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The bard of Bushwick

By Gersh Kuntzman
The Brooklyn Paper
Let’s be frank: If there are better roots rockers than Frank Hoier, we don’t know them. Hoier and his Dylan-Stones-Billy Bragg-influenced Weber Brothers band, will rock Union Pool on Dec. 7 and Public Assembly on Dec. 23, both in Williamsburg.

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Folkie-country-bluesman Frank Hoier, the bard of Bushwick, stopped by our DUMBO offices to sing his big hit, “Jesus Don’t Give Tax Breaks to the Rich,” as an exclusive to BrooklynPaper.com readers. Hoier will be at Union Pool in Williamsburg on Dec. 7, but until then, enjoy his big number.

And if you want to sing along, here are the lyrics:

Brooklyn Conservatory

You may get a job you ain’t even qualified for

You may even get out of fighting in a war

You may live your whole life and never have to sweep a floor

But Jesus don’t give tax breaks to the rich

Lord God, Jesus don’t give tax breaks to the rich.

When you go to heaven and you knock upon the gate

You may think you can walk right in but someone will say wait

No tax break-giving, right-wing president is gonna help your fate

Because Jesus don’t give tax breaks to the rich

You may beg and plead and say you never harmed no one

But y ou ain’t never helped nobody either, what good have you done?

If you believe in Jesus, why do you sleep with one hand on a gun?

No, Jesus don’t give tax breaks to the rich

So all you greedy wealthy people sittin’ high up on a throne

Save up all your money, keep it for yourself alone

But Judgement Day you may find what it’s like to weep and moan

Jesus don’t give tax breaks to the rich.

©2008 Community Newspaper Group

←Dining: Brooklyn’s Thanksgiving heroes!
→Parenting: Family calendar

Reader Feedback

Alex from Bushwick says:
This is just embarrassingly stupid.
Dec. 1, 2008, 1:23 pm
anonumous from Bushwick says:
Define rich.
Dec. 1, 2008, 4:26 pm
Claude says:
Frank may think that "his" ditty is funny but he expects to arrive at a gate in heaven and have Peter there to greet him, he has another thought coming. He knows little about salvation nor the price that was paid for each of us to have an opportunity of entering into heaven. It has nothing to do with Peter. He had to come the same way that we do. Faith in the death, burial and resurrection of God's Son Jesus Christ. There is no other way. John 14:6 quotes Jesus Christ as saying "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life, No man comes to the Father but by me." He is the only way no matter what men may say or believe. It really does not matter what we think, how we excuse our selves or who we are, rich and famous or poor and destitute, there is one way only to heaven and that is thru the shed blood of God's perfect sacrifice, His only begotten son, Jesus Christ. Trying to tell people that because they are rich, they will not make the eternal abode in heaven with Him is not truthful. Nor by simply helping someone who is not as well off or poor will not open those sacred doors. Jesus Christ is the only way.
May 12, 2009, 9:27 pm
Claude says:
Frank may think that "his" ditty is funny but if he expects to arrive at a gate in heaven and have Peter there to greet him, he has another thought coming. He knows little about salvation nor the price that was paid for each of us to have an opportunity of entering into heaven. It has nothing to do with Peter. He had to come the same way that we do. Faith in the death, burial and resurrection of God's Son Jesus Christ. There is no other way. John 14:6 quotes Jesus Christ as saying "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life, No man comes to the Father but by me." He is the only way no matter what men may say or believe. It really does not matter what we think, how we excuse our selves or who we are, rich and famous or poor and destitute, there is one way only to heaven and that is thru the shed blood of God's perfect sacrifice, His only begotten son, Jesus Christ. Trying to tell people that because they are rich, they will not make the eternal abode in heaven with Him is not truthful. Nor by simply helping someone who is not as well off or poor will not open those sacred doors. Jesus Christ is the only way.
May 12, 2009, 9:28 pm
willy from green point says:
claude's attacks on st peter are clear expression of a puritantical fanaticism, not founded on biblical principles.

matthew 16:19 clearly demonstrates that st peter does hold the keys to the kingdom.

jesus did say "blessed are the poor", and "woe to you who are rich"

let's not warp the very words of jesus as recorded in the sacred scriptures to suit our idelogical agenda claude.
July 28, 2010, 9 am

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