NOT ANOTHER BENEFIT
(Music by Marie-Lynn Hammond, Marilyn Lerner / Lyrics by Marie-Lynn 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 N.D.P.**
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

** The N.D.P. is sort-of left wing Canadian political party