[Verse 1] Back in nineteen forty-eight prosperity began to grow Tax acts and tables tell the story of what we need to know Primary sources hold the key to understanding our past Look at the documents and artifacts to make the learning last [Chorus] Read the text of every tax act, study tables line by line Capital gains and dividend changes, corporate rates decline Union density rising, falling, strike activity too NLRB policy shifting, primary sources guide us through [Verse 2] Distribution tables show us how the wealth was spread around When union membership was stronger, middle class was sound The artifacts of labor movements, contracts signed in ink Tell us how prosperity bloomed more than you might think [Chorus] Read the text of every tax act, study tables line by line Capital gains and dividend changes, corporate rates decline Union density rising, falling, strike activity too NLRB policy shifting, primary sources guide us through [Bridge] Don't just read what others wrote about the rise and fall Go back to original documents, they tell it best of all Tax code summaries and strike reports from days gone by Show us why broad prosperity began to say goodbye [Verse 3] Corporate tax burden lightened as the decades rolled along Capital gains got special treatment, changed the money song When union power started fading, inequality grew The primary sources paint the picture, clear and always true [Chorus] Read the text of every tax act, study tables line by line Capital gains and dividend changes, corporate rates decline Union density rising, falling, strike activity too NLRB policy shifting, primary sources guide us through [Outro] From nineteen forty-eight to present day the story's in the facts Primary sources, artifacts, and all those policy acts
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