Daily Kos

Right Wing Music--You've GOT to be fucking kidding me

by soonergrunt

Wed Nov 16, 2005 at 09:51:26 PM PDT

The right-wing band, The Right Brothers, a creation of those hep-cats at rightmarch.com has come out with a CD, and a music video that they hope to play on MTV:
The Right Brothers, a conservative music duo out of Nashville, has released a new song that does what needed to be done: it tells the TRUTH. Titled Bush Was Right, the song hits the listener with fact after fact after fact - but the tune is so catchy, and the music is so driving, you can't help but sing along (especially on the chorus)!

The truth about Iraq... the truth about the economy... the TRUTH... set to music.

This is what the youth in America need. They're already bombarded with songs on the radio and videos on MTV that trash our President, conservative beliefs, and traditional American values.


Lyrics below the fold
Since the lyrics are free, I thought I'd save you the extreme nausea of going to either of their sites and just bring you the projectile-vomiting-inducing lyrics here:

Lyrics: Bush Was Right


Freedom in Afghanistan, say goodbye Taliban
Free elections in Iraq, Saddam Hussein locked up
Osama's staying underground, Al Qaida now is finding out
America won't turn and run once the fighting has begun
Libya turns over nukes, Lebanese want freedom, too
Syria is forced to leave, don't you know that all this means

Chorus
Bush was right!
Bush was right!
Bush was right!

Democracy is on the way, hitting like a tidal wave
All over the middle east, dictators walk with shaky knees
Don't know what they're gonna do, their worst nightmare is coming true
They fear the domino effect, they're all wondering who's next

Repeat Chorus

Ted Kennedy - wrong!
Cindy Sheehan - wrong!
France - wrong!
Zell Miller - right!

Economy is on the rise kicking into overdrive
Angry liberals can't believe it's cause of W's policies
Unemployment's staying down, Democrats are wondering how
Revenue is going up, can you say "Tax Cuts"

Repeat Chorus

Cheney was right, Condi was right, Rummy was right, Blair was right
You were right, we were right, "The Right" was right and Bush was right
Bush was right!
Bush was right!


Lyrics: Two
If You Ain't Outraged

You can go downtown and the tax payers money will help you kill your baby
Go across the street to the courthouse and the Ten Commandments can't be found
You can't even say the Pledge of Allegiance and not offend someone lately
You can cuss out your teacher in the classroom but you can't pray to God out loud

Chorus
If you ain't outraged you ain't paying attention
If you?re not ticked off, either you don't know what's going on or just don't care
'Cause every time you turn around
Something new's dragging this country down
If you ain't outraged you ain't paying attention

They tried to stop "The Passion" but they think the truth is in "Farenheit 911"
They hate the Constitution but they love judges legislating from the bench
If Michael Moore became the president they'd think they'd died and gone to heaven
Can't stand "fair and balanced" but can't get enough of the U.N. and the French

Repeat Chorus 2X


I Want To Live

You found out about me and you're feeling scared
You're thinking I'm a big mistake
The man upstairs says, "Be prepared"
Says I may not see the light of day
Well, I didn't ask to be here
But now that I am

Chorus
Mama I want to live
Mama I want to breathe
Just give me the chance to be all I can be
Mama I want to grow
Mama I want to see
And I want you to know I can feel your heart beat
Just give me a chance I've got so much to give
Mama I want to live

You say you're too young for this to happen now
You're starting college in the fall
Why let your hopes and dreams come crashing down
When there's an easy fix for it all
That voice inside your head you can't ignore
Mama that's me

Repeat Chorus

Somewhere out there in the world tonight
A couple's waiting down on their knees

Praying you'll let me live
Hoping you'll let me breathe
That you'll give me the chance to be all I can be
Mama my eyes are blue
Mama I want to see
And if you only knew how strong my heart beat
You'd give me a chance
I've got so much to give
Mama I want to live


You Can't Racial Profile

Well, I ain't never seen a grandma
Strap dynamite around her waist
Or put explosives in her slip-ons
And try to blow a plane to outerspace
As a matter of fact every terrorist act
That's taken place in the friendly sky
You must understand has been by an olived skinned man
Between 18 and 35

Chorus
You can't racial profile
We've got laws against that insensitive attack
And meanwhile, they can pull every granny out of line
You can poke 'em and prod 'em if they're yellow, black or white
But if they're Middle Eastern well you'd better treat 'em right
'Cause being politically correct is more important than saving lives

Well, last December coming home Christmas eve
My mom got stopped in Denver
He said, "You look awefully suspicious to me,
What's that in your bag there?
I think I'm gonna have to hold you a while"
While Khalid & Ahmud were whistling Jihad tunes
Laughing all the way down the aisle

Repeat Chorus

If a bunch of white men who looked just like me
Hijacked half a dozen flights
I'd expect the rest of you to do what you should do
And drag my butt right out of line

But you can't racial profile
We've got laws against that insensitive attack
And meanwhile, they can jerk every granny out of line
Well you can poke 'em and prod 'em if they're Doris or Dwight
But if they're Javive well you'd better treat 'em right
'Cause being politically correct is more important than saving lives

Being polically correct is more important than saving lives


Wake Up, America

There are people in this country
With no idea that something's wrong
And Mother freedom, she's been crying
So I just had to write this song

Chorus
Wake up America you've been asleep too long
This country's being jerked out from under your feet
Open your eyes now and look what's going on
It's time to stand and fight for what you believe
Wake up America oh say can't you see

Can you imagine the Founding Fathers
Coming back to life and standing here today
If they could look out across our nation
I think this might be what they'd say

Repeat Chorus

Wake up, America oh say can't you see


Somewhere In Baghdad

She looks up at the stars with wonder tonight
So thankful at last that they're free
A child in each arm, she holds them tight
And dreams about the future she thought they'd never see

Chorus
Somewhere in Baghdad
Her tears are falling but she isn't sad
'Cause her children will live a life that she never had
Somewhere in Baghdad

She can't believe the changes that she's seen
She's got a new job, a TV and a kitchen full of food
She'll be making lunches while the kids both sleep
'Cause tomorrow's the first day at their new school

Repeat Chorus

And her husband's been missing since 2001
Cause he spoke out against something Saddam Hussein had done
It's just been her and the kids barely getting by
Just when she thought all hope was gone help arrived

