The political songs of today?

Subject: RE: The political songs of today?
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 23 Dec 17 - 05:32 PM

Still no decent video of this, but at least part-parody, which I first wrote the day after hearing the US election result: updated it a bit a few months later when the N Korea stand-off came into the news. Sorry, I forgot to upload the day after I last posted! Apologies to those who may have seen it on another thread months ago!

TRUMP, TRUMP, TRUMP
Lyrics © Trish Santer      
Tune: Nellie the Elephant

From New York
A travelling businessman came,
But not an intelligent elephant,
No, a bloke with a funny name,
Mop of hair,
And face with a very fake tan,
O what a farce, he might well pass
For an outsize orang-utan.
            
Donald, th’orang-utan packed his cart
And trundled off to the golf course,
Off he went with a trumpety-trump,
Trump, Trump, Trump.
Doesn’t want wind farms to blight his view
But happy to knock down some houses,
Said he was doing it for everyone’s good,
Trump, Trump, Trump.

But soon bigger things were calling, far, far away,
He put himself up as a candidate
In the US election fray.
BUT, that was in April, and no-one believed
That Donald would ever pursue it:
Now you must agree how wrong you can be,
Trump, Trump, Trump.

Night by night,
He’d rant and point and rave,
When Donald was up on the podium
He looked so proud and brave,
Dirty tricks
Yon Donald did perform
But yet he just deluded them
And took the crowd by storm.

What a palaver for months on end,
Touring all over the country,
Hillary missed out Wisconsin, oh dear, but not
Trump, Trump, Trump.
Lawyers and FBI all muscled in
To ride on this huge roller-coaster,
Vote for the “lesser of evils” they said, not
Trump, Trump, Trump?



The Mexican border was calling, far, far away,
He’ll send all those immigrants building his wall,
And leave them the other side of it,
And then he’d make them pay for it – (extra line, same tune)
While others are fleeing to Canada,
The moon or Mars or Australia,
What kind of country will America be, with
Trump, Trump, Trump?

On he went,
Trampling others down,
He only had one goal in life,
To take the President’s crown.
Just how many people did he offend?
Which makes it such a mystery
That they voted for him in the end.

All other candidates whittled away,
He had to face up to Ms Clinton,
TV debates, all fuelled with hate,
Trump, Trump, Trump.
Misogynist, racist and bigoted perv,
And don’t mention emails from Hillary,
Lies and distortion, all out of proportion,
Trump, Trump, Trump.

Washington DC was calling, not so far away,
He got in The White House by January,        
What horror, is all I can say.
BUT now he is lining up missiles and ships
And pointing them at North Korea,
Just keep your hands well off pussies and buttons,
Trump, Trump, Trump!

Subject: RE: The political songs of today?
From: topical tom
Date: 23 Dec 17 - 02:00 PM

For Trump songs:https://parodyproject.com/subscribe/

Subject: RE: The political songs of today?
From: Thompson
Date: 20 Dec 17 - 05:16 PM

Well, the Rubber Bandits' Horse Outside is certainly an ode to nihilism and disses the consumer society:

I'm at Amanda's wedding, In a church on Thomas Street
I'm lookin at a bridesmaid, and she lookin back at me
And when the service ends, I ask her if she wants a lift
Back to the hotel, and if it goes well, finger and a shift
She says Fitzy drives a Mitzy, and he offered me a spin
Enda have a Honda, so I might just go with him
And Darragh Gibney said he bring me in his Subaru
So what the fuck would make you think I'd wanna go with you

(Chorus)
I said Fuck your Honda Civic, I've a horse outside
Fuck your Subaru, I have a horse outside
And fuck your Mitsubishi, I've a horse outside
If you're lookin for a ride I've got a horse outside

She said I don't believe ya
I said it's fuckin true
I swapped him for a bag of yokes in 1992
I don't need insurance, I don't need no parkin space
And if you try to clamp my horse he'll kick you in the face
I don't pay no tax, fuck NCT
You'll arrive in style if you ride with me
And the boys are walkin over, jinglin their keys
I look the fuckers up and down and give them one of these

(Chorus)

Giddy up now baby, bless my soul
I rode the fucker round a field back since he was a foal
He runs a bit like Shergar, and he jumps like Tír na nÓg
He looks like Billie Piper after half an ounce of coke
And the boys are lookin jealous, as I lead yer one away
And just before I close the door I look at her and say
Would you be my girl, and she says I will of course
If ya grab me by the ponytail and ride me like a horse
Ya!

