Fracking Song (2)

23 Replies

pumper 2 (2)

 

Fracking Song

You’re standing on the corner
Watching the trucks go rolling past
Pumping out their diesel fumes
Pumping out that carbon gas

It’s the middle of winter
And it’s twenty below
And that gas just sits there
With nowhere to go

Something’s wrong in the valley
Babies stillborn
Ten in one year
And they  call that the norm

Something’s wrong in the valley
Something toxic in the ground
Something wrong in the valley
Since the frackers came to town.

That rock’s been down forever
With its hydrocarbon payload
When they  blow it all apart
They  can’t control where it goes

And that water that’s left standing
Evaporating in the sun
The residue will be with us
Long after they are gone

Something’s wrong in the valley
Babies stillborn
Ten in one year
And they call that the norm

Something’s wrong in the valley
Something toxic in the ground
Something wrong in the valley
Since the frackers came to town.

You can blame the politicians
The special interests groups
Blame the fracking company
They all don’t give a fuck

There’s only one thing they understand
One thing that they know
Keep riding that fossil fool train
As far as it will go.

There’s something wrong in the valley
Babies stillborn
Placentas like ribbons
And they call that the norm

Something’s wrong in the valley
Something toxic in the ground
Something wrong in the valley
Since the frackers came to town

 

Taking part in Open Link Weekend over at earthweal

23 thoughts on “Fracking Song (2)”

  2. earthweal

    Oh yeah — The awareness in this protest song (as I read it) is piercing, agonizing and true. Here in the US, fracking has made the US an oil powerhouse, made some investors rich rich rich, poisoned the water supply and scoured the living. Down in the valley the truth is revealed. (Great refrain.) Just wonder, if there was a $2 a gallon tax on gas and no one drove: All that fracking enterprise would vanish. But then we are so endeared of and enslaved to our cars… Well done, Jim, thanks.

    Like

    Reply ↓
    1. sdtp33 Post author

      Thanks Brendan…yes, we are so dependent on cars, but things can be done….mandate high fuel efficiency, hybrids, electric (given a clean source), better public transit in cities etc

      Like

      Reply ↓
  4. hedgewitch

    Powerful and truthful. The rhyme and the repetition works very wel, and the subject you cover so well here is close to my own heart. Oklahoma had a fracking boom a few years back that completely destabilized the fault lines running through the state–we went from two or three earthquakes a year to over 500 at the peak. The state sold lucrative permits to inject toxic fracking wastewater into the water table to companies outside the state, as well, so we also had disposal injection going on at the same time. The fossil fool(I love that!) companies involved denied they had anything to do with it; of course. The state regulator who told the truth and tried to stop them was forced out of a job and had to leave the state…then the earthquakes started impacting the wealthier suburbs, and people with money started to lawyer up. Suddenly the injection stopped, at least near populated areas and with such frequency and huge amounts, and low and behold, we are back to three or four earthquakes a year. But the aquifer that serves our state and several others is probably compromised forever. All for a few people to make some bucks. As you say, something’s wrong, but it;becomes the norm. Enjoyed your write, and pardon me for telling my little horror story at such length.

    Like

    Reply ↓
    1. sdtp33 Post author

      Thank you for your very detailed and informative reply…..industry brings jobs etc but when it is unregulated and uncontrolled, then profit rules and shortcuts are taken. Doing it right always costs more!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply ↓
  5. Sherry Marr

    Something’s wrong in the valley, all right. Your poem captures the frustration of watching such destructive practices going endlessly on, as the world crumbles………no wonder there are so many earthquakes, so much volcanic unrest. Gah! This poem would make a great protest song. Here in Tofino, we are marching on Monday in support of the Wet’Suwet’en. I imagine Vancouver is rallying as well.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓
  7. Björn Rudberg (brudberg)

    There is only one thing we can do to have them listen… stop buying their fuel… if we all cease to drive cars or heat our houses less… if everyone just ceased to consume it would come to a stop.

    Love the repetitions and I hope we can change from being victims to active.

    Like

    Reply ↓
  8. Yvonne Osborne

    This is a great poem. There is an article in the current Rolling Stone about the radioactive waste from gas and oil extraction that is being dumped on roads and injected into wells. good Lord. what are we doing?

    Like

    Reply ↓
  9. Truedessa

    I definitely read this as a protest song. The chorus is strong and the repetition stays with you long after you finished reading. I have to wonder what the hell people are thinking? The norm is quite chilling.

    Like

    Reply ↓
  10. erbiage

    great stuff here jim. There was a show called battlestar galactica and they used ‘fracking’ instead of ‘fucking’. Partial ploy to get around censors, partial display of their slightly different culture, but yeah, fracking is basically fucking up the earth so there you go.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓

Leave a comment