Nineteen Merchants in a Shakedown

He's the kind of person
You meet at worst political affairs.
Center of the crowd—incoherent, loud
Tellin' people life's unfair.
Well, he's changed a lot—and for the worse—over 30-plus years
Now when he cries, look in his eyes:
He sheds crocodile tears.

I wish he'd stop.
But he gets 'round.
Here he comes, here he comes, here he comes, here he comes:
Got nineteen merchants in a shakedown.

'Fore he was reviled,
He treated folks kind,
But then on one hot Memphis night.
With emotions roiled, he made the most noise,
Then he hogged the limelight.
And today it he selects you, be warned: he wants millions, Jack.
He'll harass you till you cough up just to get him off your back.

I wish he'd stop.
But he gets 'round.
Here he comes, here he comes, here he comes, here he comes:
Got nineteen merchants in a shakedown.

You are to blame—the name of his game.
That's how he gets rich—better than work.
Protesting only makes matters worse. You're squeezed.

He's seen as uncool
Though he can still fool
You to think that he's kind.
But watch out, Jack! Don't turn your back!
He's out to rob you blind.

Some day he'll slip
And wind up in jail, or at least get fined.
Till then, if you're in business, he sees you as a gold mine.

I wish he'd stop.
But he gets 'round.
Here he comes, here he comes, here he comes, here he comes:
Got nineteen merchants in a shakedown.

Got nineteen merchants in a shakedown.
Got nineteen merchants in a shakedown.
Got nineteen merchants in a shakedown.