An American Pie Parody Returns for West Virginia Teachers, and Tax Payers

As I was writing our Community Vlogcasts for Positive Actions this week, not knowing if I would get to go to work while waiting to hear if the teacher's strike would continue here in Morgan County, well... here in West Virginia..., all the news of unions, PEIA, teacher's salaries, health coverage, WV public employees, tax payers,... it all got me thinking about a little parody I prepared nearly five years ago.  

Here is my revised version, now sadly #2 version, of American Pie, utilizing a little liberty with the "levee" and hoping we all will start "thinkin' past tomorrow."

Sing along with me.  Come on....I know you know the melody!

 A long, long time ago

I can still remember how that teacher used to make me smile

And I knew if I had my chance

That I could make those students dance

And maybe they'd be happy for a while

But now May 8th makes me shiver

With every Facebook post I quiver

Bad news on the doorstep

I couldn't take more more ed-

itorial in the Morgan Mess

When I read about the other side

But something touched me deep inside

The day the teachers cried

So, bye-bye, Miss American Pie

Drove my School Board to the Levy

But the Levy was dry

And the ole Sheetz boys were drinkin' coffee and high

Singing this'll be the day that they cry

This'll be the day that they cry

Did you vote for the Levy then

In the 50's it was when

Morgan County they began

Do you believe in your success

Can schools save us from the rest

And can you teach me how to do with less

'Cause I saw you spendin in the store

You both bought brand news shoes and more

Man, I want some of those too

I was a lonely tax payin' broncin buck

With bills and kids in a Suburban truck

But, I knew I was out of luck

The day the levy died

I started singin'

Bye-bye, Miss American Pie

Drove my School Board to the Levy

But the Levy was dry
Banks left town, with others not far behind

Singing this'll be the day that they cry

This'll be the day that they cry

For five decades, we've been on our own

Now, May and his teachers strikin' all alone

But that's not how it might soon be

With the levy gone jobs at the Dairy Queen

will be all our kids have seen

Said a voice that came from you and me

Oh, and while the King was looking down

And Brooks tried again to steal His thorny crown

The courtroom was adjourned

Kate's verdict was returned

And while Lenin read a book on Marx

The band still practiced in the park

Parents sang dirges in the dark

The day the levy dies

We'll be singing...

Bye-bye, Miss American Pie

Drove my School Board to the levy

But the Levy was dry

And the ole Sheetz boys are drinkin' coffee and high

Singing this'll be the day that they cry

This'll be the day that they cry

I met a mom who sang the blues

And I asked her for some happy news

But she just smiled and turned away

I too have bills at the sacred store

Where my kids need fed like yours before

But the man there said the levy wouldn't pay

And in the streets the students screamed

The teachers cried, and the parents dreamed

But not a word was spoken

School buildings all were broken

And the three men I admire the most

The Father, Son and the Holy Ghost

They caught the last train for the coast

The day the levy died

And they were singing

Bye-bye, Miss American Pie

Have we learned anything?

With the Levy gone dry?

And the ole Sheetz boys still drinkin' coffee and high

Singing this'll be the day that they cry

This'll be the day that they cry