with apologies to Tom Paxton and Arlo Guthrie

Oh the price of oil is rising out of sight.
And the dollar is in sorry shape tonight.
What a dollar used to get us
Now won’t buy a head of lettuce;
No, the economic forecast isn’t bright.

But amidst the clouds I spot a shining ray.
I can even glimpse a new and better way.
And I’ve devised a plan of action –
Worked it down to the last fraction
And I’m going into action here today.

CHORUS:
I’m changing my name to Freddie Mac.
I’m going down to Washington D.C.
I will tell some petty tyrant
What they did for Richie Syron
Will be perfectly acceptable to me.
I am changing my name to Freddie Mac.
I am going to that great receiving line.
So when they hand a billion grand out,
I’ll be standing with my hand out.
…You’ll gets yours as soon as I get mine.

When my creditors are screaming for their dough.
I’ll be proud to tell them all where they can all go.
They won’t have to scream and holler,
They’ll be paid to the last dollar
Where the endless streams of money seem to flow.

I’ll be glad to tell them just what they can do.
It’s a matter of a simple form or two.
It’s not just renumeration, it’s a liberal education.
Aren’t you kinda glad that I’m in debt to you?

CHORUS

Since the first amphibians crawled out of the ooze.
We’ve been struggling in a fight some did not choose.
We were hardly up and walking before money started talking
And it’s sad that failure is an awful crime.

Well it’s been that way for a millennium or two.
But now it seems that there’s a different point of view.
If you’re a corporate titanic and your failure is gigantic,
Down in congress there’s a safety net for you.

(one more time)

If you’re a corporate titanic and your failure is gigantic,
A friend’s in Pennsylvania Avenue.

CHORUS REPRISE
I am changing my name to Freddie Mac.
I am going down to Washington D.C.
I will tell some petty tyrant
What they did for Richie Syron
Will be perfectly acceptable to me.
I am changing my name to Freddie Mac.
I’ll be in Congress at appointed time.
There will be a big tongue-lashing
But the checks are still a-cashing
…You’d think this kind of thing would be a crime.