yet another... What's Going On Marvin Gaye -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mother, mother There's too many of you crying Brother, brother, brother There's far too many of you dying You know we've got to find a way To bring some lovin' here today - Ya Father, father We don't need to escalate You see, war is not the answer For only love can conquer hate You know we've got to find a way To bring some lovin' here today Picket lines and picket signs Don't punish me with brutality Talk to me, so you can see Oh, what's going on What's going on Ya, what's going on Ah, what's going on In the mean time Right on, baby Right on Right on Father, father, everybody thinks we're wrong Oh, but who are they to judge us Simply because our hair is long Oh, you know we've got to find a way To bring some understanding here today Oh Picket lines and picket signs Don't punish me with brutality Talk to me So you can see What's going on Ya, what's going on Tell me what's going on I'll tell you what's going on - Uh Right on baby Right on baby
Hee hee, can you tell I like him?: Ringing of Revolution by Phil Ochs In a building of gold, with riches untold, lived the families on which the country was founded. And the merchants of style, with their red velvet smiles, were there, for they also were hounded. And the soft middle class crowded in to the last, for the building was fully surrounded. And the noise outside was the ringing of revolution. Sadly they stared and sank in their chairs and searched for a comforting notion. And the rich silver walls looked ready to fall As they shook in doubtful devotion. The ice cubes would clink as they freshened their drinks, wet their minds in bitter emotion. And they talked about the ringing of revolution. We were hardly aware of the hardships they beared, for our time was taken with treasure. Oh, life was a game, and work was a shame, And pain was prevented by pleasure. The world, cold and grey, was so far away In the distance only money could measure. But their thoughts were broken by the ringing of revolution. The clouds filled the room in darkening doom as the crooked smoke rings were rising. How long will it take, how can we escape Someone asks, but no one's advising. And the quivering floor responds to the roar, In a shake no longer surprising. As closer and closer comes the ringing of revolution. Softly they moan, please leave us alone As back and forth they are pacing. And they cover their ears and try not to hear With pillows of silk they're embracing. And the crackling crowd is laughing out loud, peeking in at the target they're chasing. Now trembling inside the ringing of revolution. With compromise sway we give in half way When we saw that rebellion was growing. Now everything's lost as they kneel by the cross Where the blood of christ is still flowing. Too late for their sorrow they've reached their tomorrow and reaped the seed they were sowing. Now harvested by the ringing of revolution. In tattered tuxedos they faced the new heroes and crawled about in confusion. And they sheepishly grinned for their memoroes were dim of the decades of dark execution. Hollow hands were raised; they stood there amazed in the shattering of their illusions. As the windows were smashed by the ringing of revolution. Down on our knees we're begging you please, We're sorry for the way you were driven. There's no need to taunt just take what you want, and we'll make amends, if we're living. But away from the grounds the flames told the town that only the dead are forgiven. _As they crumbled inside the ringing of revolution.
"love me, i'm a liberal" is the best phil ochs song he ever wrote. it's also a great reason why i dont call myself a democrat (although its who i vote for).
