Singing The Financial Blues

We’ve all been affected in one way or another by the depressed economy. Some people lost their jobs; others no longer own their homes; and coupon clipping has become more popular than ever before.

And in an effort to make these last few years as memorable as possible, all of those warm and fuzzy feelings have been put into a song.

Television’s own PBS – you know, the station all the Republicans want to defund – held a songwriting contest for its NewsHour viewers that resulted in a tune that would “tug at the world’s economic heartstrings.” First, the program tackled the financial struggles of European countries including Spain, Ireland, Italy, Germany and Greece. And now it’s recognized the United States, in all of its underwater home and Goldman Sachs glory.

At first, The Teller thought this was surely a joke. But that was before we realized PBS viewers were involved. These are the same people who only donate money when a Motown group or an Irish rock opera/folkdance is being aired on the television station, much to the dismay of its (albeit much smaller) viewing demographic under 40 years old.

The winning song was set to the tune of Simon and Garfunkel’s “Feelin’ Groovy.” On PBS NewsHour’s “Making Sen$e” blog, country singer Merle Hazard – known for writing about mortgage-backed securities, deritatives and physics – put the winning lyrics of “Feelin’ Lousy” by “Davidthewriter” to song.

If you’re so inclined – and The Teller absolutely was – the video can be found on NewHours’ website and also on YouTube. If you enjoy banjo picking, finance nerds and familiar folksy tunes, this is well worth a few minutes break during your workday.

The only thing that could have possibly made this song any better is if it were written and sung by Charlie Sheen to a classic B.B. King blues song. That surely would have been a winner.