General Music Chat

Woody Guthrie - This Land Is Your Land

Here's a link to the lyrics:
http://www.woodyguthrie.org/Lyrics/This_Land.htm

yeah Bren- I love what Woody had marked on his guitar!!
"this machine kills fascists"

http://youtu.be/esA6bbd7xts

Back on topic.

I used to love political messages in music. Especially Neil Young, The Beastie Boys and KMFDM. They're an electronic band from Germany that would have political messages in the titles of their songs, album covers, album titles, t-shirts, you name it. Their name was even a political slogan: Kein Mehrheit Für Die Mitleid [sic], translated by the band as "no pity for the majority".

http://youtu.be/YBxYpOEoLcM

Glory
War and slavery - exploitation
The common basis of a western nation
Official version - a falsified story
The truth lies buried in a shroud of glory

Influential people aren't serving time
For being involved in organized crime
But stashed away in beautiful mansions
Guess who provides for their generous pensions

Oppression, ignorance, censorship rule
Education is more than what's taught in school
Forced in a mold, held down by threats
Decisions are made over our heads

But there is a way to refuse and resist
We don't need to be ruled with the iron fist
We are the people, we are strong
Let's make up our minds and prove them wrong

Black man - White man - Yellow man
Black man - White man - Rip the system

Religion and TV, we're under the thumb
Prone to believe 'cause we're already numb

But there is a way to refuse and resist
We don't need to be ruled with the iron fist
We are the people, we are strong
Let's make up our minds and prove them wrong

Black man - White man - Yellow man
Black man - White man - Rip the system

(Sounds like vinny)

Then my views changed and I can no longer stand any of that crap. Music is for me at least, about music. Everyone is trying to do what they can to change the world for the better, the way they see it, at least. Me, I turn to music to keep myself from going insane. I need to unplug from the real world and escape from reality.

I recently saw a clip on the CNN doc "the sixties" where Eric Burdon was berating Peter Noone ( I think that's who they were) for not decrying the current political state in their music. But Peter's response was that people don't turn to music to get mired down in that depressing stuff, they want to escape from it. Pretty much sums up where I was then and where I am now.

I listened to the KMFDM song. It kind of reminds me of Rob Zombie.

Similar, yes. But they were much better. White Zombie/ Rob Zombie was just a flash in the pan that latched onto stuff that other people were pioneering. I like it, but it hasn't held up as well (IMO).

Here is a protest song I wrote in 2007.

A prophetic protest against a nuclear Iran. Seems more pertinent than ever today....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MppIZTuP1P4

Sure, approved protests. gotcha

Every protest song is religion and politics. Excuse me for having a song, but thanks for helping me understand your position.

Wow, after the last couple of posts this is now on top of my list;

Not religious or political

Kill All The White Men
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWrlbRdJsSE
Oh yeah, kill all the white man,
Oh yeah, kill all the white man.

The white man call himself civilized,
Cause he know how to take over,
The white man come to pillage my village,
Now he tell me I have to bend over.

Oh yeah, kill all the white man,
Oh yeah, kill all the white man.

No I do not like the white man up in me,
He rape my people as he rape my country,
Everything I love and cherish, he try to take away,
We will be rid of him, soon come the day.

Oh yeah, kill all the white man,
Oh yeah, kill all the white man.

Kill all the white man. [repeat

Song #5 on my BM player - 'What About the Children' - a protest on needless violence and seeming indifference people have towards it (after the initial shock). I'll be playing this one at the CD Release Party, too, although its from album #2.

What About the Children - Mike Birch copyright 2013, BMI

Innocence and tranquility seem so easy to reach
Pleasant Valley Sunday, sunset on a peaceful beach
Do what you want, when you want, freedom of speech
Remember to 'do unto others', practice what you preach

What about the children who will never be the same
What about you and I and those who feel no shame
What about the families, no one remembers their name
What about the funerals where no one ever came

From the suburbs of middle America to dusty roads in the Middle East
Love-starved children left on their own to wander lonely streets
Parents working overtime to pay for family feasts
Forgetting hugs are worth so much more than all the latest treats

What about the children who will never be the same
What about you and I and those who feel ashamed
What about the families, no one remembers their name
What about the funerals where no one ever came

Break the silence
Agonies in the dark
Stop the violence
Let children wish upon a star

What about the children who will never be the same
What about you and I giving them a world that's sane
What about the families, no one remembers their name
What about the funerals where no one ever came

What about the children ...