philosophy in song

Creative Forums Art, Music, and Entertainment
141

Again, you had to be there.

SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME [from the film Wild In the Streets]
Max Frost and the Troopers

[b]Theres a new sun Risin up angry in the sky
And theres a new voice Sayin were not afraid to die Let the old world make believe Its blind and deaf and dumb
But nothing can change the shape of things to come

There are changes
Lyin` ahead in every road
And there are new thoughts
Ready and waiting to explode
When tomorrow is today
The bells may toll for some
But nothing can change the shape of things to come

The futures comin in, now
Sweet and strong
Ain`t no-one gonna hold it back for long

There are new dreams
Crowdin out old realities Theres revolution
Sweepin in like a fresh new breeze Let the old world make believe Its blind and deaf and dumb
(But) nothing can change the shape of things
To come[/b]

youtube.com/watch?v=g17OT7_YzLM

142

Disorientation:

God told me to tell you

God told me to tell you today that witchcraft

…God told me to tell you today that witch…

God told me to tell you today that witchcraft got the shi…

God…God…God…

God told me to tell you today that…

God told me today 2 tell u that witchcraft has bound your your brother and bound your mother, that you are coming home to them while your standing in the cathedral of deliverance, that God is touching you,you’re a child of God, that prosperity and success is all around you, God is going to begin in the name of Jesus. Reprove it !There he is! At the top of your head to the souls of your feet. There he is, in the name of Jesus. Somebody… Somebody praise him:

Disorientation

Disorientation

Disorientation

Disorientation 21st century Aura
youtube.com/watch?v=HvPAplvb1Wo

This one is a personal classic,
Much like Free: it’s alright now

It explains the level I am pushing towards,
despite all evidence to the contrary.

143

Tell me something good.

tell me that you love me,

yeah,

Tell me something good.

tell me that you like it.

u gotta love the chorus.

(2 tell u what I think
is as much as saying

i’m prone to certain refrains.

144

another personal observation:

I like being here.

youtube.com/watch?v=38djP6xYnlY

145

Where have we been, where are we now, where are we going…

CAN’T FIND MY WAY HOME
Blind Faith

[b]Come down off your throne and leave your body alone.
Somebody must change.
You are the reason Ive been waiting so long.
Somebody holds the key.

But Im near the end and I just aint got the time
And Im wasted and I can’t find my way home.

Come down on your own and leave your body alone.
Somebody must change.
You are the reason Ive been waiting all these years.
Somebody holds the key.

Chorus

But I can’t find my way home.
But I can’t find my way home.
But I can’t find my way home.
But I can’t find my way home.
Still I can’t find my way home,
And I aint done nothing wrong,
But I can’t find my way home[/b]

youtube.com/watch?v=bDAttqJ3qcg

146

A truly sublime dirge. For those who don’t see that as an oxymoron.

BLACK PETER
Greatful Dead

[b]All of my friends come to see me last night
I was laying in my bed and dying
Annie Beauneu from Saint Angel
say “the weather down here so fine”

Just then the wind
came squalling through the door
but who can
the weather command?
Just want to have
a little peace to die
and a friend or two
I love at hand

Fever roll up to a hundred and five
Roll on up
gonna roll back down
One more day
I find myself alive
tomorrow
maybe go
beneath the ground

See here how everything
lead up to this day
and it’s just like
any other day
that’s ever been
Sun goin up
and then the
sun it goin down
Shine through my window and
my friends they come around
come around
come around

People may know but
the people don’t care
that a man could be
as poor as me…
“Take a look at poor Peter
he’s lyin in pain
now let’s go run
and see”

Run and see
hey, hey,
run and see[/b]

youtube.com/watch?v=0Ka6yhEUyos

147

No one really knows if he jumped or if he slipped and fell into that overdose. I’m betting he jumped.

RIVER MAN
Nick Drake

[b]Betty came by on her way
Said she had a word to say
About things today
And fallen leaves.

Said she hadn’t heard the news
Hadn’t had the time to choose
A way to lose
But she believes.

Gonna see the river man
Gonna tell him all I can
About the plan
For lilac time.

If he tells me all he knows
'bout the way his river flows
And all night shows
In summertime.

