Lyrics

Stocks
(c)2001 Jud Caswell (Alderdown Songs, ASCAP)

I am the fox, I am the artist
I am the magic man who makes things grow
You give me ten, I give you twenty
You give me water, I give you Merlot
From red to black, Ursa to Taurus
From Flinty Michigan to Mexico
Don’t ask me how, that’s not your business
Don’t make me tell you things you should not know...

You’ve got your class, you’ve got your image
You’ve got your mistresses and families
You need your sleep, need your excuses
And plausible deniabilities
I know your work, I know your problems
Leave those gory details up to me.
We’ll toast the market, we’ll toast to profit
And when we’re done we will discuss my fee

I work for stocks, a gun for hire
I’ll fire everyone you ought to fire
Then change the locks and call the buyer
Collect our Bouillon and we’ll all retire.
Don’t look so shocked, say I’m a liar
Say you’re a businessman who stands for something higher.
Take your time; collect your thoughts.
Then let this opportunity out of the box:
I work for stocks.

I see my history precedes me:
There are a few of you who knew me when
I was a dabbler in guns and slavery
I turned Apartheid into pounds and yen.
Don’t be naïve, don’t be so preachy:
This is now, and brother, that was then.
And this is legal (’til further notice)
And we may never get this chance again.

I work for stocks, a gun for hire
I’ll fire everyone you ought to fire
Then change the locks and call the buyer
Collect our Bouillon and we’ll all retire.
Don’t look so shocked, say I’m a liar
Say you’re a businessman who stands for something higher.
Take your time; collect your thoughts.
Then let this opportunity out of the box:
I work for stocks.