On The Bus (Honoring Paul Wellstone’s Green Bus)
From the Album Play “Wellstone”
Professor Paul Wellstone
Had a bus, he called home.
It was lean, it was green,
It was a campaign machine!
On the bus, on the bus,
Time to get up, get on the bus,
The bus driver says,
“Get your head out of bed!”
Time to get up on the bus
It dated back 40 years,
Had no power to brake or steer.
Was too long, was too wide,
Down most streets we could not drive.
On the bus, on the bus,
Time to get up, get on the bus,
The bus driver says,
“Get your head out of bed!”
Time to get up on the bus
The bus broke down, quite a bit
We had difficulty with it
From the family farm, to the union hall,
The bus got fixed by one and all.
On the bus, on the bus,
Time to get up, get on the bus,
The bus driver says,
“Get your head out of bed!”
Time to get up on the bus
Eventually, we got heat
With a rad-i-a-tor under the seat.
It had a couch to take a nap.
A speech platform on the back
On the bus, on the bus,
Time to get up, get on the bus,
The bus driver says,
“Get your head out of bed!”
Time to get up on the bus
From the A.I.M. Pow-Wow to Turkey Days
Never missed the Gay Pride Parade
From the Homeless Vet you know it’s true
To people like me and you
On the bus, on the bus,
Time to get up, get on the bus,
The bus driver says,
“Get your head out of bed!”
Time to get up on the bus
The bus drivers were his friends
Stood by Paul until the end
Both refused to get paid
Volunteered both night and day
On the bus, on the bus,
Time to get up, get on the bus,
The bus driver says,
“Get your head out of bed!”
Time to get up on the bus
Paul Wellstone would give a hug
To the bus drivers that he loved
Before Paul left the bus
He said thank-you to all of us
On the bus, on the bus,
Time to get up, get on the bus,
The bus driver says,
“Get your head out of bed!”
Time to get up on the bus
He spoke out for the little feller
In this world run by the Rockefellers
When that Green Bus came to town
People came running from miles around
On the bus, on the bus,
Time to get up, get on the bus,
The bus driver says,
“Get your head out of bed!”
Time to get up on the bus
Words & Music by Larry Long
Copyright Larry Long 1996 / BMI
Appears on
Listen Now
Larry’s music is available on Apple Music, Amazon, Spotify, Bandcamp and select e-tailers