It Was Never Free

Verse 1Anglin’s Pier, on the edge of our town Closed since twenty-twenty-two, and it’s still fallin’ down Now Commissioner Theo’s runnin’ for Seat One His mailer says “Rebuild the pier.” Well, son… There’s one little thing that he didn’t make clear: The owner of the pier is his father-in-law, my dear! Pre-chorusHe stood up at Town Hall and said, plain as can be, “Why should the owner build a pier that you get for free?” ChorusIt was never free! (Two to walk!) It was never free! (Seven to fish!) We paid our way on that pier, every summer, every week It was never free! We just want our pier back, Theo, that’s all we seek!Verse 2Now a neighbor left a garbage cart out a day too late A hundred-dollar fine, and you pay it straight But the pier’s been out of code since twenty-eighteen Four hundred thousand dollars of fines, the most you’ve ever seen And when the Town held hearings, nobody even came They got another delay, and no lien in their name Pre-chorusAnd what did the owner say about the bill? “Let them run.” So they’re runnin’ still! BridgeTheo says, “I always recuse myself on the pier.” So how’s he gonna fix it if he’s never in the room, my dear? You can’t promise you’ll rebuild it, then sit out every vote You can’t stand up for the family, then ask us for our vote Final chorusIt was never free! (Two to walk!) It was never free! (Seven to fish!) In Seat One, November third, here’s what we’re gonna be: Votin’ Howard Goldberg! ’Cause it was never free!