Ronnie Dunn - Cost of Livin'

(Image source)

Stalin famously said that one death was a tragedy, but a million was a statistic.  What we hear on the news reports of the unemployed are statistics.  It's easy to miss that these events are millions of tragedies.

And so we look to artists to remind us of the human side of the cold, clinical numbers.  There's a Country Music song for that.

Ronnie Dunn is best known as half of the duo Brooks and Dunn.   Dunn is performing on his own now, with a timely song that reminds us that behind the statistics, are the tragedies.  In their millions.



Cost of Livin' (Songwriters: Ronnie Dunn, Phillip Coleman)

Everythin' to know about me
Is written on this page
A number you can reach me
My social and my age

Yes, I served in the army
It's where I learned to shoot
Eighteen months in the desert
Pourin' sand out of my boots

No, I've never been convicted of a crime
I could start this job at any time

I got a strong back, steel toes
I rarely call in sick, a good truck
What I don't know I catch on real quick
I work weekends, if I have to, nights and holidays

Give you forty and then some
Whatever it takes
Four dollars and change at the pump
The cost of livin's high and goin' up

I put Robber down as a reference
He's known me all my life
We attend the same church
He introduced me to my wife

I gave my last job everythin'
Before it headed south
Took the shoes off of my children's feet
Food out of their mouths

Yesterday my folks offered to help
But they're barely gettin' by themselves

I got a strong back, steel toes
I rarely call in sick, a good truck
What I don't know I catch on real quick
I work weekends, if I have to, nights and holidays

Give you forty and then some
Whatever it takes
Three dollars and change at the pump
The cost of livin's high and goin' up

I'm sure a hundred others have applied
But rumor has it you're only takin' five

I got a strong back, steel toes
I'm handy with a wrench
There's nothin' I can't drive
There's nothin' I can't fix

I work sunup to sundown
Ain't too proud to sweep the floors
The bank has started callin'
And the wolves are at my door

Four dollars and change at the pump
The cost of livin's high and goin' up

In this political season, remember that it's not all about scoring points.