Lyr Add: Obama, You're the Man

Subject: Lyr Add: 'Obama, You're the Man'
From: Peace
Date: 11 Jun 08 - 10:26 AM

Forty years later and nothing's changed, except the name.

'Obama You're The Man'                              
                                                   
The papers and the radio                              
They lied to us today                                          
We need you with your honesty
You know we've been betrayed
The country needs a statesman
Without one it can't stand                                    
The country needs a President
Obama you're the man.

The government has been misused                     
They've treated war like chess
No one ever wins at war
Someone loses less
The people need a patriot
Who'll redesign the land
The country needs a President
Obama you're the man

Your opponents offer promises
But they're empty like before
You wouldn't let our children die
To perpetrate a war
Obama you're the candidate
Our honour must demand
The country needs a President
Obama you're the man.

America's been burdened
And corruption is to blame
It owns the politicians
Democracy's in chains
The alternative is obvious
It's in the voters hands
The country needs a President
Obama you're the man.

Words and music by Bruce Murdoch

IMO, it woulda been better if McCarthy had got in 40 years ago.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: 'Obama, You're the Man'
From: Peace
Date: 11 Jun 08 - 10:31 AM

PS

That song has a good melody with it. If anyone wants to do it, I can send an mp3 of the original--which was for Eugene McCarthy. Have it with my blessing. I think the copyright is held by UNART Music, but I'm still the writer.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: 'Obama, You're the Man'
From: bobad
Date: 11 Jun 08 - 10:38 AM

Isn't it uncanny how it fits today, like the politics in America haven't changed all that much in 40 years.

Maybe Obama's looking for a campaign song.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: 'Obama, You're the Man'
From: Polite Guest
Date: 11 Jun 08 - 10:44 AM

That song should be sung by Bruce Murdoch.   

I agree with you bobad, it's the *perfect* campaign song, and if I were in Barak Obama's press office, I'd be doing all in my power to ensure that song gets played at every rally which lies ahead.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: 'Obama, You're the Man'
From: PoppaGator
Date: 11 Jun 08 - 10:52 AM

I just heard the MP3 of this earlier this morning. It is a nice melody, and a really good, heartfelt performance by Bruce. Gave me goosebumps (!?!?); the "uncanny" relevance to another election forty years later undoubtedly had something to do with my reaction.

Also a factor: Since 1968, the expression "You('re)The Man" has taken on a whole new resonance!

Unfortunately, I believe Obama already has a campaign song, mentioned and promoted here at Mudcat over the past few months, entitled "Yes We Can."

It's OK, but I much prefer an Allen Toussaint song with the very similar title "Yes We Can Can," which has become a sort of recovery/renewal anthem here in New Orleans since Allen re-recorded it on one of those post-Katrina benefit CDs. The original recording by the Pointer Sisters was a great pop song, but the more recent recording by the composer, in a whole new context, is much more stirring.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: 'Obama, You're the Man'
From: Polite Guest
Date: 11 Jun 08 - 11:20 AM

Good lyrics, messily put together, imo. Way too fussy, too many voices, the message gets lost. More a speech by Obama, with a song built around it.


Yes We Can - Youtube

No, my 'vote' goes to the song above, especially with the history attached. It's a song which has lain dormant for 40 years, waiting for the right man to come along.

He's here, he needs the song.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: 'Obama, You're the Man'
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 11 Jun 08 - 12:34 PM

Does he?

I'd have thought a clear delineation of policy would be more useful. He's not going to walk this election - if he is to stand a chance against McCain, the electorate is going to need a bit more substance and, perhaps, a little less style.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: 'Obama, You're the Man'
From: Peace
Date: 11 Jun 08 - 01:01 PM

You are correct, Joan. No doubt. But McCain won't beat him. As to 'more substance and, perhaps, a little less style'--rhetoric is as rhetoric does.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: 'Obama, You're the Man'
From: beardedbruce
Date: 11 Jun 08 - 01:40 PM

"But McCain won't beat him."