Subject: RE: The political songs of today?
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 18 Dec 17 - 09:37 PM

Where are the Trump songs? Plenty of people have written them, myself included! Will stick the lyrics up tomorrow, and I think at least those with a UKupbringing will know the tune!

Subject: RE: The political songs of today?
From: JMB
Date: 16 Dec 17 - 09:54 PM

Political songs that strike a chord with me concern the treatment of Gaels on both sides of the ocean. Runrig's "Fichead Bliadhna" is a very important lyric and has a modern rock feel. "Tir An Airm" is more of a song that protests the military installations in Scotland during the Cold War and promotes the Keep NATO Out campaign. I was working on protest songs in regards to treatment of Gaels. There was one that talks about when I was young, I was taught about the importance of my heritage, yet faced adversity by mainstream society. Another one is called "Pipes" inspired by the Peter Lafarge composition "Drums" recorded by Johnny Cash. "Dearg Le Fearg" (Red With Rage) was inspired by an article I read in The Carn that talked about a campaign by the same name.

Subject: RE: The political songs of today?
From: GUEST,guest Larry Poole
Date: 16 Dec 17 - 07:54 PM

Here's a pledge and a song of today. Actually I wrote them a year and a half ago, but they dont seem to have gone out of date. Please bring to your next school or athletic event:

Bludgeon You Gents

I bleed all you gents to the flack

of the you-die-in stakes of a murder car

And to the reap of luck for richer scams

One Haitian underdog inderisible

With libertines that just ask for oil


Scar Strangled Banter

O staid cant obscene by the dumb surly right,
Fatso rowdily seig heiled at the toilets lost cleaning,
Whose fraud snipes and fright spars screw the powerless might,
Odor ram farts we sqwatched, were so callously screaming
                                             (and stare)
Dave Crocketts' red scare, the bums thirsting in the square,
Bade groove with the whites that our flack would swell terror
                              (banter)        
Jose does that scar strangled banger yet rave,
                              (panther)
O'er the brand of the freaks and the drone of the slave?

Subject: RE: The political songs of today?
From: Mark Ross
Date: 15 Dec 17 - 11:36 AM

I would recommend my old friends (and two of my former students) The Low Tide Drifters, out Eugene Oregon.

https://lowtidedrifters.wordpress.com/

https://www.facebook.com/lowtidedrifters/


https://lowtidedrifters.bandcamp.com/

Mark Ross

Subject: RE: The political songs of today?
From: Ged Fox
Date: 15 Dec 17 - 11:28 AM

A delicately understated song:
Liar liar

Subject: Lyr Add: DUBB'S TALKIN' POLITICIAN BLUES (MacLeod
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 14 Dec 17 - 11:00 AM

You can hear this on YouTube:


DUBB'S TALKIN' POLITICIAN BLUES
As recorded by Doug MacLeod on "DUBB" (2004)

Now I gotta talk about some o' these politicians.
Sure got my world in a sorry condition.
They say one thing but they mean another.
That's a very worrisome thing, my brother.

Say they talkin' clear but it sure sound hazy.
Ain't doin' nothin' but drivin' old Dubb crazy.
Can't balance a budget but they can spend my money.
You tell me if somethin' ain't goin' on funny.

Sometimes I think they just educated fools.
Ain't doin' much to help the schools.
City schools just slidin' in ruin.
Sometimes I wonder: do they know what they doin'?

Would you get my BB gun?
No, I don't want to kill 'em,
But I sure would like to hurt 'em some.

Now to raise money they got a lottery.
Mm-hmm. That's a lot o' slippin' an' slidin', if you ask me.
The money's funny and the change is strange,
'Cause it ain't nothin' but a new numbers game.

Out on the street, you know what I'm talkin' 'bout:
You see the odds' always in favor of the house,
And ev'ry week you put your little twenty dollars in,
And they grinnin' in your face 'cause it's so hard to win.

They say the lottery was gonna help the schools.
Mm-hmm., that's what they promised; it was just....
But they cuttin' arts cause money's so tight,
And I got to wonder: how do they sleep at night?

