Addicted to Gasoline

 

It was built in 1934, so I’m sure it’s safe to say

There’ll be more fatal explosions at that BP plant one day

But we won’t shut ‘em down, ‘cause they keep us running, so we keep them running

 

When they judge my generation, it’ll be for gasoline

And that waste of Mother Nature they will label as obscene

But we won’t shut ‘em down, ‘cause they keep us running, so we keep them running

 

My name’s Billy, I’m addicted to gasoline

My name’s Billy, I’m a slave to my machine

And there ain’t no place I can go to get clean

‘Cause the whole damned planet is addicted to gasoline

My name’s Billy, I’m addicted to gasoline

(oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo)

 

It was built in 1934, prior to World War II

But they’re still distilling gasoline and spilling toxic fumes

And we won’t shut ‘em down, ‘cause they keep us running, so we keep them running

 

My name’s Billy, I’m addicted to gasoline

My name’s Billy, I’m a slave to my machine

And there ain’t no place I can go to get clean

‘Cause the whole damned planet is addicted to gasoline

 

Gasoline, dieseline, ethylene and toluene, benzene and butadiene

And a shortage is the petrol pusher’s dream

‘Cause the whole damned planet is addicted to gasoline

(oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo)

 

It was built in 1934, today 15 people died

While some eight-score more were injured as the world watched mortified

But we won’t shut ‘em down, ‘cause they keep us running, so we keep them running

 

My name’s Billy, I’m addicted to gasoline

My name’s Billy, I’m a slave to my machine

And there ain’t no place I can go to get clean

‘Cause the whole damned planet is addicted

The whole wide world is addicted

To that wickedest of liquids, gasoline

To that wicked distilled liquid, gasoline

My name’s Billy, I’m addicted to gasoline

(oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo)

 

© 2005. Billy Marabella.

NOTES ON THIS SONG
Boom! Boom-boom! I dived under my desk. I lived fewer than five miles from the BP plant when this tragedy occurred. The sobering reality is that several other, less violent, explosions preceded and followed this event. I understand the petrochemical industry fed me as child. Nonetheless, it is an industry that must be shut down, made obsolete by wiser, more informed generations. My name’s Billy, I’m addicted to gasoline.