We Are Still Alive

There it stood, for the common good, in the heart of this Valley town.
With open doors, servin’ rich and poor, for a century it was around.
Its brick and stones were the flesh and bones, a community’s safety net.
Emergency care for thousands a year, the system otherwise would neglect.
We all had a relative or friend, it healed or rescued from the grave.
Hard workin’ people, women and men, you can’t measure the life it saved.

Six-hundred some jobs, a major tax base, the only restaurant still in town.
For the forty percent who don’t have a car, the only life boat around.
Then came Jeffrey Romoff and the Board of UPMC,
Riding in on a profit system that trumped this Valley’s needs.

[Chorus] But the local people rallied, every color, age and creed.
Throwing stones at this Goliath, all their wrecking balls of greed.
“Who will stand up if we don’t?” they said.
“Who will rise up if we won’t?” they read.
“Who will defy this corporate beast,” was the battle cry –
We are alive, gonna stand up and fight.
Speaking truth to power, every day and hour –
We are still alive, together we are still alive.

Disguised as a non-profit, makin’ billions every year;
In seven other countries, their agenda’s crystal clear.
Community hospitals ain’t in the plans when you chase the almighty buck.
It’s race-based, class-based care on demand, with the have-nots out of luck.
But greed will breed resistance; empires rise and fall;
Some will always buck the system, demanding medicare for all.

[Chorus]And the local people rally, every color, age and creed,
Throwing stones at this Goliath, and its wrecking balls of greed.
Who will stand up if we don’t, they pray,
Who will rise up if we don’t , they say.
Who will defy the corporate beast, is their battle cry!
We are alive, gonna stand up and fight.
Speaking truth to power, every day and hour,
We are still alive, brothers we are still alive.
Sisters, we are still alive, people we are still alive.