Man, you get my BB gun?
No, I don't want to kill em,
But I sure would like to hurt 'em some.

We're the richest country and we got kids that don't eat.
Vietnam war veterans still beg in the street.
Politician say he gotta make more cuts,
But you think his salary is somethin' he would touch?

Health care: now that's a mess.
It don't much to help that yet(???).
Politicians say: "Don't worry; there gon' be better days,
And I'm 'o' start workin' on it soon as I vote myself a raise."

Now there's a way to get out from under this joke.
We need all the people to get out and vote.
Don't sit on the couch, watch the news, and complain.
You gotta get off your butt if you're gonna implement change.

But in the meantime, would you get my BB gun?
No, I don't to kill em,
But I sure would like to hurt 'em some.

Now, folks, those are just my views,
And you're entitled to your views too,
'Cause in America, we still got the right to choose,
And that's why I wrote Dubb's Talkin' Politician's Blues.

Subject: Lyr Add: SAY HELLO TO THE PROVOS
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Apr 16 - 06:49 AM

A popular song in Ireland is, "Say Hello to the Provos"

Honouring the brave men and women who fought in the ranks of the Provisional Irish Republican Army between December 1969 - July 2005.

SAY HELLO TO THE PROVOS
Unknown

Say hello to the Provos, say hello to the brave,
Say hello to the Provos and Ireland shall be saved.

Well it all happened in 71,
When Internment had begun,
And we were taken by the point of a gun,
Remember, we shall remember.

Now many a battle has been fought and won,
Many a home has lost a son,
Long Kesh's gates shall soon be undone,
Remember, we shall remember.

The UFF and the SAS
Assassinations at their best,
Innocent people they put to their deaths,
Remember, we shall remember.

Daithi O'Connell we honour your name,
Those British patrols you put them to shame,
For Stormont's downfall you were to blame,
Remember, we shall remember.

So put your faith in the Provos, put your faith in the brave,
Put your faith in the Provos and Ireland shall be saved.

Subject: RE: The political songs of today?
From: Thompson
Date: 29 Apr 16 - 05:02 AM

Here's one from the Dublin band Lynched: Cold Old Fire.

Subject: Lyr Add: CHRISTMAS PEACE 16.12.15
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 17 Apr 16 - 02:34 PM

My Christmas song from Dec 2015: not all political but gets more so as it goes on: just about all the horrible things that seem to happen around Christmas time. Deliberately simple (simplistic?) and sadly never likely to happen.


CHRISTMAS PEACE 16.12.15.

1. Christmas comes but once a year,
And 'tis said, it brings good cheer, but
Far too often, that's not so,
As my Christmas list will show.

CHORUS: Here I make my Christmas wish
Don't need cards or fancy gifts,
Just to be with family and friends,
I want world peace that never ends.
Peace on Earth at Christmas,
Christmas peace on Earth.

2. No tsunami, no earthquake,
Nor the devastation that these can make,
No more plane crashes, sinking boats,
No more pointless deaths on roads. CHORUS

3. No more poverty, beggars on street,
No need for food banks to let people eat,
No more posturing, no more lies,
Truthful politicians would be a surprise. CHORUS

4. No more ISIS, no more wars,
No more bombs to settle old scores,
No more refugees needing to flee
From the horror in their own country. CHORUS

Subject: RE: The political songs of today?
From: voyager
Date: 17 Apr 16 - 12:57 PM

Repost -

Seeger Family Concert - March 2007

voyager

Subject: Lyr Add: CARRY IT ON (Buffy Sainte-Marie)
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Apr 16 - 12:53 PM

The following lyrics are from

https://opherworld.wordpress.com/2015/06/19/buffy-st-marie-carry-it-on-lyrics-of-defiance-with-hope/

CARRY IT ON
© Words & Music Buffy Sainte-Marie.

