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Meet My Friend Hank

By Jay L on January 12, 2009 at 3:00 AM in Iraq, No Quarter Blog, NoQuarter Radio

(bumped up from Saturday night)

woji-cindyGreetings one and all. I survived episode number one of No Topic Taboo…Everything Else with Jay”and I am working on putting together my next show which will be this Wednesday night at 9PM. [In the photo to your right, you see Hank with Cindy Sheehan at Camp Casey outside the Bush ranch in September 2006.]

I thought this week I would bring on an old friend, singer/songwriter Hank Woji. In another life Hank and I worked together in business but when he moved to Texas, the move unlocked his inner muse and he started performing and recording. His latest CD “American Dreams” was released last fall and is one of the more biting examples of political protest through music and performance I have heard in a long long time.

One of the songs on the collection is called, “Because We Spent our Money on A War”. To give you a taste of where Hank’s head is at here are the lyrics reprinted with his permission.

Hank Woji-American Dreams

Hank Woji-American Dreams

Because We Spent Our Money On A War
© 2007 Thundering Waves Music all rights reserved

We could have fed the hungry,
Gave them all some food to eat
Could have clothed the needy,
Put some shoes upon their feet

We could have built new houses,
For our homeless families
Liftin’ them from poverty
And off those dirty streets

And we could have used our money
To lend a helpin’ hand
Providing jobs and training
For poor folks across this land

Yeah, we surely could have done these things
And maybe so much more
But we chose to spend our money on a war

We could have paid our teachers,
A fair and decent wage
And gave them all the tools they need
Before they turned a page

We could have helped our farmers
Saved all our family farms
Protecting them from corporations
Trying to do them harm

And we could have paid for college
For every boy and girl
A road of opportunity
To see the whole wide world

Now our dreams and hopes of better days
Are gone forever more
Cause we chose to spend our money on a war

We could have paid for healthcare
Universally
With coverage for everyone
Prescription drugs for free

We could have made investments
In green technologies
To help break our addiction
To this oil economy

And we could have used our money to
pay down our country’s debts
Instead we’re gonna leave ‘em
For our grand kids to regret

Cause we traded our prosperity
For the killin’ floor
When we chose to spend our money on a war

Now our bombs rain down on innocents
Our shame forever more
Because we spent our money on a war

Because we spent our money on a war

Hank was out there. He went to Camp Casey outside the Bush ranch and was with Cindy Sheehan. He is never dull and has lots to say.

Hank Woji

Hank Woji

I hope you’ll join me this week when Hank will be my guest for the full hour and we will discuss the state of the nation and the world today and the state of musical activism and what he sees for the future.

Just like NQ and Uppity are up for awards, Hank has been up for Texas Muisc awards. Right now they are in the nominating process which is done by vote and he could use some help. I am going to let him tell you about it in his own words:

The nomination process has started for the The Texas Music Awards!! This is the closest thing Texas artists have to the Grammys, and to be nominated is always a great honor and privledge for independent artists. I was nominated for Producer of the Year for my last album, “Medallion” in 2005, but lost to a great effort from John Greenberg. This time I feel I have a good chance to be nominated and win in a number of categories with my new CD “American Dreams”.

Before you decide to vote, you can listen to some tracks here at Hank’s MySpace page.

Thanks for your continued support. The nomination period is now open and will end Jan 16th.

And please forward this to everyone you know!! You don’t have to live in Texas to vote!

Just click here and cast your vote! Vote for Hank Here. You have to include the details as described below

Here are the categories I feel I would qualify for:

1. Song of the Year (Song title, Album, Artist) – Every Dog Has His Day, American Dreams, Hank Woji

2. Male Vocalist of the Year – Hank Woji

5. Producer of the Year (Album title, Artist) – American Dreams, Hank Woji

7. Album of the Year (Album title, Artist) – American Dreams, Hank Woji

10. Musician of the Year (Musician, Album, Artist) – Jeff Duncan, American Dreams, Hank Woji – ( Jeff played some stellar violin on the CD )

11. Singer/Songwriter of the Year (writer) – Hank Woji

Thanks again for your support!

Hank

So that’s it. As always I can’t do the show without you in the NQ audience. So if you have questions for yours truly or Hank please feel free to email them to me at the show email address, ntteewithjay@me.com and I will do my best to air as many questions as I can in the hour. And who knows maybe I’ll bring Hank back again.

You can check out Hank’s music and story at his website.

I hope you can join us Wednesday at 9. Until then I am your humble NQ radio host and I am out.

  • wodiej

    It would be nice if the world were that simple but unfortunately it isn’t.

    There are too many people who don’t realize how blessed and lucky they are to live in this country.
    JFK said “to whom much is given, much is required”. Although we are going through a severly difficult time right now with the economy, if you’re working you should be doing something to help someone else who could use it. But alot of people are not. Even if you are not working, there are alot of volunteer opportunities that do not require money, just some of your time.

    I am devoted to animals and so I donate food, money and my painting expertise to my local SPCA. The painting part requires no financial investment from me, only some of my free time. Occasionally I go through my closets and give nice clothing and shoes I no longer wear to the Goodwill.

    I don’t know what the answers are. I do not advocate violence and for the most part it solves nothing. Should we defend ourselves? Yes! Do we get involved in things we shouldn’t or for dishonorable reasons-yes.

    It seems if we spen more time in our own backyard we could avoid some of the messes we get into.

  • Dawnelle

    I wish Cindy had taken Nancy’s seat away from her old lyin butt!

    this Wed? Give me another warning before then and remind me ok? Love to be there if I can. Thanks.

  • Jay L

    Dawnelle,

    Just like all NQ shows there will be reminder posts the day of the show, one either in the late morning or early afternoon & one 5 minutes before air time.

    Love to have you on board.

    Jay

  • I’m a Linda too

    Thank you. A gift Hank has to be sure.

    …voted

    • Jay L

      On behalf of Hank thank you very much. I hope you’ll join us Wednesday night.

  • Tricia Spiegel

    Great song!!!

    • Jay L

      Tricia,

      If you like the song in the post you should follow the links to Hank’s websites and listen to some more of his stuff.

      Jay