"Finest Worksong" (1987)

The Work Tour was the name R.E.M. gave to its 1987 tour in support of its Document album -- the last album the band made for I.R.S. Records. The first track on that album, "Finest Worksong", is a favourite of mine. Here is its lyric:

The time to rise has been engaged
You're better best to rearrange
I'm talking here to me alone
I listen to the finest work song
Your finest hour, your finest hour

Another chance has been engaged
To throw Thoreau and rearrange
You are following this time
I beg you not, beg to rhyme (blow your horn)
Your finest hour (blow your horn), your finest hour

Take your instinct by the reins
Your better best to rearrange
What we want and what we need
Has been confused been confused (blow your horn)
Your finest hour (blow your horn), your finest hour

Take your instinct by the reins
Better best to rearrange
What we want and what we need
Has been confused been confused (blow your horn)
Your finest hour (blow your song)
Your finest hour (blow your horn)
Your finest hour (blow your song)
Your finest hour

Nixon's 1972 Visit to China

In 1984, the 35th Edition of the Industrial Workers of the World Songbook (1909) featured new first and third verses to "Hallelujah, I'm a Bum".

The first verse goes like this:

I worked overtime
Like a big greedy slob;
Now the warehouse is full
And I'm out of a job

The third:

Our wages can't buy
All the wealth we produce;
So the factories shut down
And we are turned loose.

When the markets began to tank last year, economists weren't surprised. For the first time in ages, production had exceeded consumption.