Since many of my wife’s clients and colleagues are dealing firsthand with layoffs, cutbacks, abandoned initiatives, and postponed projects (or simply living life on that narrow edge of uncertainty), we’re having a Recession Digression cookout at our home today.
Naturally, she has some specific ideas for music (mostly old-school Blues), but wanted me to liven things up with some theme-appropriate music: “We’re in the Money”, “Brother Can You Spare a Dime”, “Pennies from Heaven” and other songs from the jazz age, but I’m also including more from “our” era of music (“Money” by Pink Floyd, “For the Love of Money” by the O’Jays).
So what recession-themed music (the more bitterly ironic the better) would you play at such an event? And what music do I absolutely, positively have to include today as well?*
*if I have it, of course
Danny’s Song by Loggins & Messina: “Even though we ain’t got money, I’m so in love with you, honey”
Money for Nothing by Dire Straits
Sixteen Tons by Merle Travis, recorded by Tennessee Ernie Ford: “You load sixteen tons, and what do you get? Another day older and deeper in debt.”
*She Works Hard for the Money *by Donna Summer
*Money (That’s What I Want) *by Barrett Strong: The best things in life are free/But you can keep 'em for the birds and bees; Now give me money, (that’s what I want)
Tom Chapin-Small Business Blues.
Tracy Chapman, Fast Car
Don Henley, Gimme What You Got (good for fans of Notorious AIG)
Take This Job and Shove It – Johnny Paycheck
All those whiney Tracey Chapman songs.
Do union songs count? Pete Seeger did a bunch – I’m not coming up with titles but probably the best known one went, “Oh no you can’t scare me, I’m stickin’ with the Union, I’m stickin’ with the Union…”.
And in a slightly different vein, “Poor Poor Pitiful Me” by Linda Ronstadt. 
“Happy Prole” by Quasi
“Money, Money, Money” by ABBA
“Just the Way I Are” by Timberland feat. Keri Hilson
“See a Penny(Pick It Up)” by YACHT
“Common People” by Pulp, although I really like the William Shatner version too.
Frank Zappa, “Can’t Afford No Shoes”
For a very modern song we have John Rich’s Shutting Down Detroit which is written about current events.
The Devil I Know, Joan Armatrading (dedicated to all those who advocate letting the government officials and senior executives who got us into this mess stay in place)
The Kinks: Get Back in Line
“Working Man” by Rush.
“Gimme Shelter” by the Rolling Stones.
Also “Superman” by the Kinks, which include the following lyrics:
Woke up this morning, what did I see
A big black cloud hanging over me
I switched on the radio and nearly dropped dead
The news was so bad that I fell out of bed
There was a gas strike, oil strike, lorry strike, bread strike
Got to be a superman to survive
Gas bills, rent bills, tax bills, phone bills
Im such a wreck but Im staying alive
“Don’t Give Up” by Peter Gabriel (about the Depression, but still works for modern day)
Pay to the Piper, Chairmen of the Board
As long as we’re on the subject,
Respect, Aretha Franklin
Let us not overlook the Silhouettes’ classic Get A Job:
And when I get the paper
I read it through and through
And my girl never fails to say
If there is any work for me,
And when I go back to the house
I hear the woman’s mouth
Preaching and a crying,
Tell me that I’m lying 'bout a job
That I never could find.
And of course, the immortal refrain:
Sha na na na, sha na na na na,
Sha na na na, sha na na na na,
Sha na na na, sha na na na na,
Sha na na na, sha na na na na,
Yip yip yip yip yip yip yip yip
Mum mum mum mum mum mum
Get a job
Plus there’s One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer sung by either John Lee Hooker or George Thorogood, whichever you prefer:
(spoken) "The landlady said, “You got the rent money yet?”,
I said, “No, can’t find no job”
Therefore I ain’t got no money to pay the rent
She said “I don’t believe you’re tryin’ to find no job”
Said “I seen you today you was standin’ on a corner,
Leaning up against a post”
I said “But I’m tired, I’ve been walkin’ all day”
She said “That don’t confront me,
Long as I get my money next Friday”
To explain the stimulus package and TARP:
Throw Some Money At It by Black Lipstick
Money on the Fire by The Ghost Frequency
Living on a Prayer - Bon Jovi
Gimme Some Money-- Spinal Tap
American Gangster - Jay-Z
Award Tour - A Tribe Called Quest
Been Around the World - P Diddy and Mase
C.R.E.A.M. (Cash Rules Everything Around Me) - Wu-Tang clan
Juicy - Notorious B.I.G.
Live Your Life - T.I. and Rihanna
Lose Yourself - Eminem
Mo Money Mo Problems - Notorious B.I.G.
Rock Superstar - Cyprus Hill
Still - Geto Boys (Office Space Soundtrack)