By Severin
A tax is a compulsory financial charge or some other type of levy imposed on an individual or legal entity by a governmental organisation in order to fund government spending and various public expenditures.
Wealth distribution can mean a comparison of the wealth of various members or groups in a society. Or it can refer to attempts to redistribute said wealth. The latter is usually understood to be from the richer to the poorer but this doesn't have to be the case. As we were beginning to see more clearly last week in the UK, until the tax break for the top earners was suddenly (and temporarily?) scrapped. And the intention to stop raising welfare benefits for those at the other end of the economic spectrum in line with inflation was promptly announced. But by the time you read this I have no idea what the situation will be. The compulsory serving of asparagus at breakfast probably.
It was touch and go whether to include any old aspect of wealth inequality on the grounds that this is also unequal distribution. Or to list only songs that specifically mention taxes or tolls of some kind. In the end, I came up with a series of compromises based on rules of thumb and personal prejudice. So no change there.
The B-list is a mix of the songs I shortlisted for the A, but which just missed the final cut, as well a ones I thought were not quite on topic but still deserved another listen. At this stage, I have the only dimmest idea of which is which. Both lists have 16 songs on them. Even in a quiet week I couldn't get it down to fewer. Either my indecision or your brilliant ideas. Or both. Give and take …
Expect an abrupt U-turn some time over the coming week when I will blame everyone else for my mistakes and omissions and assure you that lessons have been learned.
To start things off, Prince Buster sings about taxation without representation. He's against it.
Then, J.B. Lenoir and a song from the 1950s originally called Eisenhower Blues, changed to Tax Paying Blues. The record company begged to differ and that bowdlerised title takes some of the sting away but makes it more topic-friendly.
The Members denounce corporate tax-dodging and give chapter and verse on how it's done. It got to no 31 in the UK singles chart, back in 1979. Not bad for a song as caustically political as this.
Bob Dylan sings of the joys of making your own liquor. Cheaper than the stuff you can buy and tax free. "My daddy he made whisky, my granddaddy he did too. / We ain't paid no whisky tax since 1792.”
Ry Cooder recorded a rewrite of a Pete Seeger song. Originally titled The Farmer Is The Man That Feeds 'Em All. This version is a touch more cynical.
Massive Attack released an EP in 2020 called Eutopia. It featured various collaborators and track two included a recording of Prof Gabriel Zucman explaining the dodgy business of tax havens and what to do about them. Don't hold your breath.
The Exploited don't bother with the academic arguments or heavy analysis, apart from the briefest of intros. The Poll Tax introduced in Scotland in 1989 and the rest of the UK in 1990 was a flat rate charge to replace “The Rates” which was based on property values. But this new system made no differentiation between incomes, wealth or property ownership. So don't pay it they conclude. As well they might.
Daniel Caesar reminds of the old saying that only two things in life are certain. Death and taxes. And what a gorgeous song it is too. Discovery of the week for me.
Now, about these rates that we had before the Poll Tax. The Fall command us to pay them. Does that mean that Mark E. Smith was a socialist all along? Doubtful. From what I can make of the lyric he regards them there rates and their enforcement as another example of state oppression. Please don't hold me to this. Our Mark wasn't given to much literal interpretation even back then.
Los Tigres Del Norte sing of the political situation in Mexico and question where their tax money actually goes. “The government doesn't help you, especially if you're down. But if your luck changes … the taxman comes.” And when the government changes, they start again because “whoever leaves takes with him millions he has not earned.” They’ve only been A-listed once before. Not for taxes, but for the topic of taxis. What are the chances?
The name of the Japanese band that follows translates as “Village Man's Store” I am assured. The song title being a pun on the old Sex Pistols' number. They list any number of taxes and conclude “tax with you, entangled tax, let's embrace each other.” OK.
Veteran calypso maestro, Mighty Sparrow, is another one who sees the corruption in his country's authority's and names a couple of them. He won't be paying his taxes and nor will his dad. There were a few calypso nominations, all worthy of inclusion but I love this man's style. He wears the crown.
Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy rework a Dead Kennedys song about Californian Governor Jerry Brown to denounce the (then) more recent and more deserving target of Pete Wilson, who gave tax breaks to the wealthiest and left the poorest to their own devices. During a health and cost-of-living crisis. It couldn't happen here.
The final three feature two thorny questions and one (possible) suggestion. Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings look at the money spent of missiles and other weaponry and ask what would happen if we all just stopped paying. My guess is that the weapons would still get built but that welfare and public services would come to a halt. But I'm getting cynical in my old age. Didn't Joan Baez try something like this back in the mid sixties? Great singer and performance whatever the ins and outs.
I said possible suggestion because I really don't know if Rip, Rig and Panic are advocating a tax on sex. I'm not certain that they knew either. But the idea does remind me of the old Monty Python sketch which concluded “well, it would make accountancy more interesting” Neneh and Don Cherry feature and I think TV chef Andi Oliver is in there somewhere too.
And finally, Fred Wesley and the JBs want to know what their tax money is actually buying. A question featured (or at least implied) in a few of the choices here. This one makes it explicit and it does so in a way that's inventive, funky and epic.
The Accountable A-List Playlist:
Prince Buster – Taxation (Uncleben)
J.B. Lenoir – Tax Paying Blues (MussoliniHeadkick)
The Members – Offshore Banking Business (magicman)
Bob Dylan – Copper Kettle (George Boyland)
Ry Cooder – The Taxes On The Farmer Feed Us All (Chris 7572)
Massive Attack x Saul Williams Featuring Professor Gabriel Zucmen – Tax Havens (Nicko)
The Exploited – Don't Pay The Poll Tax (Carpgate)
Daniel Caesar – Death And Taxes (magicman)
The Fall – Pay Your Rates (Uncleben)
Los Tigres Del Norte – La Liebre (Maki)
Village Man's Store – Anarchy In The T.A.X. (ajostu)
Mighty Sparrow – Pay As You Earn (Jamesowen475)
The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy – California Uber Alles (Traktor Albatrost)
Sharon Jones And The Dap Kings – What If We All Stopped Paying Taxes? (Loud Atlas)
Rip Rig And Panic – Tax Sex (Nicko)
Fred Wesley And The JB s – I'm Payin' Taxes, What Am I Buyin'? (magicman)
The Back-Taxes B-List Playlist:
Gene Autry – I Paid My Income Tax Today (Nicko)
Crap – Society (Tarquin Spodd)
Loose Ends – Tax Man (ShivSidecar)
Stick In The Wheel – Me 'n' Becky (ShivSidecar)
Duke Of Iron – Taxes (Loud Atlas)
Sensational Alex Harvey Band – Boston Tea Party (Max Visconta Nuclerosea)
Toots And The Maytals – 54-46 Was My Number (Tarquin Spodd)
The Heptones – Richard Khoury (ShivSidecar)
Junior Parker – Taxman (magicman)
Echo And The Bunnymen – The Cutter (ParaMhor)
The Clash – Bankrobber (Tarquin Spodd)
A Tribe Called Quest – After Hours (pejepeine)
Rubella Ballet – Run Run (Carpgate)
Champion Jack Dupree – Income Tax (Fred Erickson)
Busi Mhlongo - Yapheli'mali Yami (George Boyland)
“My money is finished, that's why I'm writing a letter to you, my man, why don't you reply? Oh, my money is finished, write to me, my love . . .Go safely, my letter, bring me a reply."
Pink Floyd – Money (Loud Atlas)
Instrumentals:
A short and probably incomplete list of the instrumental suggestions which didn't make it to the A- or B-lists and some of the songs that were already zedded. Enjoy.
Guru’s Wildcard Picks:
The Fall's Pay Your Rates was taken so here are three shoe-horned Guru Wildcards, including one silly one.
Lonnie Donegan – Rock Island Line (Tolls is taxes)
Keith Moon – Solid Gold (If the tax should bite, it's all right)
BJ and the Bear – Theme Music (And best of all he don't pay property tax)
These playlists were inspired by readers' song nominations from last week's topic: Spend it wisely: songs about tax and wealth distribution. The next topic will launch on Thursday at 1pm UK time.
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