Back Story:
The title, “Don’t Put Your Hands On My Buddy”, was inspired by SOS Racisme, the French anti-racist organization, whose motto was “Touche pas a mon pote”. Meanwhile, in the early 1990s, the St. Paddy’s Parade in NYC was fighting tooth and nail to keep gay organizations from marching in the parade. Racism, homophobia, and sexual violence are different manifestations of social repression, and we must be prepared to stand against that repression.

Kid Java - Harmonica & Vocals
Joe Lee Henderson: Guitar
Philip Shimmel: Background Vocals
Joyous Perrin: Bass
Scott Hamilton: Drums

Produced by Bill Ferns
Engineered by: Gary Knox http://www.knoxstreet.com/about.html
Mixed and Mastered by: Dave Fields http://www.davefields.com/
Recorded at The Batcave, NY, NY
Mixed at Dave Fields Music, NY, NY

All songs Copyright 1990, 2016 by William J. Ferns

Lyrics

On a pre-spring day along Fifth Avenue,
I was checking the St. Paddy's Day scene
When I saw an old high school friend of mine,
Marching with the lavender and green.

I waved to cheer him on, but I was all alone
The crowd turned ugly and mean,
People throwing beers, throwing jeers, throwing fears,
Made me ashamed to be a part of the green.

I said, Don't put your hands on my buddy,
Don't put your hands on my pal,
Don't put your hands on my buddy, N'oseriez pas toucher a mon ami
If you do you'll have to answer to me.

A friend of mine moved to a new neighborhood,
Where his kids would be safe day and night,
Where they could go to school and learn of a world
Without getting there bein’ a fight.

He scraped, he scrimped, he counted his dimes,
But he never counted on all of the spite,
Of neighbors who harass, breaking glass, throwing trash
Just because his skin wasn't all white.

I said, Don't put your hands on my buddy,
Don't put your hands on my pal,
Don't put your hands on my buddy,
If you do you'll have to answer to me.

My sister can’t ever leave the house,
Dressed any better than a burlap sack,
Without fools making rude noises with their mouths,
And then threatening her when she sasses back.

Some folks’ll never understand,
A legal or a moral law,
But you can make them listen if in the sand
There’s a line that you clearly draw
And say, Don't put your hands on my buddy,
Don't put your hands on my pal,
Don't put your hands on my buddy,
If you do you'll have to answer to me.

Don't put your hands on my buddy,
Don't put your hands on my pal,
Don't put your hands on my buddy,
If you do you'll have to answer to me.
If you do you'll have to answer to me.
If you do you'll have to answer, Do you'll have to answer,
Do you’ll have to answer to me.