Great Depression Rap - Smart Songs

Great Depression Rap - Smart Songs

Directed by: Shoeless Jeff
Written and Performed by: Shoeless Jeff & Scott Free
Beat Composition: John Della Morte
Mixing & Mastering: Marc Antonio Pritchett
Filming: Tim McCombe & James Mills
Special Effects Supervisor: Steven Aguilera
Logo Design & Special Effects: Carlos de la Vega
Costumes & Props: Mr. Vintage of Burbank
Hair & Makeup: Katie Skarvinko and Danyell Weinberg

Special Thanks: Arnold Delapous and Bob Smith for vintage cars

Featured:
Dennis King
Geoffrey D. Hill
Carly Toth
Randy Vinneau
Tanissia Sprull
Max Stern
Josh Capo
Meghan Stephens
Kim Farris
Gallupdick Pullag
Jacob McGregor
Bryce Thurston
Natalie Thurston
Steven Aguilera
Bob Smith
Aaron Smith
Nathan the Piano Man

Lyrics:
America was poor in the Great Depression
Millions without jobs in every profession
How will we eat was a daily question
What are all the lessons of the Great Depression?

Before the Great Depression, everything seemed great
It was the Roaring 1920’s, people liked to celebrate
A lotta food on their plate
And there was money to make
Factories were selling automobiles like hot cakes
Not to mention household appliances and radios
Flashy things, the economy was based on those
But the problem was that if times got tough
People weren’t gonna buy luxuries and all that stuff
And if you can’t buy what you usually do
Then the people who sell those things lose their jobs too
And then they can’t buy, it’s like a domino effect
So there were hidden changes
Though things seemed perfect

Chorus

Before the Great Depression
People thought they had luck
Thinking up ways they could make a quick buck
They’d buy a stock and sell it
For more than they bought it for
Sure to make a profit, long as the stock would soar
Seemed like such a great idea, everybody wanted in
Even with no money, they started borrowing
They’d ask the bank for a loan to the buy the stock
But could not pay it back when the stock would drop
Lots of people got in debt, had to sell all their shares
When some start selling, everyone gets scared
Millions rushed to sell their stocks in a mass
In the fall of ’29, the stock market crashed

Chorus

October 24, 1929, Black Thursday
One of the country’s darkest times
The market did crash, stocks began to tumble
Many Americans faced financial trouble
Their savings washed away in a matter of days
Left with debt with no money to pay
And our government—no, they didn’t want to panic
They knew there was a problem, but didn’t understand it
President Hoover tried to think of answers
He wanted to improve spending
What were the chances?
Businesses closed, banks dried up like wells
But Hoover thought things
Would take care of themselves

Chorus

Millions of people were poverty stricken
Living within wood shacks and poor conditions
These makeshift camps sprouted up all around
Hoovervilles they often called these towns
A couple years passed, it was 1932
The presidential race began to ask who
Could lift this country up from its depression
Franklin Delano Roosevelt, no question
Made the first and second New Deal
Government projects, building bridges of steel
With the Works Progress Administration
Then World War II brought jobs to the nation

Chorus

[workerskrunch]

Watching this 8 years later. I remember this so vividly from 6th grade. I’m in college now and still like to come back to this song from time to time to remember a simpler more joyful time in my life. Thank you guys for being a part of that.

[hoax]

Covid-19 boutta make “The Great Depression 2” the sequel

[WhyJustWhy]

I swear these guys release these videos just before we do the topic in history class. Keep up the good work.

[flea]

whyd yall quit? you should keep making these songs, they look and sound great.

[nhumyt]

Who else is watching this because due to the Corona Outbreak you have online school....

[kseniav]

I am SOOO gonna use it in the classroom. Thank you so much! The subtitles and overall slow pace make this fantastic for ESL learners too.

[NoName-ynnf]

Without my teacher i wouldn't have known about this song





Thank you teacher
I forgot her name

[godricktheminecrafted]

My English teacher told us we would get this stuck in our heads

He wasn’t wrong

[StanoTheGr]

I remember watching this 5 years ago in high school cause I needed to write a paper about this. Now I'm watching this now to write a paper in college. Oh how time flies

[realadpollack]

This is the best Rap song... CHANGE MY MIND.

[ms.robinson]

Ms. Percy's Social Studies class here. We always come back to this gem, 10/10

[Sparky]

Wow. I remember watching this almost 6 years ago now in class. I really loved this song when I was younger. I'm happy I was able to listen to it again.

[blorf]

Person 1: "okay look we need to make a cool catchy rap song for kids/teens.. so any ideas?"
Person 2: "the Great Depression??"
Person 1: "Jesus Christ!!!"
Person 2: "yah I guess that was stup-"
Person 1: "you're a GENIUS!!"

[AustinAndJess]

If Snoop Dogg taught history in the form of a Rap, I'm sure a lot more Americans would know the history of our nation.. I know we would!

[billlaskaridis]

My students loved this video and it gave them a better grasp on the causes of the Great Depression.

[hollberryy]

coming back as an adult because this randomly came into my head from school as a 12 year old

[SilviaGutierrez-bbez]

I hear this song more than 3 times each day

[WHYIMHERE]

my history teacher played this in my history class

[lucachannel]

Great depression is one of the saddest historical events in human kind history.

Many people in that period lost work and other didn't have any food! I wish an event like this would never happen another time.

[phinehas]

Wow! Great stuff! Accurate history, and the song and singing is super talented!