Song Request: Protest Bush/Monticello

Subject: Song Request: Protest Bush/Monticello
From: Mrrzy
Date: 01 Jul 08 - 12:02 PM

He's coming to "disgrace" the July 4th naturalization ceremony, and he doesn't even like immigration! What should we sing in protest, that will still honor the new citizens?

Subject: RE: Song Request: Protest Bush/Monticello
From: Mrrzy
Date: 01 Jul 08 - 02:16 PM

Aw, c'mon, guys!

Subject: RE: Song Request: Protest Bush/Monticello
From: SharonA
Date: 01 Jul 08 - 04:07 PM

That's a toughie, Mrrz. All I can think of offhand is the John Flynn song "Not With My Jesus". Lyrics here

But that may not fit the bill. Seems bizarre to me, in the first place, that the naturalization ceremony is taking place at Monticello, home of the man who did much (most?) of the composing of the Declaration of Independence while holding (and, infamously, sleeping with) slaves there at that very mansion.

Subject: RE: Song Request: Protest Bush/Monticello
From: SharonA
Date: 01 Jul 08 - 04:22 PM

How about this: Sting: "Englishman in New York"

Or this: Alice Cooper: "Model Citizen"

Or possibly this: Green Day: "American Idiot"

Subject: RE: Song Request: Protest Bush/Monticello
From: Mrrzy
Date: 01 Jul 08 - 08:03 PM

Ooh, American idiot! GREAT idea!

Enlishman in NY is a good idea for the newcomers, too, thanks!

Subject: RE: Song Request: Protest Bush/Monticello
From: katlaughing
Date: 01 Jul 08 - 10:19 PM

Well, I posted to this right after you started it, but I guess it didn't take.

How about This Land is YOUR Land!?

Subject: RE: Song Request: Protest Bush/Monticello
From: TIA
Date: 01 Jul 08 - 11:17 PM

Nah-nah-nah-nah, nah-nah-nah-nah, hey-hey-hey, gooood-bye.....
Repeat

Subject: RE: Song Request: Protest Bush/Monticello
From: oldhippie
Date: 02 Jul 08 - 07:29 AM

David Rovics "I Have Seen The Enemy"
Chuck Brodsky "Dangerous Times"
Bruce Lesnick "My Uncle Is A Terrorist"

Subject: RE: Song Request: Protest Bush/Monticello
From: Deeps
Date: 02 Jul 08 - 07:38 AM

Tom Russell "Who's Going To Build Your Wall"

Subject: RE: Song Request: Protest Bush/Monticello
From: bankley
Date: 02 Jul 08 - 07:15 PM

"Petroleum Bonaparte" by Jim Page

Subject: Lyr Add: AMERICAN HEARTS (A A Bondy)
From: SharonA
Date: 03 Jul 08 - 02:50 AM

Mrrzy, I just heard a song performed on the Conan O'Brien TV show, by one A.A. Bondy, thatI think would be ideal! Fortunately he (A.A., that is) has a YouTube video of himself playing this song on guitar with some simple chords, so you can probably learn the song quickly:

A.A. Bondy, "American Hearts" on YouTube

Lyrics to "American Hearts" (not 100% sure these are correct -- the source says he transcribed them by ear -- in fact I corrected some of it below to reflect what I heard on Conan):

We were raised by wolves
And we are still wild
And we howl when a troubled wind blows
And in the TV's blue light
Oh, assassins will lie
Every wail just a-goin' down slow

Now don't tread on me
For I am your brother (and)
I was born with an American heart
And don't tread on her
For she is your sister (and)
She was born with an American heart

All the people you meet
Down in the street
May be good but they don't wanna know
So they cover their eyes
For who wants to be sad?
Life is sweet at the bottom of the sea

Now don't tread on me
For I am your brother (and)
I was born with an American heart
And don't tread on her
For she is your sister (and)
She was born with an American heart

And the mothers will cry,
Fathers stay up all night
With a worry that goes to the bones
And if your God makes war
Then he's no God I know
There's no Christ that would send boys to die

