Story Behind The Song

We tried to stop a bad water legislation bill, and in the process, watching what was happening to the growth in the West, this song was born.

Lyrics

Little towns across the west

used to be fine to live a day at a time
knew all the kids in the Christmas parade
could leave a camera on the seat of your car
and your house unlocked and not be afraid

CHORUS:
but ya can?t stop growth
at least that?s what they tell us
the good old boys whose bank accounts swell
as the elk and deer vanish and the traffic roars louder
making bucks turning heaven into hell

now everything moves so much faster
racing from home to work to the store
keep your mouth shut, be a good little rat
money?s what we use to keep the score

we?ve gotta develop all that wasted space
put in a regional shopping mall
just welcome the increase in local revenues
nothing else matters at all

and what about all those empty ridgelines?
hillsides and valleys and plains
useless and lonely and just waiting for us
to rev up the dozers again

Chorus:
But ya can?t stop growth
At least that?s what they tell us
The good old boys whose bank accounts swell
As the elk and deer vanish and the traffic roars louder
Making bucks turning heaven into hell

everyone worries about the guy with a knife
the dangerous punk with a gun
but a man in a Range Rover does more damage
with a checkbook and a map and a phone
he?s got pressed blue jeans and a crisp white shirt
a pager and a bolo tie
he?s got a pocket full of politicians and a mouth full of smiles
the smoothest, creamiest lies
oh yeah
says money makes it right
that?s a lie

CHORUS
But ya can?t stop growth
At least that?s what they tell us
The good old boys whose bank accounts swell
As the elk and deer vanish and the traffic roars louder
Making bucks turning heaven into hell