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11 Jun 08 - 10:26 AM (#2363232) Subject: Lyr Add: 'Obama, You're the Man' From: Peace 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. |
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11 Jun 08 - 10:31 AM (#2363236) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: 'Obama, You're the Man' From: Peace 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. |
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11 Jun 08 - 10:38 AM (#2363241) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: 'Obama, You're the Man' From: bobad 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. |
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11 Jun 08 - 10:44 AM (#2363247) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: 'Obama, You're the Man' From: Polite Guest 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. |
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11 Jun 08 - 10:52 AM (#2363251) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: 'Obama, You're the Man' From: PoppaGator 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. |
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11 Jun 08 - 11:20 AM (#2363280) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: 'Obama, You're the Man' From: Polite Guest 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. |
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11 Jun 08 - 12:34 PM (#2363334) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: 'Obama, You're the Man' From: Ruth Archer 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. |
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11 Jun 08 - 01:01 PM (#2363353) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: 'Obama, You're the Man' From: Peace 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. |
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11 Jun 08 - 01:40 PM (#2363393) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: 'Obama, You're the Man' From: beardedbruce "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." |
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11 Jun 08 - 01:43 PM (#2363397) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: 'Obama, You're the Man' From: PoppaGator 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. |
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11 Jun 08 - 01:45 PM (#2363399) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: 'Obama, You're the Man' From: Peace 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. |
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11 Jun 08 - 01:49 PM (#2363401) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: 'Obama, You're the Man' From: Ruth Archer 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. |
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11 Jun 08 - 02:11 PM (#2363425) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: 'Obama, You're the Man' From: Peace 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. |
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11 Jun 08 - 02:14 PM (#2363431) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: 'Obama, You're the Man' From: Peace And that I could type better. |
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11 Jun 08 - 02:18 PM (#2363434) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: 'Obama, You're the Man' From: Ruth Archer 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. |
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11 Jun 08 - 04:02 PM (#2363556) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: 'Obama, You're the Man' From: PoppaGator 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! |
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11 Jun 08 - 05:54 PM (#2363708) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: 'Obama, You're the Man' From: Jeri You should send that to Obama's people. And me. |
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12 Jun 08 - 08:35 AM (#2364133) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: 'Obama, You're the Man' From: Polite Guest ,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" |
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13 Jun 08 - 08:02 AM (#2364916) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: 'Obama, You're the Man' From: McGrath of Harlow But I object to a statement that is not valid Predictions are not statements. |