Repeat Chorus


Tolerate This

 heard you found a new religion that's got nothing to do with God
They're politically correct, a liberated little sect, the self appointed tolerance squad
You say that you've been enlighted and the problem lies with people like me
You say that you're tolerant and open-minded, well, here's your chance to prove it to me

Chorus
(Tolerate this) I believe in marriage between a woman and a man
(Tolerate this) I believe in driving the biggest car I can
(Tolerate this) A good old fashioned spanking is necessary, not cruel
You're preaching tolerance to me while you're standing there shaking your fist
Well, tolerate this

You claim to be so accepting but all you do is yell at people like me
Up in my face, invading my space, telling me what I should believe
And when it comes to religion Christianity tops your list
You say that you're tolerant well here's your chance to put your money where your mouth is

(Tolerate this) I believe in Jesus and prayer in public school
(Tolerate this) I believe that evolution makes a monkey out of you
(Tolerate this) I don't believe in separation of the church and state
You're preaching tolerance to me while you're standing there shaking your fist
Well, tolerate this

I own a Smith and Wesson and a shotgun, too
I think the Founding Fathers wouldn?t tolerate you

(Tolerate this) I think that Global Warming is just a bunch of crap
You're preaching tolerance to me while you're standing there shaking your fist
So take a look in the mirror the next time you?re pitchin' a fit
Then tolerate this


And my personal favorite:
For My Country

I've never served in the military
Or put my life on the line
I've never made a sacrifice for my country

But I know of those who have
Lost it all in the fight
And of the ones they left behind for my country

Chorus
Makes me wanna sing, sing out loud
With a voice that's free and proud
For those who fell on blood-stained ground for my country

Wanna let the world know where I stand
That I believe in the heart of this great land
And that I pray God's guiding hand for my country

Turned on the news first thing this morning
And saw where two more soldiers died
So I could sleep in peace last night in my country

Repeat Chorus 2X

Poll

This band

7%27 votes
15%58 votes
5%20 votes
11%42 votes
59%220 votes

| 367 votes | Vote | Results

Tags: wingnuts, music, MTV, Right Brothers (all tags) :: Previous Tag Versions

Permalink | 131 comments

  •  Sure this isn't the new Toby Keith Album? (none / 0)

    Word for word, it almost matches the nazi propaganda that oozes from Toby's mouth!

    by Joe Bacon on Wed Nov 16, 2005 at 09:49:59 PM PDT

    •  Stealing snark I read else where (none / 0)

      An album Prussian Blue would be proud of.

      There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact. S. Holmes

      by Carnacki on Wed Nov 16, 2005 at 09:51:55 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

    •  Actually, even Toby Keith (4.00 / 2)

      has backed off the jingoistic bullshit a little recently.  Which still doesn't make him a decent musician, but these guys are, if you'll listen to the clip, even worse than Toby.

      by MissLaura on Wed Nov 16, 2005 at 10:23:52 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

      •  Irony of Ironies (4.00 / 2)

        Toby Keith is a Democrat.  He records phone messages for democratic candidates here in Oklahoma.

        The man knows his audience.

        "I don't belong to an organized political party. I'm a democrat."--Will Rogers

        by soonergrunt on Wed Nov 16, 2005 at 10:27:11 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

        •  Lord help us. (4.00 / 2)

          The thing for me about TK is that, whether or not it's an act or for real, his entire persona is that he's a bully.  If you look at which of his songs (at least the ones that get radio play, which is all I'm familiar with) he's written, they're always the ones that have him rejoicing at someone's discomfort, and even the videos for songs that don't have content like that tend to have visual plots that show him asserting dominance over someone.  His whole public schtick glorifies bullying.

          by MissLaura on Wed Nov 16, 2005 at 10:54:01 PM PDT

          [ Parent ]

        •  hard to believe Kansas is more fucked up (none / 0)

          the way I see it, based upon who they elected as their Senators, Oklahoma does it's best to be the most embarrasing State in the Union (Oklahoma is the only State Arkansas is allowed to make fun of)

          and yet, Oklahoma is LOSING to Kansas

          what's up with that ???

          >snark

          Don't worry, I'm still a loyal Sooner fan

          by knowthings on Thu Nov 17, 2005 at 12:52:37 PM PDT

          [ Parent ]

  •  soonergrunt (4.00 / 6)

    I've never served in the military
    Or put my life on the line
    I've never made a sacrifice for my country

    You must really love those lines. /snark

    Did Jonah Goldberg help write those lyrics?

    There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact. S. Holmes

    by Carnacki on Wed Nov 16, 2005 at 09:51:21 PM PDT

    •  As a friend of mine once said (4.00 / 11)

      to a particularly rude young lady--
      "just because thousands of young men and women gave their lives to protect your right to make a total ass of yourself doesn't OBLIGATE you to do so."
      I think I'll let Operation Yellow Elephant know about this.

      "I don't belong to an organized political party. I'm a democrat."--Will Rogers

      by soonergrunt on Wed Nov 16, 2005 at 09:57:07 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

      •  soonergrunt (4.00 / 3)

        Hey, I found a bit of unintended truth in Wake Up America:

        Can you imagine the Founding Fathers
        Coming back to life and standing here today
        If they could look out across our nation
        I think this might be what they'd say

        Repeat Chorus

        Wake up, America oh say can't you see

        The drafters of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution would be mighty pissed if they saw how this administration operated and how the Bush Cult followers went along with them.

        There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact. S. Holmes

        by Carnacki on Wed Nov 16, 2005 at 10:39:17 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

        •  In fact.... (4.00 / 2)

          I would go so far as to say that all of the lyrics to 'Wake Up, America' are quite apropos.

          Surely not in the way that they intended, but art is in the eye of the beholder, right?

          It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see.
          - Henry David Thoreau

          by ejmw on Wed Nov 16, 2005 at 10:47:21 PM PDT

          [ Parent ]

        •  Interesting Parallel to Wake Up America. (none / 1)

          One of the favorite slogans of the Nazi Party was "Deutschland erwache," i.e., "Wake up, Germany."

