Craig Kurtz - Informer’s Catechism

Informer’s Catechism

Left or right,
it’s all the same;
when they squeeze you,
you’ll give a name.
It’s done for a hit,
it’s done for a meal;
so someone gets nailed,
so what’s the big deal?
Ethics are swell,
but only up to a point;
it’s you or them, matey,
facing time in the joint.
Sure you feel bad,
but what can you do?;
informers are people
they have feelings too.

Chopping up the logic’s
just a matter of degree;
when they come a-knocking, pal,
it’s either you or me.
It’s done with lousy dollars,
it’s accomplished with dire threats;
when they haul you off
I’ll be the first to send regrets.
You’ll do it for a smoke,
you’ll do it for a drink;
it’s nothing personal, you know,
so who you calling fink?
Talk all you want ’bout principles
or saving your own skin;
informers have fam’lies to feed
that’s why you got turned in.

You can do it for religion,
you can do it for the flag;
just make sure your reasons
will fit the size of a toe tag.
You can do it for the war,
you can do it for world peace;
whatever works for you
will also work for the police.
What you call necessity
I call base cowardice;
but what we all fall back on, is:
mind your own business.
Ten years is what I got
for your rotten bowl of soup --
best wishes from your chums
at the informer’s support group.