Frank always put a big dollop of humour on his social concern. This was aimed at that grey hypocritical society that hated individualism and nonconformity – land of the free.
“What’s The Ugliest Part Of Your Body?”
What’s the ugliest
Part of your body?
What’s the ugliest
Part of your body?
Some say your nose
Some say your toes
(I think it’s your mind)
But I think it’s YOUR MIND
(Your mind)
I think it’s your mind, woo woo
ALL YOUR CHILDREN ARE POOR
UNFORTUNATE VICTIMS OF
SYSTEMS BEYOND THEIR CONTROL
A PLAGUE UPON YOUR IGNORANCE & THE GRAY
DESPAIR OF YOUR UGLY LIFE
Where did Annie go
When she went to town?
Who are all those creeps
That she brings around?
ALL YOUR CHILDREN ARE POOR
UNFORTUNATE VICTIMS OF LIES YOU BELIEVE
A PLAGUE UPON YOUR IGNORANCE THAT KEEPS
THE YOUNG FROM THE TRUTH THEY DESERVE . . .
This is another one for the environmental vandal Trump.
This is a song off the great album The Blind Degree. I used to play this a lot.
When things are wrong it is incumbent on all right minded people to stand up and protest. We cannot allow the greedy and selfish to trash the planet.
What you gonna do about us? We are gonna stick up for what we believe in and we’re prepared to be shot down.
What You Gonna Do About Me? Ritchie Havens
You poison my sweet waters; you chop down my green trees
And the food you feed my children is the cause of that ill disease
My world is slowly falling down and the air is not fit to breathe
And those of us who care enough, we have to do something
Oh, what you gonna do about me
Oh, what you gonna do about me
Your newspapers – they just put you on
They never tell you the whole story
They just put your young ideas down
I was wondering if this was the end of their pride and glory?
Oh, what you gonna do about me
Oh, what you gonna do about me
I work in your factories and I study in your schools
I fill your penitentiaries and your military too
I can feel the future trembling as the word is passed around
If you stick up for what you do believe in, be prepared to be shot down
Oh, what you gonna do about me
Oh, what you gonna do about me
I feel just like a stranger in the land where I was born
And I live just like an outlaw; I’m always on the run
Always on the run, they got me always on the run
Oh, your soldiers smoke marijuana, you can’t put them behind your walls
Because most of what you taught them to do is against most of your laws
We’re all fugitives from injustice now but we’re going to be free
Because your rules and regulations don’t do the things for me
Oh, what you gonna do about me
Oh, what you gonna do about me
You may be the stronger now, but my time will come around
You keep adding to my numbers as you shoot my people down
I can feel the future trembling as the word is passed around
We are going to stick up for what we do believe in, and we’re prepared to be shot down
Oh, what you gonna do about me
Oh, what you gonna do about me
I feel just like a stranger in the land where I was born
And I live just like an outlaw; I’m always on the run
Always on the run, they got me always on the run
In light of Trump’s proposed vandalism of the environment in Utah opening up National Parks to drilling and mining I thought this was relevant. The madman really doesn’t care about nature – just money. What with pulling out of the Paris agreement, shutting down environment monitoring, relaxing environmental legislation and opening up parks for plunder he is really going out of his way to trash the planet for short-term gain.
Well I care about animals and nature and I think the man is an abomination. The sooner he is got rid of the better! Impeach the piece of shit.
The dollar went down and the President said
“Who’s in charge, now?” I don’t know, take your pick.
A new disease every day and the old ones are coming back
Things are looking kind of gray, like they’re going to black
Don’t turn on the TV, don’t show me the paper
(I) don’t want to know he got kidnapped or why they all raped her
I want to go on vacation till the pressure lets up
But they keep hijacking airplanes and blowing them up
It’s been a hard day on the planet
How much is it all worth?
It’s getting harder to understand it
Things are tough all over on earth.
It’s hot in December and cold in July
When it rains it pours out of a poisonous sky
In California the body counts keep getting higher
It’s evil out there, man that state is always on fire.
Everyone has a system, but they can’t seem to win
Even Bob Geldorf looks alarmingly thin
I got to get on that shuttle get me out of this place
But there’s gonna be warfare up there in outer space
I’ve got clothes on my back and shoes on my feet
A roof over my head and something to eat
My kids are all healthy and my folks are alive
You know, it’s amazing but sometimes I think I’ll survive
I’ve got all of my fingers and all of my toes
I’m pretty well off I guess, I suppose
So how come I feel bad so much of the time?
A man aint an island John Dunn wasn’t lyin’
Its business as usual; some things never change
Its unfair, it’s tough, unkind and it’s strange
We don’t seem to learn; we can’t seem to stop
Maybe some explosions would close up the shop
You know, maybe that would be fine: we would be off the hook
We resolved all our problems, never mind what it took
And it all would be over, finito, the end
Until the survivers started up all over again
(Refrain)
When we see fascists marching on the streets again, strutting around and shouting their arrogant hatred it is hard to imagine that Britain and America fought a war in which millions died to rid ourselves of these Nazis. Are we going to have to fight another?
