Joe's Soup
Words and Music: © 2000 by Tom Smith
We had lots of potlucks where I used to work. I sometimes made Divine Chili, Traci made her Taco Salad, Dennis baked cookies. Our former sales manager, Joe, made soup, which is kinda like saying God makes sunrises. Wow. Anyway, after one incredible example, sales rep Penny said or did one or two goofy things -- I can't remember what -- and the other sales rep, Robin, said, "What was in that soup, Joe -- ganga?" I overheard that, and this took about a half-hour to whip up (in between my other work, during computer lag times, which is either a paean to my songwriting speed or an indictment of the company's LAN). I was just going to do something quick, a verse or two as a private internal complement to the man and his creation, but the song kept getting sillier. The subtitle is, "Everything's Political in Reggae".
(Bob Marley-ish "boomp-wanka, wank, boomp-wanka, wank...")
Hey, Joe, who made de soup?
It's thick and tomato-ey, it's really good goop,
Hey, Joe, you made de soup,
For Mom, Dad, and little Brother's Boy Scout Troop.
De soup, it got noodles, dey soft to chew,
But noodles ain't de only t'ing Joe know how to do,
De soup, it got zucchini, de soup, it got squash,
De soup is almost ready, I better go wash.
De soup, it got tomatoes, de soup, it got spice,
De soup, it got fresh herbs, make it taste real nice,
De soup, it got onions, it got de celery,
De soup, it gotta be for-a you and me.
Hey, Joe, who made de soup?
I drink it when I drive in my Cadillac coupe,
Hey, Joe, you made de soup,
De rasta in de pasta make a macaroni loop.
Police man, he come, an' he take my soup away,
I gotta make do wit' de stew, he say,
De stew made wit’ rocks and de stew made wit’ dirt,
De stew made wit’ socks and de unwashed shirt.
De stew ain't de people's, de stew is de Man's,
De stew made by stew-ges who don' wash dey hands,
De stew is oppresion, de stew is our pain,
And you got a fresh song stuck in your brain.
Hey, Joe, who made de soup?
Is dat stringy thingy ganja, or some old guy’s toup?
Hey, Joe, you made de soup,
Feed de people, make 'em free in one fell swoop.Hey, Joe, who made de soup?
It's thick and tomato-ey, it's really good goop,
Hey, Joe, you made de soup,
For Mom, Dad, and little Brother's Boy Scout Troop.