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Erin Go Broke

Today's post puts the economic woes of the Emerald Isle to music. The lyrics are Hazard's, though I confess to have taken crack at them myself and then, at some risk to my ego, sent both sets of lyrics -- mine and the master's, our names not included -- to several eminent economists for a vote. Mine lost in a unanimous decision. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank the digital universe for being able to salvage them here, and to encourage you to similarly carpe diem, as explained below.

You, at least, will not be competing with -- but FOR -- the master.

My lyrics: (also to the tune of "Danny Boy")

Oh Danny boy, your banks, your banks are wailing;
From glen to glen, they loaned to housing new;
The boom is gone, and all the banks are failing;
Erin goes broke, or Europe sees you through.

Investors, they will only keep you solvent
Should you agree, your belt to tighten more;
But how can Ireland employ all the Irish
If firms cut costs, by showing workers to the door?

Oh Emerald Isle, you could perhaps raise taxes
But foreign firms would turn your greenfields brown,
And when a firm quits town your folk it axes,
Leaving Erin further broken down.

What's Paddy's choice, then? What could be the cure? -- oh
Danny boy, damned if you do or you don't?
Revive the Irish punt and throw away the Euro,
Then tell your lenders where to shove the dough they've loant
Then tell your lenders where to shove the dough they've loant.

We'll be continuing all week with new country country songs by Mr. Merle. If you haven't already, you might like to watch yesterday's ditty about Spain's economic plight.

And for the lyrically-inclined, he and I re-extend our invitation to enter our Making Sen$e contest. Got a lyric or two about European debt woes? Iceland's? France's? Luxembourg's? Post them (or a link to a video of you singing them) in the comments below. And here's the best part: Merle will record the winning lyrics, and we'll post his rendition of your work here. You can even copy it for your home answering machine.

-- Posted January 25, 2011 | Comments ( ) | Permalink