Story Behind The Song

Time to wake up and smell the oil. The author believes that a change of consciousness is needed in the way we regard transportation, and the energy we use...energy we have to import. And, it's getting worse. Our nation's wealth is being transferred over seas at an astounding rate. Just check out pictures available all over the internet of palaces, airports, skyscrapers, and opulent resorts in the middle of deserts.

Song Description

A rant about the symbol of excess energy consumption purely for ego gratification, focusing on the Hummer (and by extension all over-size, gas-guzzling vehicles). It points out that driving such rigs means we are enriching those who are not necessarily our friends, and some who are our out-and-out enemy.

Lyrics

Ode to the Hummer
(All the Way to the Bank)

It's the crack in modern society
Fill it up! Fill it up!
It's hydrocarbon energy
Fill it up! Fill it up!
Drive a Hummer with a 30 gallon tank, and
The sheiks laugh all the way to the bank
All the way to the bank

It's your future thats in jeopardy
Fill it up! Fill it up!
Time for a whole new strategy
Fill it up! Fill it up!
It's conspicuous consumption, lets be frank, and
The sheiks laugh all the way to the bank
All the way to the bank

Bigger's not better, don't supersize it
Minimize it! Down size it!
Kill that three ton SUV
It makes no sense, can't you see?
To keep writing checks made out in blank
To sheiks laughing all the way to the bank
All the way to the bank

Don't look to Congress or the President
They're just standing still
It starts right here with you and me
It's not that bitter a pill
Down the road youll have yourself to thank
Cause youll be laughing all the way to the bank
All the way to the bank

Spoken rant over a closing vamp

Besides...
I hate parking next to one of those big ass things
Have to squeeze out of my car door
What do they get 9 miles to the gallon?
Etc

Arthur Brueggeman 2008