More than Promises

Well, you know it takes more than promises to feed a nation

It takes more than pounds of surplus cheese

I ain’t got a lot of education, so why don’t somebody tell me please

Why am I hungry; why am I hungry?

Why in this land?

Why in this land of plenty, my belly’s often empty

I swear that I don’t understand

I swear that I don’t understand.

It takes more than promises to clothe a nation

It takes more than hand-me-downs and rags

My clothes are tattered and my soul is battered

And I don’t even own a plastic bag.

Why am I naked; why am I naked

Why in this land

What can one person do with 200 pairs of shoes? I,

I swear that I don’t understand,

I swear that I don’t understand.

Well you know it takes more than promises to house a nation

It takes more than tenements and shacks

I ain’t rested since they closed the shelter

And this park bench ain’t no good for my back

Why am I homeless; why am I homeless?

Why in this land?

Why are so many crowded when you own strings of houses

I swear that I don’t understand,

I swear that I don’t understand.