We have Trump supporting neo-Nazis and retweeting fascist propaganda.
Now is the time for protest!!
It is also hard to remember when Russia and China were allies against the evils of fascism. How quickly memory dims.
One thing I am clear on and that is that fascism can never win. There are more decent people on the planet than selfish, arrogant elitists with their racist nastiness.
Tear The Fascist Down – Woody Guthrie
There’s a great and a bloody fight ’round this whole world tonight
And the battle, the bombs and shrapnel reign
Hitler told the world around he would tear our union down
But our union’s gonna break them slavery chains
Our union’s gonna break them slavery chains
I walked up on a mountain in the middle of the sky
Could see every farm and every town
I could see all the people in this whole wide world
That’s the union that’ll tear the fascists down, down, down
That’s the union that’ll tear the fascists down
When I think of the men and the ships going down
While the Russians fight on across the Don
There’s London in ruins and Paris in chains
Good people, what are we waiting on?
Good people, what are we waiting on?
So, I thank the Soviets and the mighty Chinese vets
The Allies the whole wide world around
To the battling British, thanks, you can have ten million Yanks
If it takes ’em to tear the fascists down, down, down
If it takes ’em to tear the fascists down
But when I think of the ships and the men going down
And the Russians fight on across the Don
There’s London in ruins and Paris in chains
Good people, what are we waiting on?
Good people, what are we waiting on?
So I thank the Soviets and the mighty Chinese vets
The Allies the whole wide world around
To the battling British, thanks, you can have ten million Yanks
If it takes ’em to tear the fascists down, down, down
If it takes ’em to tear the fascists down
Tom Paxton was not always my cup of tea. But I liked a few of his stronger songs.
What are we indoctrinating our kids with? This song sums it up.
Religion, patriotism and blind belief. What a disgusting set of lies.
“What Did You Learn In School Today?” – Tom Paxton
What did you learn in school today,
Dear little boy of mine?
What did you learn in school today,
Dear little boy of mine?
I learned that Washington never told a lie,
I learned that soldiers seldom die,
I learned that everybody’s free,
And that’s what the teacher said to me,
And that’s what I learned in school today,
that’s what I learned in school.
What did you learn in school today,
Dear little boy of mine?
What did you learn in school today,
Dear little boy of mine?
I learned the policemen are my friends,
I learned that justice never ends,
I learned that murderers pay for their crimes,
Even if we make a mistake sometimes,
And that’s what I learned in school today,
That’s what I learned in school
What did you learn in school today,
Dear little boy of mine?
What did you learn in school today,
Dear little boy of mine?
I learned that war is not so bad,
I learned about the great once we had had.
We fought in Germany and in France
And some day I might get my chance.
And that’s what I learned in school today,
That’s what I learned in school
What did you learn in school today,
Dear little boy of mine?
What did you learn in school today,
Dear little boy of mine?
I learned our government must be strong;
It’s always right and never wrong!
Our leaders are the finest men
And we elect them again and again,
And that’s what I learned in school today,
That’s what I learned in school
This is not really a protest song/poem as such. It is a reflection on life; it is a statement of intent; a refusal to be slotted into a hole. The immoral men make their own morality and refuse to be dictated to. They are free to taste life to the full. And love is the essence of life.
We are here in this universe for such a short time. It is our duty to make it sweet; our duty to ensure that it is quality time. Better a short life of passion than a long dreary one. Quality – that is the very least.
You see – that is a protest, isn’t it?
ROY HARPER
Short And Sweet Lyrics
You ask what is the quality of life?
Seeking to justify the part you play
And hide, fearing it incomplete, to try
To make it any more or less than short and sweet
But short, short is from you to me, as close
As we are wont to try to make it be
We’re caught watching the dark in the sky, who knows?
Helpless as time itself to hold the time of day
And you, you are a fantasy, a view
From where you’d like to think the world should see
Be true and you will likely find a few
Building a vision new and justice to our time
And we, we, the immoral men, we dare
Naked and fearless in the elements
And free, carefree of tempting fate, aware
And holding off the moral nightmare at the gates
And sweet, sweet as a mountain stream, we’ll look
Toward a new day breaking in the east
We’ll meet as every future dream unfolds
And surely quality that is the very least
Roy Harper has produced a wealth of meaningful protest song and songs of social comment. This one was produced in the 1970s when South Africa was practicing the evil abhorrent apartheid.
Roy used to do a great spoken introduction to this song that said it all.
Better to use soft words than a fist.
Fortunately apartheid has gone. The trouble is that in its place we have massive corruption and the people are no better off.
It is great to get a beautiful song full of poetry and meaning.
