Tune: Let It Snow

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9wiJjPZH6c

The climate outside is frightful

So it’s time to be insightful

Mining coal in an open pit?

Are we nuts? What a crock! Get a grip!

Our planet is slowly dying

And on coal, we’re still relying???

Our world is now all ablaze

So we’re DONE, dirty coal, bad old days.

When we’ve finally seen the light

That Alberta to its shame will not save

Our pristine rivers from this blight

Ridin’ that coal lobby wave!

The time is long past for pining

We say NO to coal strip-mining

But so long as the province dares

Write the Feds! Try the Feds! Join who cares!

The Ottawa Climate Minister

Has some clout for things so sinister

There’s federal tools to use  

Legislate, consul-tate, have reviews!

When we’ve finally seen the light

That Alberta to its shame will not save

Our pristine rivers from this blight

Ridin’ that coal lobby wave

The sheep with big horns will thank you

So will bears; the owls will hoot too

Since the fish have no place to go

Keep the coal in the ground… Just say no!

Hear your Grans, write the feds, roar like us…

Stop the Coal, on Eastern Slopes, Make a Fuss!!

The Calgary Raging Grannies, spring 2020, after the UCP government regressively struck down an early 70s ruling by the Progressive Conservatives  to stop strip mining in Alberta.  An Australian company has since bought land close to Blairmore and has already started construction with the UCP government’s blessing, though the Federal Government is examining the situation.

Tune: My Darling Clementine

There’s a cycle, a roller coaster

In Alberta, that’s our fate

Selling oil as fast as we can —

As if the stuff went out of date.

Not to mention, piddly royalties

For those of us, who own the stuff

Corporate oil tears, oh such hooey

Every quarter, earnings up. 

There’s a crisis, that’s for certain

In our brains and on our land

A fire sale to sell our bitumen

Cannot be the energy plan.

Production’s rising, can you believe it?

More fossil fuel is the party line!

The experts tell us we need to leave it

But more oil out, so more pipeline. 

Our problem is, consumption’s GROWING

People, give your heads a shake

Our poor climate, kicked and battered

The very planet is at stake.

How to crack this, that’s the question

Please Albertans, have some guts

We need DE-growth on our planet

Stop expanding, are we nuts?

Hear your Grannies, stop stupid buying….

Earth has limits to its growth

Oceans gagging, people dying

Heed your Grannies, enough’s enough!

[Slowly, wearily ….]

At least we have a carbon tax that

Seeks to make the users pay…..

If you have another plan, dear

Tell us now, not Apocolypse day.

Granny Lynn, Calgary Raging Grannies, April 2019

Uh oh we’re in the red, dear
On our credit card it shows
Christmas is almost over
But the debit line still grows

Shopping like Santa’s zombies
Sends our budget down in flames
But all our Yuletide spirit
Grows the giant retail chains.

I’m so foggy Christmas Eve
Wondering how we’ll pay
Christmas doesn’t seem so bright
When our finances are tight

So here’s a plan for next year
Let’s forget the shopping spree
Let’s give a gift of love, so
All our Christmas gifts are free!

Look out! ’Cause we are growing bolder!
We’re gaining strength as we grow older!
Our steps they might be slow,
And ’though our boobs are hanging low,
We are Raging Grannies strong!

It’s equity we’re raging for today.
Billionaires get richer while we struggle for fair pay.
While people sleep on sidewalks, Grannies seek another way…
We are Raging Grannies strong!

Look out! ’Cause we are growing bolder!
We’re gaining strength as we grow older!
You can throw us into jail, but by our numbers we’ll prevail.
We are Raging Grannies strong!

They tell us that the Trade Deal is a benefit for all
But corp’rate power always trumps the rights of one and all.
With loss of jobs and secret courts, it’s such a lousy call..
So spread the word it’s wrong.

Climate change is here to stay; it’s hot as hell today!
In other places, homes and farms are being washed away.
Glaciers melt and oceans rise… disasters every day…
And the poor are the first to pay.

Anyone can buy a gun; they’re easy to obtain;
Children get their hands on them, they think it’s just a game.
We’ve got to fight the NRA, they really are insane.
We are Raging Grannies strong!

Author: Vicki Ryder

Copyright: None

See Grannies Perform: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ENsbdpiXT4

(Bonus video as well!)

We are not, we’re not giving up

We are not EVER giving up

We know we’re in this struggle for the long haul

We’re not giving up

Shoulder to shoulder, we’re not giving up

Although we’re growing older, we’re not giving up

We know we’re in this struggle for the long haul

We’re not giving up

We ain’t sittin’ crying, we’re not giving up

We stand up to lying, we’re not giving up

We know we’re in this struggle for the long haul

We’re not giving up

We are not, we’re not giving up!

