Come to the dinner gong

 

The table is laden high

 

Fat bellies and hungry little ones

 

Tuck your napkins in

And take your share

 

Some get the gravy

 

And some get the gristle

 

Some get the marrow bone

 

And some get nothing

 

Though there's plenty to spare

 

I took my share down by the sea

 

Paper plates and javex bottles on the tide

 

Seagulls come down

And they squawk at me

 

Down where the water skiers glide

 

Some turn to jesus

 

And some turn to heroin

 

Some turn to rambling round

 

Looking for a clean sky

 

And a drinking stream

 

Some watch the paint peel off

 

Some watch their kids grow up

 

Some watch their stocks and bonds

 

Waiting for that big deal

American dream

 

I took my dream down by the sea

 

Yankee yachts and lobster pots and sunshine

 

And logs and sails

 

And shell oil pails

 

Dogs and tugs and summertime

 

Back in the banquet line

 

Angry young people crying

 

Who let the greedy in

 

And who left the needy out

 

Who made this salty soup

 

Tell him we're very hungry now

For a sweeter fare

 

In the cookie I read

 

Some get the gravy

 

And some get the gristle

 

Some get the marrow bone

 

And some get nothing

Though there's plenty to spare