The Joe Hynes Blues

MY NAME IS JOHN PHILLIPS, I’VE GOT NOTHING LEFT TO LOSE
I’M STUCK IN EAST HAVEN, I’VE GOT THE JOE HYNES BLUES
HOW MUCH DO YOU HAVE TO EARN
BEFORE NO ONE CAN TAKE IT ALL AWAY?
MAYBE, MAYBE, I’LL GET OUT OF HERE SOME DAY.

I USED TO BE A LAWYER, I USED TO BE A JUDGE,
NOTHING REALLY MATTERS WHEN THE DA’S GOT A GRUDGE
THEY CAN LOCK YOU UP AND THROW AWAY THE KEY
I JUST NEVER THOUGHT IT COULD HAPPEN TO A GUY LIKE ME

SEVENTEEN YEARS ON THE BENCH, OVERTURNED ONLY ONE TIME
THOUGHT I’D RUN FOR DA WHILE I WAS STILL IN MY PRIME
A FRIEND OF JOE HYNES DECLARED ME INCOMPETENT
A DANGER TO MY SELF, AND TO THE ESTABLISHMENT.

THEY DRAGGED ME TO COURT, AND HOW DID THE JUDGE FIND
“RUNNING AGAINST JOE HYNES, WELL THAT PROVES HE’S LOST HIS MIND.
TAKE CONTROL OF HIS MONEY
BEFORE HE WASTES IT ON SOME FOOL CAMPAIGN
TAKING HYNES ON IN BROOKLYN,
THE VERY DEFINITION OF INSANE.”

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THEY CAME TO MY HOUSE AND HELD ME PRISONER,
TOOK MY RECORDS TO HYNES’ CAMPAIGN TREASURER
THEY TOOK CONTROL OF MY PROPERTY AND THEY CUT OFF MY HEAT
YOU’VE GOT TO HAND IT TO THIS GUY, HE’S REALLY TOUGH TO BEAT.

I USED TO OWN TEN BUILDINGS, I HAD MOVIE THEATERS TOO
I EVEN HAD A SCHOOL, I TAUGHT THE ART OF KUNG FU
I WORKED HARD ALL MY LIFE, AND I NEVER DID ANYONE ANY HARM
NOT BAD FOR A KID WHO GREW UP ON AN OHIO FARM

THE DOCTORS SAID I SHOULD LEAVE,
THERE’S NOTHING THE MATTER WITH ME
JUST PACK YOUR BAGS, TOMORROW YOU’RE FREE
THAT NIGHT MY HOUSE BURNED DOWN, MYSTERIOUSLY
NOW I DON’T KNOW WHAT’S GONNA HAPPEN TO ME

THEY SOLD MY BUILDINGS ALL THE MONEY IS GONE
SWEETHEART DEALS, THEY ALL WENT FOR A SONG
WHEN IS ANYONE EVER GONNA INVESTIGATE
SINCE THE FOX RUNS THE HENHOUSE
I GUESS I’LL JUST HAVE TO WAIT

REPEAT FIRST VERSE