Betty said she prayed today
For the sky to blow away
Or maybe stay
She wasn’t sure.

For when she thought of summer rain
Calling for her mind again
She lost the pain
And stayed for more.

Gonna see the river man
Gonna tell him all I can
'bout the ban
On feeling free.

If he tells me all he knows
About the way his river flows
I don’t suppose
It’s meant for me.

Oh, how they come and go
Oh, how they come and go[/b]

youtube.com/watch?v=idcaRTg4-fM

148

BANG BANG
Iggy Pop

“…my problems can’t follow me
Phone calls I take by machine
I wander lonely to the sea
Lonely ha ha what does it mean
Who, me?”

[b]Well this ain’t the right thing to do, so let’s go

Young girls they know what they’re after
Young girls don’t kiss me goodbye
Rockets shoot off to space
And buildings they rise to the skies

Bang bang I got mine
Bang bang reach for the sky

I keep a good friend on video tape
He’ll drive his sports car until it’s too late
But we’ll have a hot time on the town tonight
Cause love is my gadget and it’s the best yet

Bang Bang I got mine
Bang Bang sun is gonna shine
Bang Bang you all angels
Bang Bang now you all ought to be in pictures

Oh girl
Oh girl my problems can’t follow me
Phone calls I take by machine
I wander lonely to the sea
Lonely ha Ha ha what does it mean
Who, me?

Bang Bang I got mine
Bang Bang and you are next in line
Bang bang if that’s all it means then
Have a glass of wine
Bang bang reach for the sky
Bang Bang sun don’t shine

Rise buildings
Rise to the sky
Young girls they know what they’re after
I said, young girls don’t kiss me goodbye[/b]

youtube.com/watch?v=HcUa65cgX9c

149

DID SHE JUMP OR WAS SHE PUSHED
Richard Thompson

“She thought she’d live forever
But forever always ends”

Sandy Denny?

[b]She was there one minute and then she was gone the next
Lying in a pool of herself with a twisted neck

Oh she fell from the roof to the ground
There was glass lying all around
She was broken in a hundred pieces
When her body was found

She used to live life, she used to live life with a vengeance
And the chosen would dance, the chosen would dance in attendance

She crossed a lot of people
Some she called friends
She thought she’d live forever
But forever always ends
Did she jump or was she pushed
Did she jump or was she pushed
Did she jump or was she pushed

Oh she used to have style, she used to have style and she used it
And they say it turned bad when the truth came `round and she refused it

They found some fingerprints
Right around her throat
They didn’t find no killer
And they didn’t find no note

Did she jump or was she pushed
Did she jump or was she pushed
Did she jump or was she pushed

Oh did she jump or was she pushed
Did she jump or was she pushed
Did she jump or was she pushed[/b]

youtube.com/watch?v=nJ6OICtg3jw

150

Connect the dots between this song and American foreign policy. The connect the dots between philosophy and political economy.

THEY STAND ALONE
Sting

[b]Why are there women here dancing on their own?
Why is there this sadness in their eyes?
Why are the soldiers here
Their faces fixed like stone?
I can’t see what it is that they dispise
They’re dancing with the missing
They’re dancing with the dead
They dance with the invisible ones
Their anguish is unsaid
They’re dancing with their fathers
They’re dancing with their sons
They’re dancing with their husbands
They dance alone They dance alone

It’s the only form of protest they’re allowed
I’ve seen their silent faces scream so loud
If they were to speak these words they’d go missing too
Another woman on a torture table what else can they do
They’re dancing with the missing
They’re dancing with the dead
They dance with the invisible ones
Their anguish is unsaid
They’re dancing with their fathers
They’re dancing with their sons
They’re dancing with their husbands
They dance alone They dance alone

One day we’ll dance on their graves
One day we’ll sing our freedom
One day we’ll laugh in our joy
And we’ll dance
One day we’ll dance on their graves
One day we’ll sing our freedom
One day we’ll laugh in our joy
And we’ll dance

Ellas danzan con los desaparecidos
Ellas danzan con los muertos
Ellas danzan con amores invisibles
Ellas danzan con silenciosa angustia
Danzan con sus pardres
Danzan con sus hijos
Danzan con sus esposos
Ellas danzan solas
Danzan solas