          The influence of the [executive] has increased, is increasing, and ought to be diminished.

          by lysias on Thu Nov 17, 2005 at 04:39:03 AM PDT

          [ Parent ]

  •  Got here as fast as I could with some antidote: (4.00 / 5)

    Crank it up and put on Joe Jackson:

    Right and Wrong

    Stop everything
    I think I hear the President
    The Pied Piper of the TV screen
    Is gonna make it simple
    And he's got it all mapped out
    And illustrated with cartoons
    Too hard for clever folks to understand
    They're more used to words like:
    Ideology . . .
    They're not talkin' 'bout right and left
    They're talkin' 'bout

    Right and wrong - do you know the difference
    Right and wrong - do you know the difference
    'Tween the right and the left and the east and the west
    What you know and the things that you'll never see

    So what ya think
    You like the Yankees or the Mets this year
    And what about this latest war of words
    And what about the Commies
    I saw the news last night
    All illustrated with cartoons
    So when they come with that opinion poll
    They better not use words like
    Ideology . . .
    Or try to tell me 'bout the issues
    Ideology . . .
    Whose side are you on
    We're talkin' 'bout

    Right and wrong - do you know the difference
    Right and wrong - do you know the difference
    'Tween the right and the left and the east and the west
    What you know and the things that you'll never see

    Where are we?

    Right and wrong - do you know the difference
    Right and wrong - do you know the difference
    'Tween the right and the left and the east and the west
    What you know and the things that you'll never see

    What's so hard about Peace, Love, and Truth and Progress?

    by melvin on Wed Nov 16, 2005 at 09:54:57 PM PDT

  •  my god... (4.00 / 2)

    those lyrics suck. And not only on a political basis, its just bad songwriting.

    Just what genre does this band attempt to achieve?

    by dklancer on Wed Nov 16, 2005 at 09:55:06 PM PDT

  •  My eyes! Ze goggles! Zey do nothing! n/t (4.00 / 3)

    Flying Squid Studios - Cartoons to Rot Your Brain!

    by Arken on Wed Nov 16, 2005 at 09:56:24 PM PDT

  •  I saw them, too--definitely the right age (4.00 / 2)

    If they aren't financed by some Rove-related body, they should sign up and put their body where their mouth is. They are prefectly ready for boot camp.

    "In the end we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends." MLK, changed to this during the 2008 FISA fight

    by bewert on Wed Nov 16, 2005 at 09:57:36 PM PDT

  •  oh (none / 1)

    where are beavis and butthead when we need them??

    by fblau on Wed Nov 16, 2005 at 09:58:42 PM PDT

  •  But does it have a nice beat, (4.00 / 3)

    and can you dance to it?

    "I don't belong to an organized political party. I'm a democrat."--Will Rogers

    by soonergrunt on Wed Nov 16, 2005 at 09:59:55 PM PDT

  •  History doesn't repeat itself (none / 1)

    ...but it sure does rhyme.  Forty years ago, I remember the American Nazi Party's bookstore in Glendale, California selling phonograph records by a group called Odis Cochran and the Three Bigots.  (They recorded for the Hatenanny label.)

    Dead-ender bastards...

    by Faber on Wed Nov 16, 2005 at 10:02:30 PM PDT

  •  Wow! LMAO (4.00 / 8)

    I'd call The Onion's first musical effort a success.

    Freedom does not march. I saw an invasion. I see an occupation. I don't see a war. "Constant war is not a family value." Cindy Sheehan 8/22/05

    by ex republican on Wed Nov 16, 2005 at 10:03:04 PM PDT

  •  Olbermann had this one last night (4.00 / 10)

    His conclusion:  If you're going to make propaganda music, you should at least try to make sure it doesn't suck!

    I can't expect to live in a democracy if I'm not prepared to do the work of being a citizen.

    by Dallasdoc on Wed Nov 16, 2005 at 10:05:50 PM PDT

    •  I missed him last night. (4.00 / 3)

      I caught wind of this over at Thinkprogress.

      "I don't belong to an organized political party. I'm a democrat."--Will Rogers

      by soonergrunt on Wed Nov 16, 2005 at 10:12:46 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

      •  They actually put (none / 0)

        together a potential "music video" for the song...absolutely hilarious.

        I heard the opening of the song and thought that Billy Joel might raise an eyebrow or two...eeerily reminiscent of "We Didn't Start the Fire". Oddly enough, the general consensus is that that song sucks too (though I happen to like it...no accounting for taste or lack of same...).

        "Old soldiers never die -- they get young soldiers killed." -- Bill Maher

        by Cali Scribe on Wed Nov 16, 2005 at 11:47:17 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

        •  Based on What George Harrison Had Used (none / 0)

          unconsciously on My Sweet Lord, Billy Joel should be able to stop this ditty cold in its tracks if they didn't pay him royalties.

          by LIsoundview on Thu Nov 17, 2005 at 04:48:08 AM PDT

          [ Parent ]

        •  yes (none / 0)

          But what gets me most is another point Keith brought up: that they want it played on MTV and they better get it into the regular rotation of videos or ELSE!
          It's gotta be media bias against our Glorious Leader!  

          Damn liberal bias in the communist lefty islamo-fascist leaning music media....... grrrrrr!

          A learning experience is one of those things that says, 'You know that thing you just did? Don't do that.' Douglas Adams

          by dougymi on Thu Nov 17, 2005 at 05:48:13 AM PDT

          [ Parent ]

  •  Ummm...wow? (4.00 / 3)

    I kept waiting for the punchline.  What an unbelievable load of crap!  For My Country should become an instant, inspirational classic...for the Bush administration, since they all managed to avoid serving in the military.  

    And btw, I didn't know there were "Jihad tunes" that terrorists apparently like to whistle (from the racial profiling song).  Who knew?  ;-)

    Arrogant lips are unsuited to a fool-- how much worse lying lips to a ruler - Proverbs 17:7

    by BarbinMD on Wed Nov 16, 2005 at 10:06:20 PM PDT

  •  Uh... (4.00 / 3)

    gag <sound of furball caught in throat>

    Mariachi Mama Candidate Bickering Moratorium! Signatory to the Carnacki Petition

    by kredwyn on Wed Nov 16, 2005 at 10:07:09 PM PDT

  •  OMG (4.00 / 8)

    Karl Rove must be the manager.

