Mr. President, Have Pity on the Poor White Man!

Original lyrics by Randy Newman
Alterations and additions made by Peter Fegan

The events of the last few days involving Henry Louis Gates’ arrest in Cambridge, Massachusetts and the comments made by the President have prompted this blog. I hope some of you enjoy the pun. But in all seriousness, though, no one who is white can ever know the humiliation and fear that a black man or Latino man feels when confronted by a cop, especially in his own home. You may say that Gates overreacted and Obama mis-spoke, but that doesn't hide the fact that this nation has had a terrible stain on it that is 300 years old and still has not been fully removed.

Here's a question for every white man out there. Would any of you right now trade places with an African American or Hispanic? You needn't bother replying. You and I already know the answer. Face it, no matter how you spin it, being a white man in America is still the best gig in town.

Here's another question. How did we get to be such an endangered species anyway?

And now for our song of the day...


We've taken all you've given
But it's gettin' hard to make a livin'
Mr. President have pity on the poor white man

We ain’t askin’ for you to love us
You may place yourself high above us
Mr. President have pity on the poor white man

I know it may sound funny
But white brothers ev'ry where are runnin' out of money
We just can't make it by ourselves

It is cold and the wind is blowing
We need something to keep us going
Mr. President have pity on the poor white man

Don’t you know how great we’ve been
We’re the best race that you’ve ever seen
Mr. President have pity on the poor white man

Maybe you're cheatin’
Maybe you're lyin'
Maybe you have lost your mind
Maybe you're only thinking 'bout yourself

No reverse discrimination against our kin
Don’t hold it against us because of our skin
Mr. President have pity on the poor white man

We made all them laws and all them rights
Now you say we need to call it a night
Mr. President have pity on the poor white man

I know it may sound funny
But white brothers ev'ry where are runnin' out of money
We just can't make it by ourselves

Too late to run. Too late to cry now
The time has come for us white boys to say good-bye now
Mr. President have pity on the poor white man
Mr. President have pity on the poor white man