Protest Songs, part 2

-
Today I'm still pissed off at war and violence.  Syria is unimaginable, and the stories of civilians and families trying to stay safe and together are heart wrenching.  Republicans are out stumping that gay marriage isn't a civil rights issue, and that a woman's reproductive rights are subject to legislation.  So here are 5 more songs - protest songs, "fed up with it" songs,  "what the heck is happening in our country" songs, and two "it can get better" songs.  

6) "Rich Man's War" - Steve Earl.  2005.
Bobby had an eagle and a flag tattooed on his arm
Red white and blue to the bone when he landed in Kandahar
Left behind a pretty young wife and a baby girl
A stack of overdue bills and went off to save the world
Been a year now and he’s still there
Chasin’ ghosts in the thin dry air
Meanwhile back at home the finance company took his car
Just another poor boy off to fight a rich man’s war 

7) "Ohio." Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. 
Tin soldiers and Nixon coming,
We're finally on our own.
This summer I hear the drumming,
Four dead in Ohio.  

8) "Take This Job and Shove It." - Johnny Paycheck. 1977.
The foreman, he's a regular dog the line boss, he's a fool
Got a brand new flat top haircut Lord, he thinks he's cool
One of these days I'm gonna blow my top and that sucker, he's gonna pay
I can't wait to see their faces when I get the nerve to say...
Take this job and shove it

9) "Last Night I Had the Strangest Dream." - Arlo Guthrie. 1978
Last night I had the strangest dream
I'd ever dreamed before
I dreamed the world had all agreed
To put an end to war

I dreamed I saw a mighty room
Filled with women and men
And the paper they were signing said
They'd never fight again

And when the paper was all signed
And a million copies made
They all joined hands and bowed their heads
And grateful pray'rs were prayed

And the people in the streets below
Were dancing 'round and 'round
While swords and guns and uniforms
Were scattered on the ground

10) "People Get Ready." Curtis Mayfield & The Impressions. 1965.
People get ready, there's a train a comin'
You don't need no baggage, you just get on board
All you need is faith to hear the diesels hummin'
Don't need no ticket, you just thank the Lord

People get ready for the train to Jordan
It's picking up passengers from coast to coast
Faith is the key, open the doors and board 'em
There's hope for all among those loved the most

11) "The Times, They are A'Changing." Bob Dylan. 1964,
Come senators, congressmen
Please heed the call
Don't stand in the doorway
Don't block up the hall
For he that gets hurt
Will be he who has stalled
There's a battle outside
And it is ragin'
It'll soon shake your windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin'.

"What is true of the individual will be 
tomorrow true of the whole 
nation if individuals will 
but refuse to lose heart and hope."
Mahatma Ghandi




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

imagination

-
She moved to the beach to start over. After years behind a desk, processing paperwork for deadbeats, she was looking to forward some quiet. Her monthly pension from the state, combined with social security and the money her father had left her provided enough income for the full cable package on television, her book of the month club, and necessities. She didn't subscribe to the newspaper any more; nothing in there but bad news. All her working life had been dealing with deadbeats, people making excuses for why they weren't working, why they didn't take care of their children, their bills, or themselves. The newspaper was just a reminder of that. The first slug appeared late in the evening. She'd just finished watching America's Got Talent and went to check the doors and windows before heading to bed for the night. When she turned on the porch light, she saw a huge shadow on the screen door. About 4 inches long, it had worked the front half of
Read more

what goes up, must come down

-
"Once on the elevator , elevator etiquette experts strongly recommend standing as close to a wall or corner as possible to make room for other riders. You should move to the back of the elevator if you are going a long way, and stay in the front if you plan to get off soon. If you decide to stand in front of the elevator buttons, be prepared to be asked to push buttons for other elevator riders. While in an elevator , you shouldn't eat, smoke, or talk on your cellphone. Many people prefer to ride an elevator in silence, so if you have to strike up a conversation with someone, keep the topic neutral, and your tone of voice low. If other people in the elevator seem irritated or upset by your conversation, you may want to change the topic or quiet down. Step aside for people getting off the elevator , and be sure not to block the door when the elevator stops.  ~Wisegeek.com Heh heh heh.  I've discovered a new hobby.  It's called "freak out the strangers on
Read more

books

-
I'm making lots of lists lately and figured I'd keep going. Since I often get asked what my favorite books are and I can never answer, here are a few books I think are worth reading. Siddartha , by Herman Hesse. The book that changed my way of viewing the world. The Stand , by Stephen King. One of the best books ever. Archetypal good vs. evil, great writing, and interesting characters. Lonesome Dove , by Larry McMurty. Never have I experienced such real and rounded characters on the written page. The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove , by Christopher Moore. Laugh out loud funny and strange. A Prayer for Owen Meany , by John Irving. Funny but thought provoking. I think better, but very different than Cider House Rules, World According to Garp or Hotel New Hampshire . To Kill a Mockingbird , by Harper Lee. Classic coming of age. The Prince of Tides , by Pat Conroy. I think he'll be recognized as one of the great writers of the age. This one has sentences that are abso
Read more