Classic Folk Song “Little Boxes” Becomes “Big Boxes”

Many of you probably know the classic folk song, Little Boxes, by the late Malvina Reynolds (iTunes). This song was written in 1962 and it did a great job capturing the essence of the time but I felt it needed an update after nearly 45 years (link to original lyrics). The blandness of the Loughborough Commons project combined with the amount of earth moving to create a flat site moved me. Also, the typical tacky suburban house is no longer little. So, with that, I have tweaked her lyrics to reflect the current suburban hell known to many:

Big boxes on the former hillside,
Big boxes made of ticky tacky
Big boxes on the former hillside,
Big boxes all the same,
There’s a beige one and a gray one
And a brown one and a white one
And they’re all made out of ticky tacky
And they all look just the same.

And the people in the houses
All went to the trade school
Where they were put in boxes
And they came out all the same
And there’s mechanics and plumbers
And union carpenters
And they’re all made out of ticky tacky
And they all look just the same.

And they all play at the casinos
And drink their six pack dry
And they all have many children
And the children go to school,
And the children all take ritalin
And then to the trade school
Where they are put in boxes
And they come out all the same.

And the boys go into dad’s business
And marry and then divorce his family
In boxes made of ticky tacky
And they all look just the same,
There’s a beige one and a gray one
And a brown one and a white one
And they’re all made out of ticky tacky
And they all look just the same.

I can’t sing at all so I didn’t bother recording this new cover of the classic original. Perhaps it can be played at the Desco (or THF Realty) annual picnic or at aldermanic fundraisers?

– Steve