Big Oil Blues

When you’re burning oil, matter what you say,       Em
Going up in smoke, about every day.                         B7
All the tax you pay, it ain’t no joke.                            Em
When you’re burning oil, it’s going up in smoke.    B7   Em
When you’re burning oil, it’s going up in smoke .  Am B7   Em

Sunshine’s cheaper, it needs no war,                         Am
Refineries, pipelines, ships galore.                             Em
Putting up panels, you can’t lose.                               Am
Say goodbye to the Strait of Hormuz.                        B7
Big Oil Blues.                                                                  C  B7  Em

You can fight your wars over sticky stuff.                 Em
You can wag your swagger, and talk so tough.         B7
You can burn our money and have no qualms         Em
About killing people or dropping bombs.                 B7  Em
When you’re burning oil, it’s going up in smoke.     Am B7  Em

 Or you can take it easy, and you won’t drown,        Am
Whether gasoline’s  going up or down.                      Em
Putting up panels, you can’t lose,                               Am
Goodbye to the Strait of Hormuz.                              B7 —
Big  Oil Blues.                                                                 C  B7   Em

You know that endless war is making us poor,       C
A billion dollars a day and more.                               Em
Better kick that habit.  Ain’t no joke.                        Am
Burning oil’s going up in smoke.                               B7   
Up in smoke.                                                                 C  B7  Em  

Better use that sun!  It’ll make you great!               C
You won’t get stuck in the Hormuz Strait!             Em
Don’t be shy!   You can choose!                                Am
Say goodbye to the Big Oil Blues!                            B7  C B7
Big Oil Blues.                                                                Em
Goodbye,  Big Oil Blues!                                           Am  B7 E–

©Doug Hendren 2026

What’s it about? 4-1-26  This song was inspired by a terrific lecture by Bill McKibben in Cambridge, Massachusetts last week. Thank you, Bill!  For anyone who needs encouragement about climate action today, please read his most recent book, Here Comes the Sun!

The American oil industry has long held unwarranted power over US policy. Between 25% and 50% of military conflicts worldwide in the past fifty years have been connected to oil interests. In recent years, perhaps more. This is especially true under the Trump administration. During the 2024 presidential campaign, Trump publicly requested (and received) strong financial support from Big Oil, promising a “good deal” for them. Back in office, Trump has aggressively supported coal, gas and oil interests, while waging war on wind power in particular, and clean energy in general (see this timeline). Trump is trying to keep us tied to 19th century energy, while China and other nations are gaining leadership and market share in 21st century clean energy technology.

The US launched a January 2026 military intervention in Venezuela, serving US oil interests but without discernible benefit for the American people. Two months later, Israel and US forces attacked Iran, which in turn predictably blocked the Strait of Hormuz, disrupting global supplies of oil, fertilizer and other petrochemical products. Prospects at this moment are unclear. While Trump’s rhetoric is contradictory, but  American troops and resources are amassing in the region.

The alignment of our federal government with the fossil industry has obstructed global efforts to respond to the growing menace of climate disruption.  Heavily driven by fossil fuel combustion, we are now experiencing a hotter planet every year, resulting in torrential rainfall, intense drought, fires and hurricanes.  The Trump administration’s efforts to obstruct American science in general, and climate science in particular are well-known, including foreign climate legislation efforts as well.

There is nothing “great” or “American” about tying us to military conflict and cost, or obstructing a clean energy economy. Both solar power and the lithium ion battery are American inventions. The concentrated wealth and power of the oil industry is closely tied to authoritarian politics in the United States and around the world. At a time when American democratic institutions are under assault, weaning our nation away from Big Oil’s power is part of our path back to a functional democracy. The greatest thing we can do as a nation is to nourish and support our native intelligence rather than a small handful of billionaires, and help lead the world into a clean and prosperous future. Goodbye, Big Oil blues!