If you want to say

"IMO, McCain won't beat him." ok.

"But McCain will likely not beat him."   ok


But I object to a statement that is not valid- McCain has a chance to beat Obama, and the Democrats are doing what they can ( IMO) to see that McCain does."

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: 'Obama, You're the Man'
From: PoppaGator
Date: 11 Jun 08 - 01:43 PM

It's not especially clear, but after reading and rereading Polite Guest's post, the first sentence seems to refer to "Yes We Can," not "You're the Man." Am I guessing correctly?

Ruth, of course any candidiate for any office should reveal specific policy proposals. But that's not the only thing that a candidate has to do. Promoting oneself in every possible way is prerequisite to being elected and thereby enabling oneself to implement those policies.

More substance? Absolutely ~ if you need more input, millions of others also need it too, undoubtedly.

But less style? No way! I mean, why not? You might not react positively to every type of appeal, but you're not everybody. A successful campaign requires maximum substance, maximum style ~ more of everything.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: 'Obama, You're the Man'
From: Peace
Date: 11 Jun 08 - 01:45 PM

Bruce, you ARE correct. In my deeply considered opinion, McCain will be beaten in the presidential race. If the Democrats don't beat themselves first.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: 'Obama, You're the Man'
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 11 Jun 08 - 01:49 PM

they say, Peace, that the electorate never votes FOR the challenger - they vote AGAINST the incumbent administration. So from that point of view, I'd hope that only a major campaign disater would bar Obama's way.

However, the unknown quanitiy here is race. I have just been talking to my uncle who lives in Long Island. He was expressing his concern that Obama will lose whole states which simply won't elect a black man, and I, sadly, know this is all too true. That's why his policies are so important now - he needs to capture as many floating voters as he can, and I think he'll only do it with a bit more substance.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: 'Obama, You're the Man'
From: Peace
Date: 11 Jun 08 - 02:11 PM

I think you are correct in that assessment, Ruth.

I got a bit so-so when Obama didn't speak on behalf of Kucinich (when K was not allowed to participate in the debates--I forget the details). One of his campaign offices didn't even reply to my e-mail other than to send me some sorta pledge form wia e-mail. And that came with a bunch of spam. But looking at it all now, I think he's the only chance the US has for a bettr future. I hope enough folks agree. Makes me wish I could vote in this election.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: 'Obama, You're the Man'
From: Peace
Date: 11 Jun 08 - 02:14 PM

And that I could type better.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: 'Obama, You're the Man'
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 11 Jun 08 - 02:18 PM

Perversely I can, despite living in the UK for most of my adult life. I agree - despite the obfuscation and the seeming emphasis of style over substance, this is potentially a very exciting moment in US history.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: 'Obama, You're the Man'
From: PoppaGator
Date: 11 Jun 08 - 04:02 PM

By the way: I just realized that "Obama" scans just like "McCarthy" ~ three syllables, accent on the second. How serendipitous!

If things had worked out differently, Bruce wouldn't have been able to recycle this song:

Hil-UH-ree? I don't think so; also, that phrase "you're the man" would have to go!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: 'Obama, You're the Man'
From: Jeri
Date: 11 Jun 08 - 05:54 PM

You should send that to Obama's people. And me.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: 'Obama, You're the Man'
From: Polite Guest
Date: 12 Jun 08 - 08:35 AM

,i>From: PoppaGator - PM
Date: 11 Jun 08 - 01:43 PM

It's not especially clear, but after reading and rereading Polite Guest's post, the first sentence seems to refer to "Yes We Can," not "You're the Man." Am I guessing correctly?


You most certainly are Poppa. Apologies for the confusion. It was indeed 'Yes We Can' I was talking about. It's too fussy, and the message therefore gets somewhat lost.



'Obama You're The Man'

"He Sure Is"

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: 'Obama, You're the Man'
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 13 Jun 08 - 08:02 AM

But I object to a statement that is not valid

Predictions are not statements.