Behind The Music With Bill Shontz:
So I Can Eat My Hamburger

Listen, Soak Up and Enjoy...Behind the Music is a Living Whole Online podcast series that spotlights the stories of musician composers. The more we deepen our understanding and appreciation of the creative process from which music, art, writing, photography, filmmaking, energy practices and family connections emerge, the more we can embrace those creative energies within our own lives, and enhance our health, healing and relationships with ourselves and others.

Listen to this lovely conversation between Kathryn Hayward, MD and award-winning composer and musician, Bill Shontz,. Bill is now performing on his own, having been one half of RosenShontz, the music duo that brought children’s music into genres including rock n’ roll, rap, blues, country and jazz. Bill and Gary Rosen composed and performed songs that both children and adults love. 

This Behind the Music song takes you on Bill’s journey as he faces the decision “What should I eat, a veggie burger or a beef hamburger”?  This song was inspired by Steven Disla’s work in Global Roots and the education Steven offers to help people understand the environmental impact of their food choices. 

I’ve been an environmental activist for decades, but until I heard Steven talk, I never realized the impact of my food choices all the living things that depend upon the health of the Earth..

-Bill Shontz

Lyrics

SO I CAN EAT MY HAMBURGER

INTRO:

This is the question I asked myself today

Maybe eating meat is not the best way

My hypothesis is great but I want to investigate

If I should eat a veggie burger today

So, to begin my research I had to ask

What does it take to make a hamburger

I really want to know

What does it take, from field to plate

So I can eat my hamburger

So, to start my investigation

Verse 1

I went to the store /// and what did I see ///

A man from a truck /// was unloading meat ///

So I asked the man /// Where’d you get the beef? ///

It’s called the Slaughter house /// Where they pack the meat

Chorus A:

In the slaughterhouse, they pack the meat, then truck to the store,

That’s what it takes, make no mistake, from field to plate,

So I can eat my hamburger

So I jumped in my car

Verse 2

I went to the slaughterhouse /// and what did I see ///

They kill the cows /// to make the meat ///

Chorus B:

They kill the cows in the slaughterhouse, where the meat comes from

Then trucked to the store,

That’s what it takes, make no mistake, from field to plate

So I can eat my hamburger

So I had to follow this lead

Verse 3

I went to the farm /// And what did I see? ///

They fed the cows /// Tons of grain and wheat ///

They cut down trees /// To make Acres of Fields ///

To have the land /// To grow the grain ///

Chorus C:

Cut down trees, to make the fields, for acres of grain

To feed the cows, then they kill the cows, in the slaughterhouse

Where the meat comes from, then trucked to the store

That’s what it takes, make no mistake, from field to plate

So I can eat my hamburger

So I decided to take a walk

Verse 4

I looked at the field /// And what did I see? ///

The fields were fertilized /// With poison pesticide ///

And then the rain /// Washed the poison away ///

And the water ran down /// Down to the stream ///

Chorus D:

The pesticides, poisoned streams, cut down trees,

To make the fields, for acres of grain, that feed the cows,

Then kill the cows in the slaughterhouse, where the meat comes from

Then trucked to the store…

That’s what it takes, make no mistake, from field to plate

So I can eat my hamburger

This is depressing, but I had to go on

Verse 5

I went to the stream /// And what did I see? ///

All the fish had died /// From the poisoned streams ///

And then the birds /// And insects too ///

Drank from the water /// And they died too ///

Chorus E:

The birds were killed, the fish were killed, the bugs were killed

The pesticides poisoned streams, cut down trees, to make the fields

for acres of grain to feed the cows, then kill the cows, in the slaughterhouse

Where the meat comes from, then trucked to the store

That’s what it takes, make no mistake, from field to plate

So I can eat my hamburger

CONCLUSION

So I’ve looked around, and what did I find

Cause it’s all pretty gross to me

So next time I’ll say, I’ve changed my mind

I think I’ll have a Veggie Burger this time

Cause if that’s what it takes to save a Cow,

To save a bird, to save the fish, to save a bug

To save the PLANET!!!

I know I’ll have a VEGGIE BURGER NOW!!!

YUM!!!