Now don't tread on me
For I am your brother (and)
I was born with an American heart
And don't tread on her
For she is your sister (and)
She was born with an American heart

(And) Don't you get low as hell
When the peace dove is felled
Them men always got the blackest of minds
   (or, "Those men got the blackest of minds" -- see link below)
And above the din
Let the sighin' begin
As we're bound for the longest of days

And don't tread on me
For I am your brother (and)
I was born with an American heart
And don't tread on her
For she is your sister (and)
She was born with an American heart

(Slightly different lyrics are in this YouTube performance by A.A.: Bondy with band, "American Hearts")

Subject: RE: Song Request: Protest Bush/Monticello
From: SharonA
Date: 03 Jul 08 - 03:05 AM

Yet another YouTube version of A.A. Bondy singing "American Hearts"

This time the line is "By men with the blackest of minds"

Subject: RE: Song Request: Protest Bush/Monticello
From: GUEST,David Swanson
Date: 03 Jul 08 - 04:38 PM

JOIN US AND SING

6 a.m. Friday morning

Quarry Park

http://davidswanson.org

Subject: RE: Song Request: Protest Bush/Monticello
From: GUEST,Rick Provost
Date: 03 Jul 08 - 06:09 PM

How about "America the Beautiful," which is what this ceremony represents? Your self-righteous insistence to indulge in moral exhibitionism will rob 75 new citizens of some of their joy in celebrating one of the most profound experiences of their lives. Congratulations, children.

Subject: RE: Song Request: Protest Bush/Monticello
From: SharonA
Date: 04 Jul 08 - 04:19 PM

Hey, Mrrzy and David, you made the news! Good on ya! Here 'tis:

President heckled during event at Thomas Jefferson's former home

Associated Press
updated 11:11 a.m. ET, Fri., July. 4, 2008

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Virginia - President Bush invoked the memory of Thomas Jefferson Friday in welcoming new U.S. citizens at a naturalization ceremony at Monticello, saying "I'll be proud to call you a fellow American."

On his final U.S. Independence Day as president, Bush told an audience Friday at the home of the Declaration of Independence's author that he was honored to be present for the naturalization. Shouts from protesters were heard during Bush's remarks, and the president responded by saying he agrees that "we believe in free speech in the United States of America."

The last six Fourth of July holidays have taken place amid continuing violence in Iraq. Bush's addition of 28,000 U.S. troops last year in Iraq helped foster a measure of stability in what is now the sixth summer of the war.

Bush mentioned neither the war in Iraq nor U.S. efforts to fight terrorism in his speech, other than to say that "we pay tribute to the brave men and women who wear the uniform."

For the people assembled with him at the naturalization ceremony, he said: "When you raise your hands and take your oath, you will complete an incredible journey. ... From this day forward, the history of the United States will be part of your heritage."

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Subject: RE: Song Request: Protest Bush/Monticello
From: Mrrzy
Date: 05 Jul 08 - 02:45 PM

Actually, Rick Provost, we were very careful to also honor the new Americans. Many of our posters and slogans were directed straight to them. If you look at the pictures, none of them seem to have minded...

And the nice, helpful cops, every time they had to take a particular protester outside of the grounds, actually drove them individually back the join the greater protest! They were incredibly helpful, state and county both. Not a pig in the bunch.

It was GREAT! Some of us sang This Land Is Your Land, I also sang Phil Ochs' Power and Glory (which should be our national anthem, I think), and some of us also sang snatches from both the Draft Dodger's and the I Feel Like I'm Fixing To Die Rags. There was one obnoxious guy who tends to come to our peaceful protests and try to rile people up to be in-your-face, which isn't to my mind peaceful, but very few people went with him this time.

And we had to be ignored directly by Dubya! It was MAGNIFICENT! And demonstrating constitutional rights probably not heretofore available to the new citizens was also magnificent!

Subject: RE: Song Request: Protest Bush/Monticello
From: Riginslinger
Date: 05 Jul 08 - 09:41 PM

There's probably something in the WOBBLIES Little Red Songbook.