    Let me change up those lyrics to that first song:

    Terror in Afghanistan, say hello to the Taliban
    Death in Iraq, Zarqawi is acting up
    Osama's staying underground, Bushco is keeping him from being found
    America won't turn and run, she'll just stumble on heedless of the damage done
    London and Spain are blowing up, and the whole world is screaming "America, sucks"
    Syria is forced to leave, but terror still reigns among the Lebanese

    Chorus
    Bush was wrong!
    Bush was wrong!
    Bush was wrong!

    Democracy is fading fast, replaced by a bumbling Texas fascist
    All over the middle east, terrorists are spreading with remarkable ease
    Don't know what we're gonna do, our worst nightmare is coming true
    We fear the next terrorist plan, yet we are turning the world into bin Laden fans

    Repeat Chorus

    Ted Kennedy - right!
    Cindy Sheehan - right!
    France - right!
    Zell Miller - wrong!

    Economy is falling quick, but all Bush wants is more tax cuts for the rich
    Angry conservatives can't believe it's cause of W's policies
    Unemployment's rising fast, while CEOs sit on a stack of fat cash
    Revenue is being erased, can you see the smirk on Bush's face

    Repeat Chorus

    Cheney was wrong, Condi was wrong, Rummy was wrong, Blair was wrong
    They were wrong, we were right, "The Right" was wrong and Bush was dumb
    Bush was wrong!
    Bush was wrong!

    "The humblest citizen in all the land, when clad in the armor of a righteous cause, is stronger than all the hosts of error." --William Jennings Bryan

    by topazpilot on Wed Nov 16, 2005 at 10:07:28 PM PDT

  •  <Cue funeral march song> (4.00 / 5)

    Satire is dead!  Satire is dead!  If I spent the rest of my life trying to ridicule all the right stands for, I couldn't accomplish half as much as these incompetent yammering jackasses.  

    Holy shit those lyrics are terrible!

    Fox News--As fair as a Florida Election, as balanced as Ann Coulter when she forgets to take her medicine.

    by Dizzy on Wed Nov 16, 2005 at 10:08:02 PM PDT

  •  I have too much respect for the USMC to (4.00 / 2)

    dump these idiots on the Corps, even the marines who dislike my politics.

    there should be a special ops group for these kind - lead by ... cheney & wolfie & rush ...

    give 'em:

    as much water, ammo and food as they can want to carry  

    a ride on a blackhawk into ... Ramadi? Falluhah? the Sunni Triangle

    a kick out the door to go accomplish whatever they can against the insurgents / for "freedom"

    rmm.

    Grassroots Organizing Should Be for The Community, By The Community - NOT for "Leaders" http://www.liemail.com/BambooGrassroots.html

    by rmdSeaBos on Wed Nov 16, 2005 at 10:12:24 PM PDT

  •  I want to believe (none / 1)

    that this is some brilliant performance art satire in the vein of Andy Kaufman.  

    that's what I want to believe, but I am jaded enough to understand that this is probably real.

    by Rey Mota on Wed Nov 16, 2005 at 10:14:39 PM PDT

  •  dude (none / 0)

    these SO can't really be real songs that anyone could ever sing. someone has got to be fucking with us, there is just no fucking way. its gotta be someone fucking with us. post a link to actual audio of these and i'll buy it

    "Charlie don't SURF!"

    by billydanielus on Wed Nov 16, 2005 at 10:16:45 PM PDT

  •  This has GOT to be a joke. (4.00 / 2)

    Seriously. I can't believe that this is serious.

    Especially with the Zell Miller reference... it's basically an inside joke.

    Whoever these people are, it's a brilliant satire. You sure Chickenhead Productions aren't behind it?

    (If this actually is serious, I weep for them. Ever notice that whenever conservatives try to be hip and cool, they always make stuff that stinks to high heaven?)

    by briguy2 on Wed Nov 16, 2005 at 10:20:38 PM PDT

    •  has to be a joke (none / 1)

      I agree this has to be a joke.  Although, I'm sure Limbaugh and Hannity will be promoting the shit out of this soon.  However, given how easy it is to parrot the right-wing talking points, I've often thought about how funny it would be if someone hooked on the right-wingers and then all of sudden said "got ya" and this could be one of those situations.

      BTW, if you can stomach this, notice after the first refrain of "bush was right" there is a guitar solo that sounds like the 5 year old taunt nah, nah, nah?

      66% of Americans think that the President is doing a poor job in Iraq. The other 34% think that Adam and Eve rode dinasours to church.

      by CKlawstudent on Wed Nov 16, 2005 at 10:41:14 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

  •  I think they just (none / 1)

    cut and pasted some comments from freeperland, ran a spellcheck, and called it a song.

    GAK.

    I marched against the Iraq War before it began, and believe lobbyists are destroying America--that's why I support Barack Obama for the nomination.

    by wvillmike on Wed Nov 16, 2005 at 10:24:39 PM PDT

  •  Do they FEEL any music? (4.00 / 3)

    Does anyone notice that these political songs have almost nothing to do with principles at all? Certainly when the songs are made up of condensed talking points (and probably three power chords), this isn't surprising, but it's also profoundly sad. And I don't even mean sad in a condescending way. I mean sad in a way that really makes me feel sorry for conservatives and dittoheads like themselves. More specifically, do they even understand how to express anything heartfelt with music at all?

    As a musician, it makes me wonder if a conservative in the mold of these "Right Brothers" is truly capable of actually expressing artistic creativity. I mean, for God's sake, "I Wanna Hold Your Hand" and "Dancing Queen" draw upon infinitely more complex emotion and meaning and creativity than "Bush is Right".

    And therein lies the problem for the vaunted movement: can they actually express themselves in any way that doesn't have anything to do with politics? Is there any alternate means for communicating their values?

    I certainly have been unimpressed with how much of country music has represented the so-called "values" of the president with the lyrical stylings of Alan "were you there" Jackson and Toby "Boot in your Ass" Keith. To me, it seems that they just don't have it in them to actually express their values in the way that, for instance, Dylan, Lennon, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Chuck D, Zack De La Rocha, Johnny Cash and so many others expressed "liberal" values.

    Is it because they don't have access to that part of themselves? Is it to "gay" to do that? Because if they think so, they are missing a major way that people communicate and, consequently, they misunderstand a way to actually communicate what they believe in through song. Not that we might even hope to want that, but at least it would at least give them the passing appearance of having a soul.

