This song could serve as an appropriate anthem in many economies around the world.

Leyla McCalla – “The Capitalist Blues”

"The Capitalist Blues” (2018) 

In this age of winner-take-all, rainbow capitalism, “The Capitalist Blues”  would serve as an appropriate anthem for more than a few people in many economies around the world. 

 No Gold, but Plenty of Blue

McCalla sings about how she’s “swimming in an ocean of sharks,”  and about how she’s expected to “give everything”  away to the poor rich folk who have stumbled upon such hard times.

Indeed, it can be “cold, cold world,”  and it’s enough to give anyone the blues. Oh, and as for that pot of gold that’s waiting for you at the end of the rainbow … first you godda get to the rainbow.

Leyla McCalla

Leyla McCalla is an American musician who perfoms both classical music and folk music. Her parents, both of whom had been born in Haiti, were active in human-rights organizations, and her grandfather was the editor of a NYC-based socialist newspaper.  

Blue and Other Brighter Colors

After university in New York City, Leyla moved to New Orleans, where she immersed herself in the local musical traditions. She worked on her debut album, “Vari-Colored Songs,”  for 5 years before releasing it.

Drop Out

While Leyla is primarily known as the former cellist of the noted string band the Carolina Chocolate Drops, she also plays the guitar and the banjo. After playing with the CC Drops for several years, she left the band to pursue her solo career.   _{(Image source)}

You keep telling me to climb this ladder
I’ve got to pay me dues
But as I rise, the stakes get higher
I’ve got the Capitalist Blues
And if I give everything
I won’t have much more to lose

I am swimming in an ocean of sharks
They are telling me how I’m gonna make
My little mark, in this cold, cold world
It can be such a cold, cold world

You keep telling me to go a little higher
Try to take a different view
But, you can see, I’m not inspired
I’ve got the Capitalist Blues
And if I give everything
I won’t have much more to lose

It’s not fair, it’s not right
I don’t know what I’m gonna do with my life
It’s not fair, it’s not right
I wasn’t born to just endure all this strife
Tryna make my way, in this cold, cold world
It can be such a cold, cold world   _{(Image source)}
Lyrics by Leyla McCalla, courtesy of – YouTube
Reference – Wikipedia
Reference – Discogs.com
Reference – TheGuardian.com

Into your ears … through 5 channels

 The various posts are categorized into 5 channels _{(Right-Click to see details)}
         1 – “Music to Your Ears” (MTYE)
         2 – “Cover Versions”
         3 – “Honor Roll”
         4 – “Documentaries”
         5 – “Mock’n’Roll”

More “Music to Your Ears” ...

          Previous posts in this series – "MTYE posts 1–20"  

Links to my other series ...

          Lou Reed – "Anthology of Memorable Lyrics, Part 1"
          Lou Reed – "Anthology of Memorable Lyrics, Part 2"

          Great Lyrics, a compilation – “Part One – My Lyrics Posts 3~30”
          Great Lyrics, a compilation – “Part Two – My Lyrics Posts 31~60”  

          Vocab-Ability – "Introduction to Vocab-Ability"  
          Vocab-Ability – "Index"  to all Chapters and Sections  

          Notes from Under the Tatami Mats – "Part One – Notes 1~50"  
          Notes from Under the Tatami Mats – "Part Two – Notes 51~87"