Your Flag Decal Won't Get You Into Heaven Anymore © John Prine While digesting Reader's Digest In the back of a dirty book store, A plastic flag, with gum on the back, Fell out on the floor. Well, I picked it up and I ran outside Slapped it on my window shield, And if I could see old Betsy Ross I'd tell her how good I feel. Chorus: But your flag decal won't get you Into Heaven any more. They're already overcrowded From your dirty little war. Now Jesus don't like killin' No matter what the reason's for, And your flag decal won't get you Into Heaven any more. Well, I went to the bank this morning And the cashier he said to me, "If you join the Christmas club We'll give you ten of them flags for free." Well, I didn't mess around a bit I took him up on what he said. And I stuck them stickers all over my car And one on my wife's forehead. Repeat Chorus: Well, I got my window shield so filled With flags I couldn't see. So, I ran the car upside a curb And right into a tree. By the time they got a doctor down I was already dead. And I'll never understand why the man Standing in the Pearly Gates said... "But your flag decal won't get you Into Heaven any more. We're already overcrowded From your dirty little war. Now Jesus don't like killin' No matter what the reason's for, And your flag decal won't get you Into Heaven any more." ******************************* Sam Stone ©John Prine Sam Stone came home, To his wife and family After serving in the conflict overseas. And the time that he served, Had shattered all his nerves, And left a little shrapnel in his knee. But the morphine eased the pain, And the grass grew round his brain, And gave him all the confidence he lacked, With a Purple Heart and a monkey on his back. Chorus: There's a hole in daddy's arm where all the money goes, Jesus Christ died for nothin' I suppose. Little pitchers have big ears, Don't stop to count the years, Sweet songs never last too long on broken radios. Mmm.... Sam Stone's welcome home Didn't last too long. He went to work when he'd spent his last dime And Sammy took to stealing When he got that empty feeling For a hundred dollar habit without overtime. And the gold rolled through his veins Like a thousand railroad trains, And eased his mind in the hours that he chose, While the kids ran around wearin' other peoples' clothes... Repeat Chorus: Sam Stone was alone When he popped his last balloon Climbing walls while sitting in a chair Well, he played his last request While the room smelled just like death With an overdose hovering in the air But life had lost its fun And there was nothing to be done But trade his house that he bought on the G. I. Bill For a flag draped casket on a local heroes' hill. Repeat Chorus
Mojo Nizon and Jello Biafra covered and updated the lyrics to this song recently: I cried when they shot John Lennon Tears ran down my spine And I cried when I saw "JFK" As if I'd lost a father of mine But Malcom-X and Ice-T had it coming They got what they asked for this time Chorus: So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal I go to pro-choice rallies Recycle my cans and jars I'll honk if you love the Dead Hope those funny Grunge bands become stars But don't talk about revolution That's going a little bit to far Chorus: So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal I cheered when Clinton was chosen My faith in the system reborn I'll do anything to save our schools If my taxes aint too much more And I love Blacks and Gays and Latinos As long as they don't move next door Chorus: So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal Rush Limbaugh and the L.A.P.D. Should all hang thier heads in shame I can't understand where they're at Arsenio should set them straight But if neighborhood watch doesn't know you I hope the cops take your name Chorus: So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal Yeah, I read the New Republican Rolling Stone and Mother Jones too If I vote it's a democrat With a sensible economy view But when it comes to terrorist Arabs There is no one more red, white, and blue Chorus: So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal Once I was young and had an attitude Stickers covered the car I drove in Even went on some direct actions When there weren't rent-a-cops to be seen Ah, but now I've grown older and wiser And that's why I'm turning you in Chorus: So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal
System Of A Down Deer Dance Round, Round, Circumventing circuses, Lamenting in protest, To visible police, Presence sponsored fear, Battalions of riot police, With rubber bullet kisses, Baton courtesy, Service with a smile Beyond the Staples Center you can see America, With its tired, poor, avenging disgrace, Peaceful, loving youth against the brutality, Of plastic existence. Pushing little children, With their fully automatics, They like to push the weak around, Pushing little children, With their fully automatics, They like to push the weak around. Round, Round, A rush of words, Pleading to disperse, Upon your naked walls, alive, A political call, The fall guy accord, We can't afford to be neutral on a moving train, Beyond the Staples Center you can see America, With its tired, poor, avenging disgrace, Peaceful, loving youth against the brutality, Of plastic existence. Pushing little children, With their fully automatics, They like to push the weak around, Pushing little children, With their fully automatics, They like to push the weak around. Push them around, A deer dance, invitation to peace, War staring you in the face, dressed in black. With a helmet, fierce, Trained and appropriate for the malcontents, For the disproportioned malcontents, The little boy smiled, it'll all be well, The little boy smiled it'll all be well, Pushing little children, With their fully automatics, They like to push the weak around, Pushing little children, With their fully automatics, They like to push the weak around. Pushing little children, With their fully automatics, They like to push the weak around, Push the weak around, Push the weak around, Push the weak around, They like to push the weak around.
It is definitely a great song (although not my personal favorite). The only reason I did not include it was because it is not a standard protest song. I also know the update to which Mr Meowgi referred.