    It's like they take pride in being ignorant.

    by jkennerl on Wed Nov 16, 2005 at 10:25:54 PM PDT

    •  Actually, small defense (none / 0)

      of Alan Jackson, who has said that his 9/11 song "Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)" was explicitly written not to be just some patriotic song.  The song is a little on the sappy side, but he was going for something more universal and not aggressive a la Toby Keith.

      by MissLaura on Wed Nov 16, 2005 at 10:33:08 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

      •  How exactly was it written, then? (none / 1)

        How, in your opinion, was it not meant to be patriotically manipulative? Like almost everything cheap in this culture that instantly surrounded 9/11, how is this song any different:


        Did you burst out with pride
        For the red white and blue
        And the heroes who died just doing what they do?
        Did you look up to heaven for some kind of answer
        And look at yourself and what really matters

        No, Alan Jackson, I wasn't bursting out with pride. I was angry, scared, upset, and wishing that in the weeks that followed, that we had a real leader that was actually thinking of the right things to say and do to do the right thing. And all that this song represents to me is just one stich in the broader cultural tapestry of abominations that led this country to a silent compliance in the months and years that followed.

        MissLaura, I often find what you have to say to be very enlightening for any post, but I must say I'm not sure I agree. And it doesn't convince me that conservatives have any unforced ways to express themselves. What else do you think tho?

        It's like they take pride in being ignorant.

        by jkennerl on Wed Nov 16, 2005 at 10:51:17 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

        •  Let me think. (4.00 / 2)

          To start, I read that line about the heroes that died just doing what they do as being about the firefighters and EMTs - Alan Jackson's music generally has a broad strain of populism that verges on class consciousness, so that's in line with him plus remember that this was the moment before everything became about military action, when emergency workers were the heroes not just in his song but everywhere in the culture.  

          In the refrain there's the explicit avowal of ignorance:

          "I'm just a singer of simple songs
          I'm not a real political man
          I watch CNN but I'm not sure I can tell you
          The difference in Iraq and Iran"

          which isn't like something I want to promote; I don't think that attitude is particularly admirable.  But the end of the chorus, the message of the song, is

          "But I know Jesus and I talk to God
          And I remember this from when I was young
          Faith hope and love are some good things he gave us
          And the greatest is love"

          That last line, that "the greatest is love," is the one most repeated in the song.  Opinions will differ on the invocation of Christianity, but it's certainly not a war song, it's a song about unity - with your family, with neighbors, with strangers.  It mentions fear and violence (or at least the preparation for violence, in the form of a gun purchase) as reactions to 9/11, but it doesn't explicitly endorse them, and again and again it returns to love as the central value.

          Certainly all of the responses he talks about are within an American framework and the American experience is privileged, but I see this song as a product of that moment before the Bush administration had turned the post-9/11 patriotism into "my country right or wrong" nationalism.  Now I didn't share in that first moment because I saw the second one coming all too clearly and it made me just sick.  But I'm not willing to write this song off as uncomplicatedly conservative.

          I hope this makes sense.

          by MissLaura on Wed Nov 16, 2005 at 11:08:44 PM PDT

          [ Parent ]

          •  i love this site n/t (none / 1)

            www.beyondmarriage.org

            by decafdyke on Wed Nov 16, 2005 at 11:24:39 PM PDT

            [ Parent ]

          •  It's not a war song (none / 0)

            It's a guy who's in shock, confusion, and grief.
            It's all the things that most of us were feeling.

            When he says that he doesn't know the difference in Iraq and Iran, he's admitting to a lot more than geographic ignorance.  He knows they're different, but he doesn't know why, and he doesn't know why somebody from that area would commit such a monsterous crime.

            "I don't belong to an organized political party. I'm a democrat."--Will Rogers

            by soonergrunt on Thu Nov 17, 2005 at 04:19:37 AM PDT

            [ Parent ]

            •  Exactly. (none / 0)

              I think it's unfortunate from this vantage point that one of the countries involved is Iraq, since by now we all know too much about Iraq, or at least how it's different from Iran.  But you have to hear that line in the earlier context, and I think your reading is perfect.

              by MissLaura on Thu Nov 17, 2005 at 09:42:02 AM PDT

              [ Parent ]

    •  Maybe, but... (none / 0)

      Art is rebellion, and you can't rebel from a position of power.

      by bobtailyearlings on Wed Nov 16, 2005 at 10:45:36 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

      •  asdf (none / 0)

        I suppose, but art can be more than that. Mozart, if I recall correctly, was a Metternich fan in Austria, but he still actually put some soul into music. I just wonder if its not star power movement conservatives lack, but the soul to make music.

        It's like they take pride in being ignorant.

        by jkennerl on Wed Nov 16, 2005 at 10:53:32 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

        •  Well yeah... (none / 0)

          Certainly my last remark was a broad generalisation.

          Perhaps the creative impulse comes about from a desire for change, for a way to see things differently, which is more commonly found among liberals.

          by bobtailyearlings on Wed Nov 16, 2005 at 11:53:57 PM PDT

          [ Parent ]

        •  I wonder about this too (none / 1)

          the ability to create requires creative independent thought and the wrongwing spends a lot of time suppressing creative independent thought.

          they believe in regurgitating what they are told, which does not lend itself to powerful, effective creative expression or quality songwriting.

          Politics is like driving. To go backward, put it in R. To go forward, put it in D.
          76 days until the '08 elections. Let's paint the country BLUE!

          by TrueBlueMajority on Thu Nov 17, 2005 at 03:55:39 AM PDT

          [ Parent ]

    •  It reminds me a lot of this excuse for a song (none / 0)

      (warning: really vile patriotic song) We Stand as One by Dennis Madalone.

      Fortunately, someone (Josh Fowler?) wrote a screamingly good parody of it.

      John McCain: on fire, reversed, stopped.

      The Music Room.

      by madhaus on Thu Nov 17, 2005 at 12:30:06 AM PDT

      [ Parent ]

    •  A theory I've been going with for awhile (none / 1)

      and that your very eloquent post echoes, is that conservatism is the opposite of art.  

      What is most art about?  Change, pushing boundaries, exploring taboos, reconsidering things, etc.  Does that sound like something that gels with the conservative worldview very well?  

