  Pampers are on aisle four. 

Come on boys, we’re burning daylight!  Just get ‘em in the store. 

Drive that herd to the preferred products on the floor,

Check the receipts, keep the lobby neat, and then

Herd ‘em out the door. 

Verse:

I saw my granddad’s cattle brand all over the West,

I only saw my old man’s name on that sign that was on his desk,

My name ain’t nowhere but on this blue nylon vest,

And now I’ve got the Wal-Mart Greeter Blues. 

Repeat Chorus

So keep those steers a movin’, boys!  Detergent is on aisle four. 

Come on boys, we’re burning daylight!  Just get ‘em in the store. 

Drive that herd to the preferred products on the floor,

Check the receipts, keep the lobby neat, and then

Herd ‘em out the door. 

Verse:

Look at you, you sweet young thing, with that cart there all by yourself.

Girl, I’ve got what your shopping for, and it ain’t on the shelf.

If I wasn’t stuck here, girl, I would help you find it myself. 

Instead, I’ve got the Wal-Mart Greeter Blues. 

Repeat Chorus. 

So keep those steers a movin’, boys!  Wishes are on aisle four. 

Come on boys, we’re burning daylight!  Just get ‘em in the store. 

Drive that herd to the preferred products on the floor,

Check the receipts, keep the lobby neat, and then

Herd ‘em out the door. 

The picture of a Wal-Mart Greeter came from here.