J. reminded me of a Steppenwolf song from the good old days (1968) that tells a tale of collective monstrosities that is being re-enacted.(If you are a connisseur, you are right. This illo is from Skullduggery, but I thought it looked creepier than the Monster CD cover.)
The spirit was freedom and justice
And it's keepers seem generous and kind
It's leaders were supposed to serve the country
But now they won't pay it no mind
'Cause the people grew fat and got lazy
And now their vote is a meaningless joke
They babble about law and order
But it's all just an echo of what they've been told
Yeah, there's a monster on the loose
It's got our heads into a noose
And it just sits there watchin'
Our cities have turned into jungles
And corruption is stranglin' the land
The police force is watching the people
And the people just can't understand
We don't know how to mind our own business
'Cause the whole worlds got to be just like us
Now we are fighting a war over there
No matter who's the winner
We can't pay the cost
'Cause there's a monster on the loose
It's got our heads into a noose
And it just sits there watching
America where are you now?
Don't you care about your sons and daughters?
Don't you know we need you now
We can't fight alone against the monster.
Who is writing the protests songs of this millenium?
5 comments:
Oh my gosh, fabulous question. I've wondered that very thing. And where are all the peaceful protests? Have we become apathetic or just older and wiser?
Your questions echoes one I posted in my comment to Jaimie. At the risk of repeating myself, they're too busy making sure their entourage is tending to their 'idol' (read: idle) needs.
When the public cares more about a two-bit star-making program and its panel of judges than what are tax dollars are doing in the name of 'freedom' and 'democracy.'
Sorry, don't get me started. Apologies.
HHhhmmm. Let's see.
Just looking top of mind at relatively big stars: U2, Bruce Springsteen, Outkast (Bombs Over Baghdad), Chuck D (Public Enemy's Fight the Power)...tons of less well-known.
With the multiplicity of media rather than three main channels, the presence of protest songs may not be visible unless you're looking through a different lens.
And the mass of shallow party people? Always with us -- and doing the same back in the day.
There are some out there, but we don't get to hear them by the normal means. Here are two lists.
http://onegoodmove.org/1gm/1gmarchive/2003/03/antiwar_songs.html
http://www.lacarte.org/songs/anti-war/
Our voices are not being heard. On March 29, 2003 I marched in Boston with my daughter and at least 20000 others against the Iraq invasion and there was no coverage that I could find.
J&J's aquarium: Interesting point of view... What a shame nobody's writing stuff that us idealists from the 60's would respond to. Your point about Congress and the president is EXTREMELY well taken... and it makes me sad. I thought that there were some revolutionary singers/bands who bought out their repetoire and produced their own stuff... but maybe it's just the folkies/acoustics.
BTW.. have you heard of a clique called E-mo's or EMO's?
PPS: I've got some U2... and must READ the lyrics to like it. It's heavier than I prefer. ;-/
Who else do you think I'd like? And maybe Bombs over Baghdad was played in an Ironic way? Like, "It's hell to be here, so I'll play this song as loud as possible?" Which Rage against the Machine? etc.
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