Hey Mr. Pinochet
You’ve sown a bitter crop
It’s foreign money that supports you
One day the money’s going to stop
No wages for your torturers
No budget for your guns
Can you think of your own mother
Dancin’ with her invisible son
They’re dancing with the missing
They’re dancing with the dead
They dance with the invisible ones
They’re anguish is unsaid
They’re dancing with their fathers
They’re dancing with their sons
They’re dancing with their husbands
They dance alone
They dance alone[/b]

youtube.com/watch?v=MS_bN5ECJTI

151

Lost love in a double entendre

BIRD SONG
Lene Lovich

[b]A little bird told me, you were untrue…
Even though, I had, faith in you…
I believe, the liars words
Oh the same…little bird

So with the bird, one day, you flew away
I woke up, to late, you had gone
Fading on…with this song
Of the hurting little bird
Ohh Ohh Ohh Ohh

(chorus)

Still I watch the sky
Still I wonder why
Still I hope that I…
Can carry on…
If I cant be strong
If you hear my song
You’ll know that it was wrong, to say good bye…

Such a cold bird, so hard, captured your heart
Does it matter, I am, falling apart
Breaking fast, as the flesh
Ohh Ohh Ohh Ohh
Of the dead little bird

(chorus twice)

Still I watch the sky
Still I wonder why
Still I hope that I…
Can carry on…
If I cant be strong
If you hear my song
You’ll know that it was wrong, to say good bye…[/b]

youtube.com/watch?v=qfs3w4QMcls

152

THIS WOMAN’S WORK
Kate Bush

“Oh, darling, make it go.
Just make it go away…”

[b]Pray God you can cope.
I stand outside this woman’s work,
This woman’s world.
Ooh, it’s hard on the man,
Now his part is over.
Now starts the craft of the father.

I know you have a little life in you yet.
I know you have a lot of strength left.
I know you have a little life in you yet.
I know you have a lot of strength left.

I should be crying, but I just can’t let it show.
I should be hoping, but I can’t stop thinking

Of all the things I should’ve said,
That I never said.
All the things we should’ve done,
That we never did.
All the things I should’ve given,
But I didn’t.

Oh, darling, make it go,
Make it go away.

Give me these moments back.
Give them back to me.
Give me that little kiss.
Give me your hand.

(I know you have a little life in you yet.
I know you have a lot of strength left.
I know you have a little life in you yet.
I know you have a lot of strength left.)

I should be crying, but I just can’t let it show.
I should be hoping, but I can’t stop thinking

Of all the things we should’ve said,
That were never said.
All the things we should’ve done,
That we never did.
All the things that you needed from me.
All the things that you wanted for me.
All the things that I should’ve given,
But I didn’t.

Oh, darling, make it go.
Just make it go away…[/b]

youtube.com/watch?v=7TupvVpxY_U

153

I WOULD FOR YOU
Jane’s Addiction

“I’m everybody’s slave
I made you my slave”

[b]Oh baby,
I’m so tired
The man…from
the government
The man from
the tax board
The man from the
public school
The man owns
the golden
rule, yeah
I’m everybody’s slave
I made you my slave
You said
This I do for you
If it would help
To give the world back
What it gave
Then I would
I would
I wouldI would for you
I would for you

You say my eyes
Are crazy eyes
Sometimes they are
And so are you
And if you wonder
What I would do
I would do
Anything
If I could
You know I would
I would
I would
I would for you
I would for you
I would for you
I would for you
I would for you[/b]

youtube.com/watch?v=dk4Y15INfVE

154

WHAT GOD WANTS [GOD GETS]
Roger Waters

What God wants God gets God help us all
What God wants God gets
The kid in the corner looked at the priest
And fingered his pale blue Japanese guitar
The priest said
God wants goodness
God wants light
God wants mayhem
God wants a clean fight
What God wants God gets
Don’t look so surprised
It’s only dogma
The alien prophet cried
The beetle and the springbok
Took the Bible from its hook
The monkey in the corner
Wrote the lesson in his book
What God wants God gets God help us all
God wants peace
God wants war
God wants famine
God wants chain stores
What God wants God gets
God wants sedition
God wants sex
God wants freedom
God wants semtex
What God wants God gets
Don’t look so surprised
I’m only joking
The alien comic cried
The jackass and hyena
Took the feather from its hook
The monkey in the corner
Wrote the joke down in his book
What God wants God gets
God wants boarders
God wants crack
God wants rainfall
God wants wetbacks
What God wants God gets
God wants voodoo
God wants shrines
God wants law
God wants organized crime
God wants crusade
God wants jihad
God wants good
God wants bad
What God wants God gets

