Banquet
Composer(s): Joni Mitchell
First release by: Joni Mitchell - 1972
Covered by multiple other artists



Come to the dinner gong 
The table is laden high 
Fat bellies and hungry little ones 
Tuck your napkins in 
And take your share 
Some get the gravy 
And some get the gristle 
Some get the marrow bone 
And some get nothing 
Though there's plenty to spare 

I took my share down by the sea 
Paper plates and Javex bottles on the tide 
Seagulls come down 
And they squawk at me 
Down where the water-skiers glide 

Some turn to Jesus 
And some turn to heroin 
Some turn to rambling round 
Looking for a clean sky 
And a drinking stream 
Some watch the paint peel off 
Some watch their kids grow up 
Some watch their stocks and bonds 
Waiting for that big deal 
American Dream 

I took my dream down by the sea 
Yankee yachts and lobster pots and sunshine 
And logs and sails 
And Shell Oil pails 
Dogs and tugs and summertime 
Back in the banquet line 
Angry young people crying 

Who let the greedy in 
And who left the needy out 
Who made this salty soup 
Tell him we're very hungry now 
For a sweeter fare 
In the cookie I read 
"Some get the gravy 
And some get the gristle 
Some get the marrow bone 
And some get nothing 
Though there's plenty to spare"