Thank you for visiting SNEWPapers!
Sign up free
Poem
April 4, 1919
Union Labor Bulletin
Little Rock, Pulaski County, Arkansas
What is this article about?
Satirical poem about a foolish working-class voter who supports corrupt Alderman Bunk despite personal hardships, critiquing systemic exploitation and voter complicity in their own oppression.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
THE VOTER.
A fool there was, and he cast his vote
even as you and I.)
For bewhiskered pants and old worn coat
And for grub on which he didn't dote:
He voted for Alderman Bunk you'll note
even as you and I.)
Oh, the work we do for the favored few
And the miserable wage we get;
We crack the nuts, they take the meat,
They hand us chaff and take the wheat
And to make our bondage more complete
We vote for this system yet.
A fool there was, and he goods has none
even as you and I.)
He worked all day from sun to sun
He got no cash, so he worked for fun;
But he voted for Alderman Bunk-who won
even as you and I.)
Oh, he worked for fun from sun to sun
And he plotted and schemed and planned
But he just could not make both ends meet;
To keep his child warm, he froze his own feet
But the kid hadn't half enough to eat
And he couldn't understand.
The fool was stripped of his foolish hide
even as you and I.)
They couldn't use that, though they may have tried,
And when he grew old, he was kicked aside
For his legs lived on, though his head had died
even as you and I.)
It isn't the shame, and it isn't the blame,
That stings like a white-hot brand;
It's the cussed foolishness of a jay
Who'll work long hours for rotter pay
And vote for the bunk on election day.
A fool there was, and he cast his vote
even as you and I.)
For bewhiskered pants and old worn coat
And for grub on which he didn't dote:
He voted for Alderman Bunk you'll note
even as you and I.)
Oh, the work we do for the favored few
And the miserable wage we get;
We crack the nuts, they take the meat,
They hand us chaff and take the wheat
And to make our bondage more complete
We vote for this system yet.
A fool there was, and he goods has none
even as you and I.)
He worked all day from sun to sun
He got no cash, so he worked for fun;
But he voted for Alderman Bunk-who won
even as you and I.)
Oh, he worked for fun from sun to sun
And he plotted and schemed and planned
But he just could not make both ends meet;
To keep his child warm, he froze his own feet
But the kid hadn't half enough to eat
And he couldn't understand.
The fool was stripped of his foolish hide
even as you and I.)
They couldn't use that, though they may have tried,
And when he grew old, he was kicked aside
For his legs lived on, though his head had died
even as you and I.)
It isn't the shame, and it isn't the blame,
That stings like a white-hot brand;
It's the cussed foolishness of a jay
Who'll work long hours for rotter pay
And vote for the bunk on election day.
What sub-type of article is it?
Satire
Ballad
What themes does it cover?
Political
Satire Society
Moral Virtue
What keywords are associated?
Working Class Voter
Alderman Bunk
Political Satire
Economic Exploitation
Election Day
Foolish Vote
Poem Details
Title
The Voter.
Subject
Satire On The Working Class Voter And Political Exploitation
Form / Style
Rhymed Stanzas With Refrain
Key Lines
A Fool There Was, And He Cast His Vote
Even As You And I.)
We Crack The Nuts, They Take The Meat,
They Hand Us Chaff And Take The Wheat
It's The Cussed Foolishness Of A Jay
Who'll Work Long Hours For Rotter Pay
And Vote For The Bunk On Election Day.