Johnny Carcinogenic

I've been working feverishly on a big project today, which means listening to music to take the edge off. As usually happens at times like this, I found myself particularly noticing a song I already knew but hadn't fully appreciated.

This one is by Billy Bragg:

The Johnny Carcinogenic Show

Saw some guy on the TV yesterday,
He's selling poison by the ton.
"How can you do such a thing?" a woman asked.
And he replied, "Well, the secret is to hook 'em young.
Look, I'm not responsible for the lessons children learn —
I'm just responsible for giving my investors some return."

Here's a message from
The sponsors of The Johnny Carcinogenic Show
The sponsors of The Johnny Carcinogenic Show

Well, you'd never believe how much effort goes into
Adding some glamor to the brands
To distract you from the damage that they do
Putting their product in your hand.
What other industry could ever get away
With contaminating their best customers this way?

Here's a message from
The sponsors of The Johnny Carcinogenic Show
The sponsors of The Johnny Carcinogenic Show

Here's a product that promises to do nothing
But take your money and your soul.
Poverty is toxic, everybody knows —
No need to help it take its toll.
Who will profit from the misery they sow?
Not the grandchildren that you will never know.

Here's a message from
The sponsors of The Johnny Carcinogenic Show:
Poverty is toxic.
The sponsors of The Johnny Carcinogenic Show:
Poverty is toxic

(fades out on that refrain)

And it sounds good, too.