The Land of Catfish

I met this character many times while I was a reporter for the Times-Picayune. This song has gotten me in trouble a few places. But sometimes the only word that says exactly what a song wants to say is a word you would never use anywhere else.

Living in the land of catfish
Is not the same as living in the USA
We don’t have to go to work in the morning
‘Cause there ain’t no jobs and there isn’t any pay
You know, a lot of people call us lazy,
But I’d like to see them try living this way
It would drive anybody crazy
To have to scratch it for a living, every single day.
You know, walking on the street’s
Hard on the feet,
And trying to get your children something to eat
Living in the land of catfish
Is not the same as living in the USA.

Living in the land of catfish
Is not the same as living in the USA.
We got a couple of big machine shops,
But they only give you work if you come from outta state.
They’re giving us a new state prison
And a place they can dump the big city waste
There wasn’t any competition,
‘Cause nobody else wants it any other place.
And we’s just crackers
We’s just trash
For six bucks an hour,
We’ll kiss anybody’s ass.
Living in the land of catfish
Is not the same as living in the USA.

Living in the land of catfish
Is not the same as living in the USA.
I slip a shell in my God-given shotgun,
I tell the squirrels and the pigeons that they better learn to pray.
A buck shot out of season
Stews up real good with a spoonful of lard.
Some little skunk tried to turn me in,
But the warden testified we was all playing cards.
Well, hey, Mister Warden,
Let me tell you thanks.
Here’s a side of ribs
And a piece of the flanks.
Living in the land of catfish
Is not the same as living in the USA.

Living in the land of catfish
Is not the same as living in the USA.
You know, you better know the boys at the courthouse,
And when they call you up, you better do what they say.
Billy Bob’s got my mortgage,
And he cuts me some slack when I run a little late,
And I helped him with a couple of favors,
About a couple of neighbors that he didn’t wanna stay.
And he always throws a party,
Fourth of July,
Free beer for everyone
And catfish to fry.
Living in the land of catfish
Is not the same as living in the USA.

Living in the land of catfish
Is not the same as living in the USA.
You know, a lotta people call us racists,
But it ain’t as black and white as the people say.
I got buddies with colored faces
And it ain’t a lot of difference when we work and we play.
But everybody knows their places,
And they know when it’s time to get out of the way.
Well, the facts of the matter
Oughta be clear.
Black folks and white,
We is all niggers here.
Living in the land of catfish
Is not the same as living in the USA.

Words and music © 1992 by Steve Brooks and Frog Records
(512) 440-7668
[email protected]
www.stevebrooks.net

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