Gun Song / The Ballad of Czolgosz

Lyrics

[CZOLGOSZ] It takes a lot of men to make a gun Hundreds Many men to make a gun Men in the mines To dig the iron Men in the mills To forge the steel Men at machines To turn the barrel Mold the trigger Shape the wheel It takes a lot of men to make a gun... One gun... [BOOTH] And all you have to do Is move your little finger Move your little finger and— You can change the world Why should you be blue When you've your little finger? Prove how just a little finger Can— Change the world [CZOLGOSZ] I hate this gun [GUITEAU] What a wonder is a gun! What a versatile invention! First of all, when you've a gun— Everybody pays attention! When you think what must be done Think of all that it can do: Remove a scoundrel Unite a party Preserve the union Promote the sales of my book! Ensure my future My niche in history And then the world will see That I am not a man to overlook! Ha-ha! [GUITEAU, BOOTH & CZOLGOSZ] And all you have to do Is squeeze your little finger Ease your little finger back— You can change the world Whatever else is true You trust your little finger Just a single little finger Can— Change the world [MOORE] I got this really great gun— Shit, where is it? No, it's really great— Wait—! Shit, where is it? Anyway— It's just a .38— But— It's a gun You can make a state— Ment— Wrong—! With a gun Even if you fail It tells 'em who you are Where you stand This one was on sale It— No, not the shoe— Well, actually the shoe was, too No, that's not it— Shit, I had it here— Got it! Yeah! There it is And— [GUITEAU, BOOTH, CZOLGOSZ & MOORE] All you have to do Is crook your little finger Hook your little finger 'round— [MOORE] Shit, I shot it... [GUITEAU, BOOTH & CZOLGOSZ] —You can change the world Change the world... [GUITEAU, BOOTH, CZOLGOSZ & MOORE, variously] Simply follow through And look, your little finger Can slow them down To a crawl Show them all Big and small It took a little finger No time To change the world [CZOLGOSZ] A gun kills many men before it's done Hundreds Long before you shoot the gun Men in the mines And in the steel mills Men at machines Who died for what? Something to buy A watch, a shoe, a gun A "thing" to make the bosses richer But A gun claims many men before it's done Just one... More... [BALLADEER] Czolgosz Working man Born in the middle of Michigan Woke with a thought and away he ran To the Pan-American Exposition In Buffalo In Buffalo Saw of a sudden how things were run Said, "Time's a-wasting, it's Nineteen-One Some men have everything and some have none So rise and shine In the U.S.A.  You can work your way To the head of the line!" [ATTENDANT, spoken] Single line, ladies and gentlemen Line forms here to meet the President of the United States Single line to shake hands with President William McKinley— [BALLADEER] Czolgosz Quiet man Worked out a quiet and simple plan Strolled of a morning, all spick and span To the Temple of Music By the Tower of Light At the Pan-American Exposition In Buffalo In Buffalo Saw Bill McKinley there in the sun Heard Bill McKinley say, "Folks, have fun! Some men have everything and some have none But that's just fine In the U.S.A.  You can work your way To the head of the line!" [FAIRGOERS] Big Bill— [BALLADEER] —Gave 'em a thrill [FAIRGOERS] Big Bill— [BALLADEER] —Sold 'em a bill [FAIRGOERS] Big Bill— [BALLADEER] —Who'd want to kill A man of good will Like— [FAIRGOERS] Big Bill! [FAIRGOER #1, spoken] Doesn't the President look marvelous? So round and prosperous! [FAIRGOER #2, spoken] Do you know what his favorite dish is? It was in the paper. Beef! [FAIRGOER #3, spoken] I'm told that in his spare time, he enjoys collecting coins! [BALLADEER] Czolgosz Angry man Said, "I will do what a poor man can Yes, and there's nowhere more fitting than In the Temple of Music By the Tower of Light Between the Fountain of Abundance And the Court of Lilies At the great Pan-American Exposition In Buffalo In Buffalo" Wrapped him a handkerchief 'round his gun Said, "Nothin' wrong about what I done Some men have everything and some have none That's by design The idea wasn't mine alone, but mine— And that's the sign" In the U.S.A.  You can have your say You can set your goals And seize the day You've been given the freedom To work your way To the head of the line— To the head of the line!