Burtucky Breakdown

Lyrics

Words and Music Copyright © ℗ 2022 by Scott Richard Cooley


They moved from Kentucky up to Burton

For them high-payin' shop rat jobs

They had to get used to bein' called hillbillies

Never hung around those Grand Blanc snobs


They moved from Kentucky up to Burton

Took the highway to Flint after the war

When the strikes shut down all the coal mines

They went to GM to get a foot in the door


Like Snuffy Smith in the funny papers

Like Jed Clampett on the TV

Like Fred Flintstone when the whistle would blow

Hollerin' yabba, dabba, do! We're finally free


They moved from Kentucky up to Burton

Generous Motors even helped 'em find shelter

Thought they were less likely to unionize

But the southerners they all stuck together


Like Snuffy Smith in the funny papers

Like Jed Clampett on the TV

Like Fred Flintstone when the whistle would blow

Hollerin' yabba, dabba, do! We're livin' the dream


They moved from Kentucky up to Burton

Can't drink the water now and it's lost its charm

Their jobs were all given to China and Mexico

They'd be better off back home down on the farm

Information

Video

My first stab at writing and recording with a mandolin.  I borrowed my friend's, and it was too small and cramped for my fat fingers.  Looked up how to tune it and play chords on the web, then just figured it out.  The sound is cool and the soloing was fun, but some chords are downright impossible to play.  I recorded two other songs with it, then decided it's not a good instrument for me, and gave it back to my friend Rich.  He doesn't play it much either.  I'd rather play a ukulele any day because the strings are loose and way easier to play.