South Africa – Roy Harper
Once I was another’s lover
Now I am my own
Trying to call myself a brother
Living here alone
Maybe if you came to see me
Wishing I wasn’t so blind
Sitting here thinking to be free
Maybe we’d all change our mind
She is kind and beautiful
I am young and strong
We have never met each other
But it can’t be long
Oft’ I have slept by her window
Often I whisper her name
And wonder that words in the wind blow
Happy that hers are the same
This is the tale of the death of a community built around an Iron Ore smelting works that shut down.
It seems very pertinent to me. All over America and the North of England we have old industries in decay and workforces thrown on the scrapheap. Where are the present-day Bob Dylans to document it and point out the social tragedy it leaves in its wake, to hold politicians and the wealthy owners to account?
It tells the story of poverty and despair.
These protest songs helped raise the sensibilities of a whole generation. It spoke of justice, fairness and compassion. There is more to life than money. There are real people suffering. They need caring for.
“North Country Blues” – Bob Dylan
Come gather ’round friends
And I’ll tell you a tale
Of when the red iron pits ran empty
But the cardboard filled windows
And old men on the benches
Tell you now that the whole town is empty.In the north end of town
My own children are grown
But I was raised on the other
In the wee hours of youth
May mother took sick
And I was brought up by my brother.
The iron ore poured
As the years passed the door
The drag lines an’ the shovels they was a-humming
‘Til one day my brother
Failed to come home
The same as my father before him.
Well a long winter’s wait
From the window I watched
My friends they couldn’t have been kinder
And my schooling was cut
As I quit in the spring
To marry John Thomas, a miner.
Oh the years passed again
And the givin’ was good
With the lunch bucket filled every season
What with three babies born
The work was cut down
To a half a day’s shift with no reason.
Then the shaft was soon shut
And more work was cut
And the fire in the air, it felt frozen
‘Til a man come to speak
And he said in one week
That number eleven was closin’.
They complained in the East
They are playing too high
They say that your ore ain’t worth digging
That it’s much cheaper down
In the South American towns
Where the miners work almost for nothing.
So the mining gates locked
And the red iron rotted
And the room smelted heavy from drinking
Where the sad silent song
Made the hour twice as long
As I waited for the sun to go sinking.
I lived by the window
As he talked to himself
This silence of tongues it was building
Then one morning’s wake
The bed it was bare
And I’s left alone with three children.
The summer is gone
The ground’s turning cold
The stores one by one they’re a-foldin’
My children will go
As soon they grow
Well there ain’t nothing here now to hold them.
This tells the story of a poor black serving lady who was struck on the head with a heavy cane and killed while serving at a society dinner. The man who killed her was extremely rich and treated the incident with disdain.
He was taken into custody and charged but was given bail.
The law of the land is supposed to be fair. This song illustrates that the rich are a law unto themselves. They buy their justice. The killer got a six months sentence.
These stories, that took social injustices and highlighted them, were the staple diet of Protest singers. Singers like Dylan and Ochs took real situations and told the story of injustice in song.
“The Lonesome Death Of Hattie Carroll” – Bob Dylan
William Zanzinger killed poor Hattie Carroll
With a cane that he twirled around his diamond ring finger
At a Baltimore hotel society gath’rin’
And the cops were called in and his weapon took from him
As they rode him in custody down to the station
And booked William Zanzinger for first-degree murder
But you who philosophize disgrace and criticize all fears
Take the rag away from your face
Now ain’t the time for your tears.William Zanzinger who at twenty-four years
Owns a tobacco farm of six hundred acres
With rich wealthy parents who provide and protect him
And high office relations in the politics of Maryland
Reacted to his deed with a shrug of his shoulders
And swear words and sneering and his tongue it was snarling
In a matter of minutes on bail was out walking
But you who philosophize disgrace and criticize all fears
Take the rag away from your face
Now ain’t the time for your tears.
Hattie Carroll was a maid in the kitchen
She was fifty-one years old and gave birth to ten children
Who carried the dishes and took out the garbage
And never sat once at the head of the table
And didn’t even talk to the people at the table
Who just cleaned up all the food from the table
And emptied the ashtrays on a whole other level
Got killed by a blow, lay slain by a cane
That sailed through the air and came down through the room
Doomed and determined to destroy all the gentle
And she never done nothing to William Zanzinger
And you who philosophize disgrace and criticize all fears
Take the rag away from your face
Now ain’t the time for your tears.
In the courtroom of honor, the judge pounded his gavel
To show that all’s equal and that the courts are on the level
And that the strings in the books ain’t pulled and persuaded
And that even the nobles get properly handled
Once that the cops have chased after and caught ’em
And that ladder of law has no top and no bottom
Stared at the person who killed for no reason
Who just happened to be feelin’ that way witout warnin’
And he spoke through his cloak, most deep and distinguished
And handed out strongly, for penalty and repentance
William Zanzinger with a six-month sentence
Oh, but you who philosophize disgrace and criticize all fears
Bury the rag deep in your face
For now’s the time for your tears.
