WEST SIDERS AGAINST ANNEXATION, a protest song
West Siders Against Annexation now have their own political action rallying song. A concerned citizen put his thoughts about West Side annexation into song and sent it to us. This recording not only made us grin, but we pretty much agree with the sentiment. West Siders Against Annexation...
This song was featured in a primetime Fox News segment that aired on July 1, 2009, on Evansville's Channel 7 WTVW. The WSAA team credits WTVW reporter Sarah Fortune with a well done piece about it. If you missed the piece, you can view the archived video here.
A clip of this song ran as a radio spot on WABX 107.5 Evansville's Classic Rock during May. Please note that the WSAA legal fund was not used for this purpose. The spots were wholly paid by the Citizens Supporting West Siders, a group of community leaders sympathetic to our cause.
Both the full song and radio spots are linked below. Just press the black arrow to listen to either while you read (or sing) along with the lyrics.
West Siders Against Annexation full song (3:15):
WSAA radio spot (1:00):
Verse 1:
Evansville is hurtin'
Their budget isn't certain.
They need nickels in the city coffee can.
So Johnny and his boys
And some others he employs
Came up with a clever little plan.
(He said,) "No higher city tax,
That stops voters in their tracks.
We need a more clever operation.
Hey I'll tell ya what we'll do.
We can slide it right on through.
We'll apply a little annexation.”
Johnny said, “We can reach into the sticks.
We can get our little fix.
We can add farmlands and forests to the city."
"County dwellers we'll admit 'em.
And they'll never know what hit 'em.
Their taxes will satisfy our kitty."
Chorus
West Siders Against Annexation
We ain’t lookin to make a sensation.
Just leave us alone, let us reside in our homes.
Don’t slap us with urban taxation.
Verse 2
Well, the West Side took a smell
And they started to rebel.
(They said) we ain't gonna take this lying down.
Hey the West Side is our home.
You better leave us all alone.
You don't know who you're trying to push around.
You don't get taxes for free.
The sheriff's officers agree,
Who we thank for the protection they provide.
And when it comes to fighting fire
Our local volunteers inspire.
We don't need no city service for the West Side.
Chorus
West Siders Against Annexation
We ain’t lookin to make a sensation.
Just leave us alone, let us reside in our homes.
Don’t slap us with urban taxation.
Verse 3
Don and Chuck took up the reins,
Started rattling some chains
From Old Henderson to Red Bank Road.
County firemen came surging
And the deputies came urging
To prevent city tax overload.
The city's put in a subpoena
That they want a new arena,
But we're not about to pay that tab.
Hey 47712
Is telling you no thank you.
Go elsewhere for your revenue grab.
Johnny said, "I start to see
How West Siders disagree.
I'm impressed how their crusade has increased."
"We still need to get some loot
But the West Side may be moot.
I'll just go after the North and the East."
Chorus
West Siders Against Annexation
We ain’t lookin to make a sensation.
Just leave us alone, let us reside in our homes.
Don’t slap us with urban taxation.
Don't need no city greed, we got everything we need.
There’s gonna be a remonstration.
Words and Music Copyright © 2009 Citizens Supporting West Siders
Used with permission