      Also, as far as art in the context of wartime, Chris Hedges' book War is a Force that Gives Us Meaning has an excellent description of the way war turns art into cheap, jingoistic propaganda that would never stand up to the usual standards by which art is critiqued.

      The right wing agenda (including war) comes from (and its impact is limited to) the conscious part of the brain, whereas the best art is informed by hints of the unknown recesses of the subconscious.

      You tell me that it's gospel, but I know that it's only church--Tom Waits

      by Flagstaff Ian on Thu Nov 17, 2005 at 02:33:51 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

  •  Makes me wonder: (4.00 / 4)

    What did they sound like in the original German?

    (grin)

    by MN camera on Wed Nov 16, 2005 at 10:27:25 PM PDT

  •  Somewhere in Marin County, (4.00 / 5)

    Joni Mitchell just vomited.

    I marched against the Iraq War before it began, and believe lobbyists are destroying America--that's why I support Barack Obama for the nomination.

    by wvillmike on Wed Nov 16, 2005 at 10:27:34 PM PDT

  •  ugh, after two songs I was disgusted (4.00 / 4)

    ... maybe you could put a warning on the diary for pregnant  mothers and people with sensitive stomachs or heart problems, cause they just go on and on, getting worse and worse! I'm gonna have to go puke now.

    "There are no shortcuts to accomplishing constructive social change ... struggle is called 'struggle' for a reason." Ward Churchill

    by CAuniongirl on Wed Nov 16, 2005 at 10:27:52 PM PDT

  •  There are so many reasons (4.00 / 5)

    this is hilarious.  The fact that the "Bush was Right" song sounds like a cheesed-up rip-off of "We Didn't Start the Fire."  The fact that the Right Brothers are bloated, puffy, aging country songwriters who have obviously not achieved success as performing musicians themselves due to their lack of performing ability.  The fact that they're trying to claim that if this shit doesn't get on MTV it's because of liberal bias.

    I almost hope they make a public fuss, just for the fun of watching.

    by MissLaura on Wed Nov 16, 2005 at 10:27:54 PM PDT

  •  The lyrics are hard to understand..... (none / 0)

    but I like the beat!

    ....Listen to Ded Prez....

    by Manix on Wed Nov 16, 2005 at 10:33:57 PM PDT

  •  I think it's excellent (none / 0)

    because it means that this whole rightwing shitspittle is going to go out of style...and fast.

    You can't be on the team, if you're not in the choir. Sorry.

    by peeder on Wed Nov 16, 2005 at 10:37:20 PM PDT

  •  Jesus, that was awful (none / 0)

    I made it through most of the first song/lyrics, but after that - no mas, man, no mas.

    Now I'm gonna crank up my old Sex Pistols cassette - God save the Queen indeed.

    Iraq War Grief Daily Witness

    by RubDMC on Wed Nov 16, 2005 at 10:38:58 PM PDT

  •  Tough choices on the poll... (none / 0)

    REALLY tough....what I would like to do is erase this diary from my memory. No offense soonergrunt, dear, but this is complete and utter SHITE! I couldn't even finish reading the last few songs...it was just too much...

    This is "the truth" to these people?! I'm not a licensed psychiatrist, but based on what I've just read I think perhaps these people need to spend a few weeks/months in Bellevue or something. The only way someone could believe this is "the truth" is if they're not really mentally THERE.

    Yikes. Just. Yikes.

    And can I just add...THANK THE GODDESS for Green Day and Ani DiFranco!!

    Obama, or McCain

    by Elise on Wed Nov 16, 2005 at 10:45:01 PM PDT

  •  These are the sort of wingnut dumbshits... (4.00 / 7)

    ... who would think this song is serious, and not parody:

    America...
    America...
    America, FUCK YEAH!
    Coming again, to save the mother fucking day yeah,
    America, FUCK YEAH!
    Freedom is the only way yeah,
    Terrorist your game is through cause now you have to answer too,
    America, FUCK YEAH!
    So lick my butt, and suck on my balls,
    America, FUCK YEAH!
    What you going to do when we come for you now,
    it's the dream that we all share; it's the hope for tomorrow

    FUCK YEAH!

    McDonalds, FUCK YEAH!
    Wal-Mart, FUCK YEAH!
    The Gap, FUCK YEAH!
    Baseball, FUCK YEAH!
    NFL, FUCK, YEAH!
    Rock and roll, FUCK YEAH!
    The Internet, FUCK YEAH!
    Slavery, FUCK YEAH!


    Blind faith in your leaders, or in anything, will get you killed. -- Bruce Springsteen

    by Plutonium Page on Wed Nov 16, 2005 at 10:48:29 PM PDT

  •  you can learn to dance like george bush (4.00 / 2)

    just put your fingers in your ears and repeat the bush mantra;

    "na na na na na na na na na na na I can't hear you na na na na na na na na na na na I can't hear you na na na na na na na na na na na I can't hear you na na na na na na na na na na na I can't hear you na na na na na na na na na na na I can't hear you na na na na na na na na na na na I can't hear you na na na na na na na na na na na I can't hear you na na na na na na na na na na na I can't hear you na na na na na na na na na na na I can't hear you na na na na na na na na na na na I can't hear you na na na na na na na na na na na I can't hear you'

    keep repeating the dance until your horrible truth telling democrat attacker retreats in disgust, and then know you have won

    you too can learn to be a repuglican, once we have those moral values and brains surgically removed

    by knowthings on Wed Nov 16, 2005 at 10:55:04 PM PDT

  •  Operation revulsion (none / 0)

    Is right on track, Smithers.  Everyone within earshot of my latest little project will soon flee the Republican Party and become hopeless dope-fiends to stop the noise within their brains.  Eeeeeexcellent.

