Beans in My Ears

Annotation

The song "Beans in My Ears", also on Dangerous Songs!? (CBS # 62751) - originally written by Len Chandler - member of the The Broadside Singers, and one of the magazine's editors. It appeared in volume # 45. Seeger added a verse at the end, to criticize President Lyndon B. Johnson, with a play on words, saying that "Alby Jay" (i.e. LBJ) had beans in his ear, and wouldn't listen to anyone about the war in Vietnam. He noted in the song with a spoken word section:"Course you know this is just like an old folk song, you can change around the words, it's what I call a zipper song, you can zip into it the names of anyone you want, your family, your friends, Mrs. Jay's little son Alby, hey Alby Jay [LBJ], you got beans in your ears"

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Lyrics

English: My mama says not to put beans in my ears / Beans in my ears... / Now, why should I want to put beans in my ears?... / You can't hear your teacher with beans in your ears... / Hey, maybe it's fun to put beans in our ears... / Hey, maybe it's fun to put beans in our ears... / Hey, Charlie, look at me, I've got beans in my ears... / What's that you say? I've got beans in my ears... / You'll have to speak up. I've got beans in my ears... / You'll have to speak up. I've got beans in my ears... / Hey, mama, look at me. I've got beans in my ears / That's nice, son. Just don't put those beans in your ears / That's nice, son. Just don't put those beans in your ears... / I think that all grownups have beans in their ears... / Course you know this is just like an old folk song, you can change around the words, it's what I call a zipper song, you can zip into it the names of anyone you want, your family, your friends, Mrs. Jay's little son Alby / Hey Alby Jay [LBJ], you got beans in your ears

About the artist

Iconic American contemporary folk singer, Pete Seeger (born 3 May 1919 in Manhattan, New York, USA, died on 27 January 2014, same location) played a key role in the 1950s contemporary folk revival and the 1960s anti-war and Civil Rights movement. He often wrote political songs, protesting against war, segregation, and calling for environmental protection. His body of songs referencing the Vietnam War is significant in both themes and volume: "The Willing Conscript" on the album Broadside Ballads Volume 2 (1963); "Beans in My Ear", "King Henry", and "The Draft Dodger Rag" on Dangerous Songs!?…

Themes

Anti-War · LBJ

In collections

Peace, Protest, & Anti-War Songs [War Years] · Pete Seeger Songs