We are not EVER giving up

We know we’re in this struggle for the long haul

We’re not giving up

We’re up against Big Dollar, we’re not giving up

We still know how to holler, we’re not giving up

We know we’re in this struggle for the long haul

We’re not giving up

We are not, we’re not giving up

We are not EVER giving up

We know we’re in this struggle for the long haul

We’re not giving up

Author: Sara Williams, Madison Raging Grannies

Copyright: N/A

Date Last Used by YYC Grannies:   Women’s March, January 2018, Harm Reduction Event, June 2018

Wall-to-wall carpets and bone china dishes

Crystal aquariums, exotic fishes

Gold-plated faucets, a toilet that sings

These are a few of our least favourite things.

We’re bombarded with junk mail from stores like the Bay

They’re shoved in our houses, whatever we say

Buy this and buy that, use credit to pay

Try to buy frivolous things every day!

But…Coal fired-energy adds to pollution

Windmills and solar are better solutions

Stop killing our forests and spoiling our land

All in response to the corporate demand.

This is stupid – really stupid!

We must all get mad!!

Our garbage reduce, wasteful spending refuse –

Our world wouldn’t BE SO BAD!!

Date Last Used by YYC Grannies:  April  2016

Copyright: N/A

Homelessness is OUTrageous

It’s time to call a halt!

We have to learn the reasons why

It’s surely someone’s fault.

Who profits from our poverty?

Who stands and make the rules?

The system has to change!

Chorus:

Sing for peace and social justice

March for peace and social justice

Work for peace and social justice

And Housing for us all!

Homelessness is OUTrageous

We people struggle still!

We’re tired of teensy handouts

And no POLiticians’ will.

The governments hear CEE-ee-os

The corporations rule

The system has to change!

Chorus:

Sing for peace and social justice

March for peace and social justice

Work for peace and social justice

And Housing for us all!

Author: Calgary Raging Grannies

Date Last Used by YYC Grannies:  2011

Copyright: None

Tune: Old Macdonald Had a Farm

See Grannies Perform: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuIIJBEICnc

Old Man Santo had a farm & he grew GMOs

And on that farm he spoiled the earth, cuz he grew GMOs

Well they wound up here & they wound up there

Super bugs, super weeds; blowing havoc through the air

Old Man Santo had a farm & he grew GMOs

Old Man Santo had a farm & he raised GMOs

On that farm he had a cow & she ate GMOs

Well the pig did too & the chicks in the slough

And the rooster gobbled up the chemical stew

Old Man Santo had a farm & he raised GMOs.

Old Man Santo had a farm & he sold GMOs

And everywhere that food’s for sale – they all bought GMOs

Not a label here, or a warning there….

Hey – Is that a pumpkin * growing facial hair??

Old Man Santo had a farm & he raised GMOs.

*Substitute another word for a common crop that grows in your area.

Date Last Used by YYC Grannies:

Copyright: (revised by Granny Sharon, May 2013 and Granny Lynn Apr 2014) Originally from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAeBpoKfnPUYou

There’s a new chain fence where the corporations meet

Don’t fence us out

The agenda is secret and governments seem weak ( 2  beats )

Don’t fence us out.

We’re asking why the secrets, why the stark abuse of power,

We’re wanting information and we’ll sit here by the hour,

Democracy demands that all of us get equal power,

Don’t fence us out.

Just let us in to discover and to question and to share,

Don’t keep us out by refusing and by using all the police that you dare.

Just let us in so that people can all participate

Profit, forcer and speed and greed all can wait

We won’t allow the FTA to seal our fate

Don’t fence us out.

Revised by Calgary Grannies  April 2002

There’s a flaw in the system,

We know it, we know it,

There’s a flaw in the system,

We know it full well.

So why are we marching

To occupy Calgary?

And what about bankers

And why should we care?

Well, banks make their trillions

And CEOs billions

And pad their expenses

While their revenues swell.

There’s too much corruption

And not enough gumption

For government to fix it

And we’re mad as hell!

If government won’t fix it

We’ll have to go marching

If we don’t like the system

We have to speak out!

The rich scam on taxes

On us fall the axes,

To carry the deficit

And bailouts as well.

Well, Grannies want justice

Or some kind of fairness,

We’re Raging and Ready

And Here’s what we Tell:

There’s a flaw in the system,

We know it, we know it,

There’s a flaw in the system,

AND WE’RE STILL MAD AS HELL!

By Calgary Raging Grannies, based on a song

by the Parliamentary Hill Mob, Oct.2011