Unemployed need not apply

everyday that’s what they’re saying.

We've got some jobs just not for you

'cause we can smell your desperation.

Got too many applications

ain’t no way to see ‘em all.

We’ll cut the number down to size

by dropping all the desperate.

If you were good you’d still be workin

someone would have hired you

your company would've  kept you on

so you ain't worth an interview.

We don't want the over skilled

who’ll settle cause they need the money

whose kids are living hand to mouth

the bank foreclosing on their home.

Besides you’re old you're over fifty

you’d increase our labor costs.

Your skills are from another era

you cost us more than you are worth.

This firm's out to make a profit

lowering production costs

much younger folks will grab the job

take lots less than you were makin

enthusiastic hungry workers

what every growing business wants.

So yes we have some jobs to fill

we’ll post our ads up on the boards

we promise no discrimination

but we ain't got no job for you.

And as he read the Monster posting

unemployed need not apply

he saw how little things had changed

briefly thought of Rosasharn

pickin cotton in the sun

on that day so long ago.

Photo from the Franklin D. Roosevelt Library / National Archives

©Toritto - words - 2011