If the Poor Don't Matter - Tom Paxton

If the kids are hungry

But there’s nothing to eat,

If the baby has a fever

But there is no heat,

If they’re living in a Chevy

As the world walks by,

If the poor don’t matter,

Then neither do I.

If the poor don’t matter,

If the poor don’t matter,

If the poor don’t matter,

Then neither do I.

If they’re living in a cardboard

Or a packing case,

If they’re gone by morning

And they leave no trace,

If nobody wonders

If they live or they die,

If the poor don’t matter,

Then neither do I.

If the poor don’t matter,

If the poor don’t matter,

If the poor don’t matter,

Then neither do I.

Push them back, sweep them out, anything to keep them out,

Keep them real branded out, standing with their hands out.

Knocking at the back gate, radio talking hate,

Wrong here, strong here, know they don’t belong here.

My house, my car, living like a rock star,

Caviar, wet bar, bought another Jaguar.

Get it all payday, now its time to play-day,

Trouble not to think about, not to make a stink about…

If the poor don’t matter,

If we chase them away,

We’re gonna see them again, boys,

On the judgement day.

We’re gonna see them again, boys,

On the day we die.

If the poor don’t matter,

Then neither do I.

If the poor don’t matter,

If the poor don’t matter,

If the poor don’t matter,

Then neither do I.

If the poor don’t matter,

If the poor don’t matter,

If the poor don’t matter,

Then neither do I.