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about

Written around 1979 during the height of the oil industry in Louisiana when nearly anyone could find a job and any male could go offshore to work for weeks at a time, this song is an ode to the masses who follow the rules and hope for the best. The start and finale of the song pay homage to an old Cajun tune called the Bosco Stomp.

lyrics

SERFIN' USA
by WD Picou, S Picou, T Cobena, G Thistlethwaite

The foreman says "Johnny can you work late?"
Johnny says "Yes sir", right away
He's a smart young boy at the top of his class
You can tell by looking - you don't have to ask
He's serfin
Serfin USA
Everybody around the world
Every boy - every girl
Is taking part in this crazy craze
Serfin USA

Johnny says he'd like to borrow some dough
One for the money - two for the show
He gets a company loan it keeps him satisfied
You can tell by that far-away look in his eyes
He's serfin
Serfin USA
There's people lining up on the shores
And sneaking in across the borders
Everybody's trying to find this phasey phase
They're serfin USA
Serfin USA

Johnny gets two weeks off with pay
But he never gets too far away
He's back on Monday ready to go
Ready for another hitch you just know
He's serfin
Serfin USA
Some learn fast, some learn slow
Let me tell you what I know
If you work hard both night and day
You'll be serfin USA
In the USA work work
In the USA work work

© Half-Nutt Music, All Rights Reserved

credits

from LIVE at the Cotton Club in Atlanta 1988, released May 19, 2023
Donnie Picou, lead vocal, rhythm guitar
Steve Picou, backing vocal, lead guitar
Geoff Thisthlethwaite, bass
David Baker, drums

license

all rights reserved

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about

Bas Clas Louisiana

Bas Clas is a rock band from South Louisiana formed in the late 1970s by brothers Donnie & Steve Picou. The name is pronounced "bahs clahs" and is derived from a Cajun phrase denoting those deemed "low class."

Known for their live shows, Bas Clas continues to build an expansive body of recorded work from an ongoing series of sessions begun in 2011 at Dockside Studio.
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