The Money They Stole (from Venezuela): a song about US economic warfare

This song confronts the economic warfare, stolen resources, and military threats facing Venezuela from US imperialism. It traces a line from historic extraction to today's financial blockade—and affirms the right of a sovereign people to resist.

CREDITS
• Music & Lyrics: Ben Grosscup
• Bass, Banjo & Studio Production: Chet Gardiner (http://chetgardiner.com/)
• Video Production: Ben Grosscup, with support from Chet Gardiner
• Lyrical inspiration: Based on the chorus and structure of David Rovics’ “Terrorizing Venezuela.” Read the original here: https://davidrovics.substack.com/p/te...

🔗 MORE FROM BEN GROSSCUP
Follow & explore more music: https://linktr.ee/BenGrosscup

📌 WHY THIS SONG NOW?
As military threats against Venezuela escalate, this song focuses on the less visible front: the economic war. For years, Venezuelan assets—from CITGO to gold reserves—have been frozen or seized by U.S. and European banks under the banner of “sanctions.” This is a song about that theft.

📢 USE THIS SONG
This track is free to use at rallies, webinars, teach-ins, or on social media to raise awareness about US sanctions. Credit the artists and link back to this video.

#TheMoneyTheyStole #Venezuela #EconomicWarfare #SanctionsKill #NoWarOnVenezuela #ProtestMusic #Solidarity #FinancialBlockade #CITGO #DavidRovics #BenGrosscup #ChetGardiner

🎶 LYRICS
“The Money They Stole”
Troops are banging at the door
Will they dare to start a war?
Venezuela faces its gravest hour
Since Bolivar fought the Spanish power
Fishermen have been burned and drowned
By orders of a man donning a crown
Peddling sinister fentanyl lies
Posting snuff films of the people who die

And if you wonder what’s the empire’s goal
Just follow the money they stole

The assets have been seized
By banks that act like thieves
Western leaders say they should decide
How a sovereign country runs inside
When they lose sway, they cook up a scheme
To make the economy scream
Washington claims it owns the oil
In the open veins of Venezuela’s soil

And if you wonder what’s the empire’s goal
Just follow the money they stole

The veins were drained by foreign theft
The vampires blame the country’s Left
And plot a coup to strip and steal
The wealth of a nation refusing to kneel
The people there are standing guard
Cuz Yankees act like it’s their “backyard”
The U.S. Fleet surrounds the shore
Where an Empire met defeat before

And if you wonder what’s the empire’s goal
Just follow the money they stole

The money they stole. The money they stole.
From children and their families!
The money they stole. The money they stole.
And put it in their banks
The money they stole. The money they stole.
They took the CITGO stations
The money they stole. The money they stole.
That once sustained the nation
The money they stole. The money they stole.
The people will reclaim it
The money they stole. The money they stole.
But first we have to name it
Just follow the money they stole