Presidential campaigns always have theme songs, like Clinton's "Don't Stop Thinking About Tomorrow," and Kerry's - what the hell was his anyway? Hmm.
But what about midterm elections? We need a campaign anthem, something to put the wind at our backs as we're out there working to reclaim our government from the neocons and theocrats.
Here are some possibilities:
(1) Carly Simon - "Turn of the Tide"
(2) Tom Petty - "I Won't Back Down"
(3) Barry Manilow - "I Made It Through the Rain"
(4) Stevie Wonder - "You Haven't Done Nothing"
(5) Bruce Springsteen - Born in the U.S.A.
I've included lyric excerpts under the fold... vote for your favorite!
(1)
Carly Simon - "Turn of the Tide"
Not very well known, but could the words be any more apt?
How can we know
The fate of the earth
Must everything go
From bad to worse
How can we be
Just along for the ride
We'd rather believe
That we decide
That we can stand here
And say loud and clear
Here comes the turn of the tide
Here comes the turn
Here comes the turn
Here comes the turn of the tide
We cannot go on
Sounding alarms
And rattling swords
And building bombs
And fouling the air
And the streams underground
We've got to begin to turn it around
It's our right to be heard
Our right to decide
Here comes the turn of the tide
....
(2) Tom Petty - "I Won't Back Down"
This played at the Murtha rally today. Rockin'.
Well I won't back down, no I won't back down
you could stand me up at the gates of hell
but I won't back down
Gonna stand my ground, won't be turned around
and I'll keep this world from draggin' me down
gonna stand my ground and I won't back down
Chorus
Hey baby, there ain't no easy way out
hey I will stand my ground
and I won't back down
(3) Barry Manilow - "I Made It Through the Rain"
A little sappy, but this is nice for our victory celebrations.
We dreamers have our ways
Of facing rainy days
And somehow we survive
We keep the feelings warm
Protect them from the storm
Until our time arrives
Then one day the sun appears
And we come shining through those lonely years
I made it through the rain
I kept my world protected
I made it through the rain
I kept my point of view
I made it through the rain
And found myself respected
By the others who
Got rained on too
And made it through...
(4) Stevie Wonder - "You Haven't Done Nothing"
Stevie wrote this for Tricky Dick, but it applies equally well 30 years later to Talent, Santorum, Dewine, Chafee, etc...
We are amazed but not amused
By all the things you say that you'll do
Though much concerned but not involved
With decisions that are made by you
But we are sick and tired of hearing your song
Telling how you are gonna change right from wrong
'Cause if you really want to hear our views
"You haven't done nothing"!
...
(5) Bruce Springsteen - Born in the U.S.A.
Sure it's overplayed -- but do people even realize it's a protest song?
I got in a little hometown jam
And so they put a rifle in my hands
Sent me off to Vietnam
To go and kill the yellow man
Born in the U.S.A.
Born in the U.S.A.
Born in the U.S.A.
Born in the U.S.A.
Come back home to the refinery
Hiring man says "Son if it was up to me"
I go down to see the V.A. man
He said "Son don't you understand"...