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Red State Handshake

by Elizabeth Moen

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about

This song is about a woman in a small-town (based off of my small town of >1,000 in Iowa) who hears everything she wants to hear from a politician on the radio. Excited for the politician to come to the small town, she sadly realizes the politician is just there for a photo op. Politicians pandering to small-town voters without really caring, hearing, or listening to their needs is one of many issues in this country. Every person deserves their basic needs to be met and for the politicians working for them to do their job. This song is strongly inspired by the governor of Iowa but it's about many other politicians as well.

lyrics

On the corner across from the gas station
On the same block as the public library
There’s a house whose yard is stocked full
Of trash under its decaying trees
Piles of broken toys and slashed rubber tires
And the rusted rims laying separately
Porch swing sits atop a car hood like a tower
Overlooking it’s view of the sea
Of absolute chaos
In the middle of a quiet town
It’s not the kinda place
A Governor hangs around

Standing idly by the screen door there’s a woman
Lived in that house since she was three
Got pregnant her sophomore year of high school
All anybody asked, “Who’s the father of the baby?”
Dropped out same year once it was legal
Started working in the grocery store’s deli
After a few years had another, got married
To the bartender who lived down the street
Of absolute chaos
In the middle of a quiet town
It’s not the kinda place
A Governor hangs around

Listening to the radio muffled from the air
She hears a woman screaming everything she wants to hear
Keep your money, keep you safe, keep your job
Our state’s been graced by the one true god
I’m coming down to your beautiful town
With time to hear all of your heartfelt stories
Listen to the things you want done around
The church, the stores, see you at the rally
Of absolute chaos
In the middle of a quiet town
It’s not the kinda place
A Governor hangs around

Weeks go by, Miss Governor’s on Pearl Street
One step from the bus and lying through her teeth
Our darling’s in line waiting to say something
Tyler’s just happy there’s gonna be candy
Gets to the front, shakes her boiling hot hand
“Only time for photos unfortunately”
Goes home throws her note card in the trash
That said all of what she needs
In the absolute chaos
In the middle of a quiet town
It’s not the kinda place
The Governor hangs around

Our woman needs care, our woman needs rights
Our woman needs a woman who can honestly
Give her everything anyone needs
To feel secure with the daily
Absolute chaos
In the middle of a quiet town
It’s not the kinda thing
Our governor hands around

credits

released March 5, 2021
Thank you to Dana Telsrow for the art and design and to Abby Black for producing, engineering, mixing, mastering, drumming, and adding a guitar flair in verse four. Song, lyrics, guitars, bass, and slide by me.

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Elizabeth Moen Chicago, Illinois

(American Songwriter)“ There is a phrase circulating and growing in normalcy, to ‘live your truth.’ Few are doing it more so than Elizabeth Moen”.

Blending fierce, massive vocals and raw bluesy guitar with introspective lyrics and electronic textures, Elizabeth Moen "showcases both strength and vulnerability, reminding us that these traits often go hand in hand" (NPR Music).
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