When I was budget chair, years ago, a tradition began to pick a song that represents the upcoming legislative session. As I read hundreds of emails and listen to countless people testify it’s clear our budget cuts have already had detrimental effects on Washingtonians. Our duty is to hear them and act in a fiscally and morally responsible way to close the remaining $1.5 billion budget shortfall.

“I Hear Them All” by the Old Crow Medicine Show is an apt song that portrays Washington’s current reality.

I Hear Them All

By Old Crow Medicine Show

I hear the crying of the hungry in the deserts where they're wanderin'
Hear them crying out for heaven's own benevolence upon them
Hear our destructive power prevailing, I hear fools falsely hailing
To the crooked words of tyrants when they call

I hear them all, I hear them all, I hear them all

I hear the sound of tearing pages and the roar of burning paper
All the crimes and acquisition turn to air and ash and vapor
In the rattle of the shackle, far beyond emancipators
And the lowliest together in their stall

I hear them all, I hear them all, I hear them all

So while you sit and whistle Dixie with your money and your power
I can hear the flowers growing in the rubble of the tower
I hear leaders quit their lying, I hear babies quit their crying
I hear soldiers quit their dying, one and all

I hear them all, I hear them all, I hear them all

I hear the tender words from Zion, I hear Noah's waterfall
See the gentle lamb of Judah sleeping at the feet of Buddha
And the prophets from Elijah to the Old Paiute Wovaca
Take their places at the table when they're called

I hear them all, I hear them all, I hear them all
I hear them all, I hear them all, I hear them all
I hear them all, I hear them all, I hear them all