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The Grand Scheme / The Midas Touch

from Maxims, Mantras & Moral Tales by Sam Steffen

/

lyrics

Try to take all good advice; don’t do once what you must do twice
Don’t be mean, always be nice and kind
Keep your head up and do your best; make sure you get yourself plenty of rest
Be a leader, see that no one’s left behind
Chew your food, be polite, when it ain’t in use turn off the light
Don’t be late, be early, or at least be right on time
Wear a helmet, don’t get hurt, comb your hair, tuck in your shirt
Wait your turn—you’ll soon be next in line

O but its hard to keep on grinning when everyone cept you is winnin
And everything feels like it’s spinning right down the toiletbowl’s mainstream
And even if you got that midas touch, time still turns everything to dust
Night to morning, dawn to dusk, gold to brass, steel to rust
No, nothing ain’t worth very much in the grand-scheme

Mind your manners, mind your health, stand up straight, introduce yourself
Speak clearly, to the point, and don’t be shy
When in doubt just play it cool, keep out of trouble, stay in school
Wear your seatbelt when you drive or fly
Pay your taxes, pay your dues, pull up your pants, tie your shoes
On election day don’t forget to register and vote
Treat your neighbor as you would yourself, if you strike it rich well, share the wealth
We may have our differences, but we’re all in the same boat

But it’s hard to keep on keepin when the liferaft’s long been leakin
And existence goes on eeking out getting more and more highstrung
And even if you got the Midas touch, time still turns everything to dust
Night to morning, dawn to dusk, gold to brass, steel to rust
No nothing ain’t worth very much in the long-run

Don’t complain, don’t talk back, cite your sources, check your facts
If you can’t say something nice, don’t say nothing t’all
Check your tires, check your oil—bring that water to a boil
Keep your elbows up and your eye upon the ball
Always listen to your dad, pledge allegiance to the flag
Deck the halls with boughs fa la la la la la la la
Do the right thing when you can, smile for the camera man
You know the drill—blah, blah, blah, blah, blah

But it’s hard to keep on servin when your master’s undeserving
And your loyalty’s been swerving like sparks off the main grindstone
And even if you got that Midas touch, time still turns everything to dust
Night to morning, dawn to dusk, gold to brass, steel to rust
All you get’s a “Thank You Very Much” etched on your headstone

credits

from Maxims, Mantras & Moral Tales, released October 3, 2021

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Sam Steffen Boise, Idaho

Sam Steffen is a Pennsylvania-bred, Boise-based singer-songwriter whose songs are the torch-wood for a new generation of folk music that has learned from the best stuff in the tradition and aims in spite of everything to keep the human spirit alive and kicking. A versatile musician and skilled finger-picker, Sam is at heart a story-teller, and a prolific one. ... more

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