Here’s to Essential Workers!

My friend Jen Frank created a new advocacy group called the Essential Workers Party, and asked me to write a “Woody Guthrie-type” rallying song. I channeled my “inner Woody” and here’s the result. Blessings to all you essential workers! Lyrics follow:

We’re Essential by John Duggleby © 5/2020

We’re the doctors and the nurses on the front lines saving lives First responders, PPE makers too We’re police and firefighters who are ready when you call And the ones who clean the buildings through and through

We’re the farmers and the pickers in the field who keep us fed The workers at the processing plants We’re the truckers driving overtime delivering the goods Store employees hustling ‘round like busy ants

We’re essential in the jobs we’re getting done Influential in what makes our nation run Our credentials are proven every day Help us reach our full potential in the safest, fairest way

We’re the cooks and the waitstaff at your favorite restaurant The helpers at your hardware store We’re the ones who staff the drive-thru at the pharmacy and bank And the people getting mail to your door

We’re the teachers finding different ways to help our kids to learn Social workers helping neighbors in need We’re the folks who fix the potholes and the signs along our roads And the ones who mow the parks and pull the weeds

We’re essential in the jobs we’re getting done Influential in what makes our nation run Our credentials are proven every day Help us reach our full potential in the safest, fairest way

We’re men and women, young and old, black and white and brown We live a thousand miles away, and right here in your town Every day, a million ways that we and you connect We’d like a decent place to work, fair pay and some respect

We’re essential in the jobs we’re getting done Influential in what makes our nation run Our credentials are proven every day Help us reach our full potential in the safest, fairest way Our power’s exponential when our chains are cast away