Music: M.L Hammond & Marilyn Lerner   Lyrics M.L Hammond

friends I have a problem that I’d like to address
and it may be peculiarly mine
in these days of unemployment I am forced to confess
yours truly’s working overtime
my phone is ringing madly
they all want me oh so badly
there’s only one hitch I can see
oh no! it’s a benefit, not another benefit
and when are they gonna benefit me

I’ve played for day care, pro-choice, Greenpeace, world peace
labour causes, unfair laws and Latin American solidarity
I’ve stopped Spadina*, failed to stop the Cruise, I’ve saved
the whales and wolves
I’ve tried to save the NDP**
now ain’t it kinda funny
how we’re always raising money
for the things in life that ought to be free
oh no! it’s a benefit, not another benefit
and when are they gonna benefit me

the phone rings and a voice says “hi we haven’t met, in fact
I must admit I’ve never heard of you at all
but someone at a meeting said her sister said her lover said
we really ought to give you a call
our situation’s critical
she says you’re quite political
and feminist and always play for free…”
oh no! it’s a benefit, not another benefit
and when are they gonna benefit me

and when the bankers finally get me
’cause I haven’t paid my debts be
sure you’re ready to call up Nancy White for me
and she’ll say
oh no it’s a benefit, not another benefit
and when are they gonna benefit me (3)

* an expressway planned for downtown Toronto
** A left-of-centre Canadian political party