youtube.com/watch?v=fm4hkCA3DIM

155

Bombs away…

THIRTY SECONDS OVER TOKYO
Pere Ubu

[b]Flew off early in the haze of dawn
In a metal dragon locked in time,
Skimming waves of an underground sea
In some kind of a dream world fantasy

Sun a hot circle on a canopy,
‘25 a racing blot on a bright green sea
Ahead the dim blur of an alien land,
Time to give ourselves to strange gods’ hands

Dark flak spiders bursting in the sky,
Reaching twisted claws on every side
No place to run,
No place to hide,
No turning back on a suicide ride

Toy city streets crawling through my sights,
Sprouting clumps of mushrooms like a world surreal
This dream won’t ever seem to end,
And time seems like it’ll never begin
30 seconds,
And a one way ride
30 seconds,
And no place to hide
30 seconds over tokyo[/b]

youtube.com/watch?v=Rs3kKHhG4m0

156

One can only hope that Cale is being ironic here.

MERCENARIES [READY FOR WAR]
John Cale

[b]Mercenaries are usless, disunited, unfaithful
They have nothing more to keep them in a battle
Other than a meager wage
Which is just about enough to make them wanna kill for you
But never enough to make them wanna die for ya

I’m just another soldier boy
I’m just another soldier boy
Looking for work
Looking for work
Looking for work

My rifle is my friend
My rifle is my friend
I clean my rifle everyday
I clean my rifle everyday
That’s why my rifle is my friend

Ready for war, ready for war
Ready for war, ready for war
Ready for war, ready for war
Ready for war, ready for war

Did some work in Zaire, the jolly old Belgian Congo
Went back to Geneva to get paid
Back there in Geneva, that’s were the money grows
That’s were the money grows, that’s were the money flows

They didn’t wanna pay me
They didn’t wanna pay me, but they did
Try to separate me from my money
is try to separate me from my life

Ready for war, ready for war
Ready for war, ready for war
Ready for war, ready for war
Ready for war, ready for war

Let’s go to Moscow, let’s go to Moscow
Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go to Moscow
Fight a backdoor to the Kremlin
Push it down and walk on in

5000 feet and closing
Target visibility one nine
4000 feet and closing
Target visibility two six
3000 feet and closing
Target visibility seven nine
2000 feet and closing
Visibility one ten
1000 feet and closing
Visibility seven four
500 feet and closing
Target visibility zero!

Ready for war, ready for war
You better be ready for war
Ready for war, ready for war
Are you ready for war
Ready for war, ready for war[/b]

youtube.com/watch?v=RopzGeQxKxw

157

COLD BLUE STEEL
Joni Mitchell

“You’re going to come now
Or you’re going to come later”

[b]Cold blue steel out of money
One eye for the beat police
Sweet Fire calling
“You can’t deny me
Now you know what you need”
Underneath the jungle gym
Hollow grey fire escape thief
Looking for sweet fire
Shadow of lady release

“Come with me
I know the way” she says
“It’s down, down, down the dark ladder
Do you want to contact somebody first
Leave someone a letter
You can come now
Or you can come later”

A wristwatch, a ring, a downstairs screamer
Edgy-black cracks of the sky
“Pin cushion prick fix this poor bad dreamer”
“Money” cold shadows reply
Pawnshops crisscrossed and padlocked
Corridors spit on prayers and pleas
Sparks fly up from sweet fire
Black soot of lady release

“Come with me
I know the way” she says
“It’s down, down, down the dark ladder
Do you want to contact somebody first
Does it really matter
If you come now
Or if you come on later?”

