Nuclear Power Blues

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In the late 1970s and early 1980s, nuclear power (for weapons plants and power plants) was a central political issue. I never liked this song very much. I think I sang it once at a demonstration in Syracuse. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) was never on our side.

Well, I've been pushed around by the NRC
Left to die in a radioactive sea
It wasn't the way I thought it would be
We'd just gotten rid of DDT
Oh mama, it looks like I've got the nuclear power blues

Well, I wonder where my kids are gonna play
After the clean air's been poisoned away
The ground is soaked with atomic residue
It’s really sad, but you know it’s true
Oh mama, it looks like I've got the nuclear power blues

In other countries they tear the plants down
You know those folks aren't fooling around
Tearing 'em down before they're built
They're just regular folks like me and you
Trying to save themselves from the nuclear power blues

Well, some folks say that we shouldn't care
And that Three Mile Island didn't poison the air
Well, I disagree because its leaking still
And the way things are going, we'll see more spills
Oh mama, I've got the nuclear power blues

Well, I had a dream just the other day
Nuclear war was underway
Greedy, rich, power-hungry politicians
Had set the world aflame, seeking riches
Oh mama, it looks like I've got the nuclear power blues

I've been pushed around by the NRC
Left to die in a radioactive sea
It wasn't the way I thought it would be
We'd just gotten rid of DDT
Oh mama, it looks like I've got the nuclear power blues
©Eric Pappas 1982