Story Behind The Song

A true story about a bad economy.

Song Description

Chicago Blues song about an educated fellow trying to find a job while living at a homeless shelter. Guitar Licks abound.

Lyrics

"Been Down So Long (or) Tuntion At The Hesed House"
(11/13/05)

Tuntion Burnett gets up at dawn,
He circles want ads, puts dress shoes on,
He shakes some stiff hands, references look good.
But then they shake heads, "Just wish we could."

They say, "Call back in a month,
We're just not hiring at this time."
They say, "Good luck" like he's been down so long
That getting up just finally came to mind.

He's versed in Dot Net, Smalltalk, Delphi,
& reads Intelligent Enterprise,
But when the interviewers read his address:
"Is this a shelter?" He has to say yes.

& then the red flags go up,
"Try back in half a year's time."
They say, "Good luck" like he's been down so long
That getting up just finally came to mind.

The final couple
Dot com upstarts' bubbles
Got popped by airlines crashing into towers.
If something happens,
There's no way to get back in,
They take your car, your water, heat & power.
& suddenly there's no jobs,
It's like they took down the signs,
Then say, "Good luck" like he's been down so long
That getting up just finally came to mind.

He walks computer stores at closing time
When salesmen speak in code & eye the time.
They ask if he needs help, but there's a tone
That says they know that he ain't got the dough.

They say he's got to go home
Like he's got somewhere to stay.
He thinks it seems like he's been down so long
That getting up gets harder every day.