    Man, do those lyrics suck.  
    <Bill Hicks>
    SUCK, spiritless ball-less little corporate bitches all sucking at Satan's pecker.  Luckily the Lord of Darkness has many dicks so all the demon piglets can nuzzle all at once.
    <Bill Hicks>

    by SCFrog on Wed Nov 16, 2005 at 11:06:22 PM PDT

  •  Almost Gone (none / 0)


    little pictures stuck in the back of your mind, if we're the last best hope of humankind the day of liberation is trifling...you think that if you scream i will believe you can dream/soon all of my sisters will be cycling. and don't blame me I'm just doing my duty. I get around like the 3 blind mice-but i saw a statue that was 8 years long..and when it fell over we were almost gone. yea when it fell over we were almost gone....

    by sooner on Wed Nov 16, 2005 at 11:14:19 PM PDT

  •  Wake Up-Rage Against the Machine (none / 0)

    Although ya try to discredit
    Ya still never edit
    The needle, I'll thread it
    Radically poetic
    Standin' with the fury that they had in '66
    And like E-Double I'm mad
    Still knee-deep in the system's shit
    Hoover, he was a body remover
    I'll give you a dose
    But it can never come close
    To the rage built up inside of me
    Fist in the air, in the land of hypocrisy

    Movements come and movements go
    Leaders speak, movements cease
    When their heads are flown
    'Cause all these punks
    Got bullets in their heads
    Departments of police, the judges, the feds
    Networks at work, keepin' people calm
    You know they went after King
    When he spoke out on Vietnam
    He turned the power to the have-nots
    And then came the shot

    Yeah!
    Yeah, back in this...
    With poetry, my mind I flex
    Flip like Wilson, vocals never lackin' dat finesse
    Whadda I got to, whadda I got to do to wake you up
    To shake you up, to break the structure up
    'Cause blood still flows in the gutter
    I'm like takin' photos
    Mad boy kicks open the shutter
    Set the groove
    Then stick and move like I was Cassius
    Rip the stutter step
    Then bomb a left upon the fascists
    Yea, the several federal men
    Who pulled schemes on the dream
    And put it to an end
    Ya better beware
    Of retribution with mind war
    20/20 visions and murals with metaphors
    Networks at work, keepin' people calm
    Ya know they murdered X
    And tried to blame it on Islam
    He turned the power to the have-nots
    And then came the shot

    Uggh!
    What was the price on his head?
    What was the price on his head!

    I think I heard a shot
    I think I heard a shot
    I think I heard a shot
    I think I heard a shot
    I think I heard a shot
    I think I heard, I think I heard a shot

    'He may be a real contender for this position should he
    abandon his supposed obediance to white liberal doctrine
    of non-violence...and embrace black nationalism'
    'Through counter-intelligence it should be possible to
    pinpoint potential trouble-makers... and neutralize them.
    Through counter-intelligence it should be possible to
    pinpoint potential trouble-makers... and neutralize them
    and neutralize them, and neutralize them, and neutralize them'

    Wake up! Wake up! Wake up! Wake up!
    Wake up! Wake up! Wake up! Wake up!

    How long? Not long, cause what you reap is what you sow!

    Blue Jersey. All the news that slips from print.

    by Scott in NJ on Wed Nov 16, 2005 at 11:15:13 PM PDT

  •  Yea screw this band! (none / 0)

    Now let's give them the spotlight and let's discuss how much we think they suck!

    And when they get more exposure in the media because of the exposure we gave them, they will sell more albums and that will surely tach them not to piss us off...

    Smart move.  Whoever thought this one up is pure genius...

    by FtheNaysayers on Wed Nov 16, 2005 at 11:16:37 PM PDT

  •  Kleibold and Harris will love this band... (none / 0)

    Oops. (Sorry about the morbid snark.)

    Who the hell would listen to this crap?

    What artist just happens to have all of the Republican talking points as a philosophy?

    Even Merle Haggard smokes weed.

    Gotta make it somehow on the dreams we still believe. - R. Hunter.

    by mungley on Wed Nov 16, 2005 at 11:19:21 PM PDT

  •  Wow! (none / 0)

    Brainwash to Music.

    The embodiment of the American Spirit:"I'm risking my life for people I hate, for reason's I don't quite understand. Gotta Go."-Homer Simpson

    by Krush on Wed Nov 16, 2005 at 11:24:45 PM PDT

  •  Whit* Supr*macists Used Music (none / 0)

    Sounds like R*sistance R*cords strategy, but with a GOP, cross-over twist.  Probably sympathetic supporters, with a different angle.

    I added the asterix just to undermine searches "*" = e.

    by BigBite on Wed Nov 16, 2005 at 11:25:20 PM PDT

  •  I stopped reading the lyrics after the 3rd line (none / 0)

    I must have it!!! I don't want to spoil it by reading it! Does Pat Robertson approve though? I'll wait til rush or hannity gives me the go ahead. I'm sure it rocks if they approve.

    MTV still plays music videos?

    Hey look at me!!! Karl told me i'm a decider now!! I decide things and decide good! Now watch me nook I ran! Yeehaww!

    by kevn357 on Wed Nov 16, 2005 at 11:27:32 PM PDT

  •  this is just toooooooo weird (none / 0)

    is this reality?

    are you SURE we aren't dreaming this?

    UNCLE SAM wants YOU to help IMPEACH BUSH

    by RumsfeldResign on Wed Nov 16, 2005 at 11:35:41 PM PDT

  •  I'd ask what they're smoking (none / 0)

    But they don't do that, do they?

    Do they have a song about winning the drug war, too? And how about "de-programming" gays? Preventing abortion? Torturing "brown" people named Mohammed?

    How about the benefits of white phosphorous?

    Seems to me they could have an inexhaustible supply of material. But in truth, it reminds me of that SNL sketch (mid-80s) selling KTels Greatest Nazi Hits, or something like that. At least "Braunschweiger" had a good beat.

    -8.38, -4.97 "...there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so." Hamlet, Act II, Scene ii.

    by thingamabob on Wed Nov 16, 2005 at 11:41:06 PM PDT

  •  Dana Lyons, everyone! (none / 1)

    CHORUS:
    Oh I'd go anywhere to fight for oil, be it olive, safflower or crude,
    For cooking, for cars, take a rocket to the stars,
    For a back rub, romantic rendezvous,
    In your engine, on your face, or almost any place,
    A little dab of oil will get you through,
    Oh I'd go anywhere to fight for oil, to lubricate the red, white and blue!

    If you drive a big V-8, it's time to celebrate. They're gonna fight a war for you,
    To keep gas prices cheap so when you drive or when you sleep,
    You can do it in an air-conditioned room,
    For driving is your right, so let's get out there and fight
    You can read it in the constituuuuuu . . . tion

    Oh I'd go anywhere to fight for oil, to lubricate the red, white and blue!

