White Indignant Male Persons - W.I.M.P.

by Roy Zimmerman and Melanie Harby

Roy founded his satirical folk group The Foremen 35 years ago in 1989. Roy loved the tight harmony singing and the acoustic guitar and banjo-driven sound of the folk groups of the ‘50s and ‘60s. We both loved the endearing absurdity of clean-cut affluent white college kids singing songs of the hard-scrabble life.

By the end of the ‘80s, Roy had haphazardly amassed a huge collection of Folk Era records.  Every time we’d visit a thrift store, Melanie would hear from over in the record section: “Ooooh, I don’t have this one!” and Melanie would respond, “Oh great, another ‘Nutty Wanderers’ album.”

It was this thrift store find that launched The Foremen …

The Chad Mitchell Trio: A Mighty Day on Campus. Melanie’s initial reaction was, “First of all, this trio had four members.” And then, “Wow, they are doin’ some rough livin’ on the immaculately-groomed lawn of their ivy league school.” And we thought: What if Roy took his love for the folk era sound and made a satirical folk group of Republican yuppies singing about their trials and tribulations. 

Satire is the art of taking a position you disagree with and stating it so vehemently that it destroys the argument. In 1989, we were in the final throes of the Reagan/Bush years, and The Foremen became the troubadours of trickle down economics with songs like the lusty labor lament “Workin’ on an MBA.

CLICK HERE to get a free download of The Foremen singing “Workin’ on an MBA.”

One of the final songs Roy wrote for The Foremen was “White Indignant Male Person - W.I.M.P.” It’s four white guys singin’ the blues about “reverse racism” and “reverse sexism.” Satire has become much more difficult in the Trump era. How do you write something more absurd than … well, the Trump era? With JD Vance’s “Childless cat ladies” and Trump’s "I don't know, is she Indian or is she Black?" superlatives are not enough. Expletives are more like it.

History doesn’t repeat itself, nor does it move in a straight line, but it’s safe to say that the Harris campaign is ushering us into a Mighty New Day. Can we get a “Hallelujah?” Ring the banjo and sing along to “W.I.M.P.”!

Oh Lord I got the blues most ev'ry mornin'

'cause I've been oppressed

You know the race and culture I was born in

Has got me overstressed.

Discrimination, man, that's the worst!

I mean, it was fine at first, but then they got it reversed

I'm a White Indignant Male Person

W.I.M.P

Lord, Why me?

I applied for an executive position

But they passed me by

They’ve got a quota, that’s my firm suspicion

For people who qualify

My woman’s giving me nothing but sass

She’s down on harassment, looking up through her ceiling of glass

I'm a White Indignant Male Person

W.I.M.P.

And ev'ry evening just before I knock back

Another Twinkie or ten

I pray the Lord to set the Cosmic Clock back

To when "All People" meant "All White Protestant Men"

Now, how am I expected to rule the Earth?

And claim my birthright if I'm given only what I am worth?

I'm a White Indignant Male Person

I got the Blues, and they could worsen

I paid my dues, and no one’s reimbursin’

This W. I. M. P.

We’re so glad to be in this good fight with you,

Roy and Melanie