THE TAX MAN ROCKS

With April 15 this year falling on a Saturday and Monday April 17 being D.C.’s celebration of Emancipation Day, there would have been three extra days to line up at the post office to get those tax returns stamped. It used to be a party, one I never invited myself to, but with more than 90% of returns filed online, that party is over.

We can sit here and debate who should pay how much, where it should go, why it’s more complicated after every attempt at simplification….but I’ll let the politicians do that because it seems to be at the heart of what they actually do debate year after year.

Instead it’s much more fun to use the extra three days to check out just five of the many outpourings from songwriters thinking about the public till and its proverbial collector, the dreaded Tax Man. So, so good, they should have been exempt.

SUNNY AFTERNOON - The Kinks (1966) Sunny Afternoon

The tax man’s taken all my dough and left in my stately home, lazing on a sunny afternoon, and I can’t sail my yacht, he’s taken everything I’ve got, all I’ve got’s this sunny afternoon

TAXMAN - The Beatles (1966) Taxman

Don't ask me what I want it for (ah, ah, Mr. Wilson), if you don't want to pay some more (ah, ah, Mr. Heath), 'cause I'm the taxman, yeah, I'm the taxman

FORTUNATE SON - Credence Clearwater Revival (1969) Fortunate Son

Some folks are born silver spoon in hand, Lord, don’t they help themselves, no? But when the taxman come to the door, Lord, the house lookin’ like a rummage sale

TAX FREE - Joni Mitchell (1985) Tax Free

Preacher preaching love like vengeance, preaching love like hate, calling for large donations, promising estates, rolling lawns and angel bands behind the pearly gates, you know he will have his in this life but yours will have to wait, he's immaculately tax free

TAXMAN, MR. THIEF - Cheap Trick (1977) Taxman, Mr. Thief

You work hard, you make money, there ain't no one in the world who can stop you, you work hard, you went hungry, now the taxman is out to get you, you worked hard and slaved and slaved for years, break your back sweat a lot, well, it's just not fair