    CHORUS

    For a place to attack, why not attack Iraq?
    They've got coconut and palm oil and crude,
    They invaded Kuwait, so let's not hesitate,
    We can blow up a country or two.
    If it's oil or it's grease, we don't have time for peace,
    Waging war is what we want to do

    Oh I'd go anywhere to fight for oil, to lubricate the red, white and blue!

    CHORUS, followed by ending . . .

    . . . it's gonna be a great fight,
    Should only take a fortnight
    To lubricate the red, white and blue!!!

    Have a listen

    Nebraska Progressive: Red only on Saturdays.

    by BullitNutz on Wed Nov 16, 2005 at 11:48:43 PM PDT

  •  Well, they're not Fascists.... (4.00 / 3)

    ....Hitler had MUCH better taste in music and the Horst Wessel song is actually quite catchy if you don't understand the lyrics.

    Reminds me of that Vietnam-era song "We owe a lot to the privates," another classic of shite.

    "And if you vant a second opinion -- you are ugly too!"

    by sagesource on Wed Nov 16, 2005 at 11:54:56 PM PDT

  •  anybody know Tooth & Nail? (none / 1)

    as early as 15 years ago, when I was still editing rock rags, I'd get boatloads of "rock" and "punk" - ish albums from BORN AGAIN MOTHERFUCKERS trying to spread the toxin of their corrupt religion and politics to amerikan youth via the medium of music. and oddly enough, despite having no following (then) and no name recognition (then), these "bands"' albums were invariably lavishly packaged, accompanied by boatloads of free promo goodies, publicized by high-priced agency shills, and otherwise clad in all the trappings of the Big Time Record Label.

    somebody - I don't know who; Scaife? - is funding all these "labels" and "acts." this ain't random groupings of kids coming together in garages to find release for their inner vapidity; this is and has been an orchestrated propaganda push of Goebbelsian proportions. The Reich Brothers are merely the latest in a steady stream of sonic sewage of this stripe.

    they need to be outed. and destroyed.

    and yeah: Billy Joel should sue their asses off. Straight-up ripoff of "We Didn't Start the Fire," as somebody sagely noted above.

    It's called the american dream because you have to be asleep to believe it. - G. Carlin

    by RabidNation on Thu Nov 17, 2005 at 12:00:57 AM PDT

  •  Shades of... (none / 1)

    Bob Roberts:

    Grandma felt guilty 'bout being so rich and it bothered her until the day she died/ But I will take my inheritance and invest it with pride, yes invest it with pride...

    People in Eurasia on the brink of oppression: I hope it's gonna be alright... Pet Shop Boys: Introspective

    by rgilly on Thu Nov 17, 2005 at 12:36:00 AM PDT

    •  Tim Robbins and his brother David (none / 0)

      reportedly refused to have the Bob Roberts soundtrack released as a soundtrack because they knew the wrongwing would adopt the songs as real anthems.

      But every single one of those songs was really well written--the Right Brothers wish they could come up with lyrics this good.  Some of the Bob Roberts songs are even scarier today than they were in 1992--it's hard to tell who would like "This World Turns" better--the neocons or the insurgents:

      This World Turns
      (David Robbins/Tim Robbins)
      from the movie Bob Roberts

      Walls may come down, but what is let in?
      Godless men, godless men
      They'll take the jobs of the decent ones
      And wait for the day when their leaders
      Will make you their slaves

      This world turns its back on God
      We must fight to protect him
      This world turns its back on God
      We must die to join him

      The desert teams with dangerous schemes
      Godless men, godless men
      They take the innocent and stroke their face
      And wait for the day when their oil
      Will make you their slaves

      This world turns its back on God
      We must fight to protect him
      This world turns its back on God
      We must die to join him

      Meet fury with fury, belief with belief
      God against the devil, an eternal fight
      March on, march on, brave young men
      Our prayers go with you to the holy land

      This world turns its back on God
      We must fight to protect him
      This world turns its back on God
      We must kill to join him

      Politics is like driving. To go backward, put it in R. To go forward, put it in D.
      76 days until the '08 elections. Let's paint the country BLUE!

      by TrueBlueMajority on Thu Nov 17, 2005 at 03:50:54 AM PDT

      [ Parent ]

  •  Did you notice on their homepage... (none / 0)

    ...that they are giving the "Seig Heil" salute?

    Oooohhhh, if I were still doing college radio I could really go to town on these guys.

    Now, where was my barfing sound effect track???

    by marci in ca on Thu Nov 17, 2005 at 01:27:56 AM PDT

  •  First song sounds like We didnt start the fire (none / 0)

    In verse phrasing.

    by patrioticliberal on Thu Nov 17, 2005 at 01:56:14 AM PDT

  •  Like Cheney says ... (none / 0)

    these are the last throes.

    "You can't negotiate with reality" - James Kunstler

    by Bob Love on Thu Nov 17, 2005 at 02:11:02 AM PDT

  •  Wow (none / 0)

    Turned on the news first thing this morning
    And saw where two more soldiers died
    So I could sleep in peace last night in my country

    Somehow you'd think that the news of soldiers dying would upset someone (regardless if you believe the war is just or not).

    Not these guys, apparently.

    Presidential politics is like jumping into raw sewage with your mouth open -- Batfish

    by Frank on Thu Nov 17, 2005 at 03:39:09 AM PDT

  •  Debut (none / 1)

    album of The ChickenHawks?

    Makes me sick, those lyrics, but oh how they capture the Rethuglican essence!

    "Ultimately, we are defined by what we create, not by what others destroy."-- James McKinley

    by Fruitcake on Thu Nov 17, 2005 at 04:33:32 AM PDT

  •  Time has not been kind to Todd Rundgren (none / 0)

    This is what too much Kool-Aid will do to you.

    I live in my own little world...but it's okay. They know me here.

    by John Campanelli on Thu Nov 17, 2005 at 05:22:43 AM PDT

  •  and their next great song will be (none / 0)

    4 legs good, two legs bad.

    by citizenx on Thu Nov 17, 2005 at 05:25:05 AM PDT

  •  I found this picture of the band (none / 1)

    I live in my own little world...but it's okay. They know me here.

    by John Campanelli on