Red water in the bathroom sink
Fever and the scum brown bowl
Blue steel still begging
But it’s indistinct
Someone’s hi-fi drumming Jelly Roll
Concrete concentration camp
Bashing in veins for peace
Cold Blue Steel and Sweet Fire
Fall into Lady Release

“Come with me
I know the way” she says
"It’s down, down, down the dark ladder
Do you want to contact somebody first
I mean what does it really matter
You’re going to come now
Or you’re going to come later[/b]

youtube.com/watch?v=y1QNetpN5oc

158

LIKE A ROLLING STONE
Cover by the band Spirit

[b]Once upon a time you dressed so fine
You threw the bums a dime in your prime, didn’t you ?
People’d call, say, “Beware doll, you’re bound to fall”
You thought they were all kiddin’ you
You used to laugh about
Everybody that was hangin’ out
Now you don’t talk so loud
Now you don’t seem so proud
About having to be scrounging for your next meal.

How does it feel
How does it feel
To be without a home
Like a complete unknown
Like a rolling stone ?

You’ve gone to the finest school all right, Miss Lonely
But you know you only used to get juiced in it
And nobody has ever taught you how to live on the street
And now you find out you’re gonna have to get used to it
You said you’d never compromise
With the mystery tramp, but know you realize
He’s not selling any alibis
As you stare into the vacuum of his eyes
And say do you want to make a deal?

How does it feel
How does it feel
To be on your own
With no direction home
Like a complete unknown
Like a rolling stone ?
You never turned around to see the frowns on the jugglers and the clowns
When they all come down and did tricks for you
You never understood that it ain’t no good
You shouldn’t let other people get your kicks for you
You used to ride on the chrome horse with your diplomat
Who carried on his shoulder a Siamese cat
Ain’t it hard when you discover that
He really wasn’t where it’s at
After he took from you everything he could steal.

How does it feel
How does it feel
To be on your own
With no direction home
Like a complete unknown
Like a rolling stone ?

Princess on the steeple and all the pretty people
They’re drinkin’, thinkin’ that they got it made
Exchanging all precious gifts
But you’d better take your diamond ring, you’d better pawn it babe
You used to be so amused
At Napoleon in rags and the language that he used
Go to him now, he calls you, you can’t refuse
When you got nothing, you got nothing to lose
You’re invisible now, you got no secrets to conceal.

How does it feel
How does it feel
To be on your own
With no direction home
Like a complete unknown
Like a rolling stone[/b]

youtube.com/watch?v=FWCxAElOSxM

159

I need this…meaning I don’t?
More love and human remains I suspect.

COUNTRY FEEDBACK
REM

“We’ve been through fake-a-breakdown
Self hurt
Plastics, collections
Self help, self pain,
EST, psychics, fuck all”

[b]This flower is scorched
This film is on
On a maddening loop
These clothes
These clothes don’t fit us right
I’m to blame
It’s all the same
It’s all the same

You come to me with a bone in your hand
You come to me with your hair curled tight
You come to me with positions
You come to me with excuses
Ducked out in a row
You wear me out
You wear me out

We’ve been through fake-a-breakdown
Self hurt
Plastics, collections
Self help, self pain,
EST, psychics, fuck all
I was central
I had control
I lost my head
I need this
I need this
A paper weight, junk garage
Winter rain, a honey pot
Crazy, all the lovers have been tagged
A hotline, a wanted add
It’s crazy what you could’ve had
It’s crazy what you could’ve had
It’s crazy what you could’ve had
I need
I need this
It’s crazy what you could’ve had
It’s crazy what you could’ve had
I need
I need this
It’s crazy what you could’ve had
It’s crazy what you could’ve had
I need
I, I need this
It’s crazy what you could’ve had
I need this
It’s crazy what you could’ve had
It’s crazy what you could’ve had
I need this
I, I need this
It’s crazy what you could’ve had
It’s crazy what you could’ve had[/b]

youtube.com/watch?v=boUZmibXQUQ

160

ON SOME FAR AWAY BEACH
Brian Eno

“Unlikely
I’ll be remembered…”

[b]Given the Chance
I’ll Die Like a Baby
On Some Far Away Beach
When the Season’s Over.

Unlikely
I’ll Be Remembered
As the Tide Brushes Sand in My Eyes
I’ll Drift Away.

Cast Up On a Plateau
With Only One Memory
A Single Syllable
Oh Lie Low Lie Low[/b]

youtube.com/watch?v=K29t_L3CO6A