Hold your head up
Lift the top of your mind
Put your eyes on the Earth
Lift your heart to your own home planet
What do you see?
What is your attitude
Are you here to improve or damn it
Look right now and you will see
we're only here by the skin of our teeth as it is
so take heart and take care of your link with Life and

Oh carry it on ? We're saying
Oh carry it on ? Keep playing
Oh carry it on ? And praying

It ain't money that makes the world go round
That's only temporary confusion
It ain't governments that make the people strong
It's the opposite illusion
Look right now and you will see
they're only here by the skin of their teeth as it is
so take heart and take care of your link with Life

Oh carry it on ? Keep saying
Oh carry it on ? And playing
Oh carry it on ? And praying

Look right now and you will see
we're only here by the skin of our teeth as it is
so take heart and take care of your link with

Life it's beautiful
if you got the sense to take care of your source of perfection
Mother Nature She's the daughter of God and the source of all protection

Look right now
and you will see she's only here by the skin of her teeth as it is
so take heart and take care of your link with Life

Oh carry it on ? Keep saying
Oh carry it on ? And playing
Oh carry it on ? Keep on praying

You can hear the song that was released by Buffy at

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsQaIOML05k

The album won a Polaris prize, and deservedly so. I love the lyrics and the take, although there is a bit too much compression imo.

Subject: RE: The political songs of today?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Apr 16 - 10:04 AM

If you can't make the hotlink work post the link text anyway and a moderator may turn it into a link for you.

Subject: RE: The political songs of today?
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Apr 16 - 09:38 AM

Canada faced a political crisis back in October, 2015. Many of the songs at the following link were written to get the Conservatives led by Stephen Harper out of power. Protest is still alive. The Canadian people voted the Conservatives out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Brs6Xr9yzOY&list=PL5QgoDJ6aONSddoCzX6vTgIB5y3OWqHPB

I don't attribute Harper's loss to the songs, but like chicken soup, even if they didn't help, at least they didn't hurt. The shelf-life of most of the songs expired October 20, 2015, but they serve to show that people with voices who don't back down can influence small pockets of people and collectively help make a difference.

Subject: RE: making a clicky
From: Mo the caller
Date: 17 Apr 16 - 09:16 AM

The instructions for clicky making say 'cut and paste'. But it only works for my if I COPY and paste.
???

Subject: RE: The political songs of today?
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 17 Apr 16 - 03:09 AM

There are a lot of songs posted on POLITICAL FOLK MUSIC DOT ORG

LINK to POLITICAL FOLK MUSIC DOT ORG

Subject: RE: The political songs of today?
From: GUEST,Anne Neilson
Date: 25 Mar 16 - 12:43 PM

Thanks to Jim Carroll for the clicky link to the political song collection at Glasgow University (post at 11.46am)

Recent gatherings of material include songs from the Scottish referendum campaign, the current anti-fracking movement -- and the net is out for EU referendum songs… (Many of these efforts are decidedly ephemeral, but taken together they provide a fuller picture than e.g. statistical analysis of voting can do on its own.)

Subject: RE: The political songs of today?
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 25 Mar 16 - 12:30 PM

Too Big to Fail

Subject: RE: The political songs of today?
From: CupOfTea
Date: 25 Mar 16 - 11:53 AM

Social issue songs strike me as being highly political, and may have a longer "shelf life" (Tom Paxton's term) than songs about an individual or specific situation.

Lou and Peter Berryman Convention Center, Why am I Painting the Living Room - only a couple of their sly, yet serious songs pointing out flaws in the way things work. They have also participated in:
         The Wisconsin Solidarity Sing Along began 3/11/2011, and has taken place at the state Capitol every weekday from noon to 1 pm in the 5 years since then. They have their own songbook, and have some very good singers participating. What started out as a protest against the governor has politicized some who never thought of themselves as political, just traditional singers.

Jez Lowe's album The Parish Notices particularly the title song, is a good example of his take in social ills, but not the only one of his.

Ian Robb's They're Taking It Away is one of many highly political songs included in the "Rise Again" lyric book, which is a good resource for seeing who is writing political/protest songs now. Ian Robb & his band mate Grit Laskin have done more songs in this genre.

Peggy Seeger continues to come up with topical songs, and has a lifetime of doing so.

Charlie King, Magpie, Sally Rogers all come to mind for political/ecology/social justice songs

Though "Protest Singer" is far from the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of Deb Cowan, her coverage of Deborah VanCleef's song about a fast food worker's strike (very local to me) shows her strong union feelings.

Artisan's Brian Bedford has plenty of good songs - This is the Way the World Ends, NIMBY, Lest We Forget, Dream Home

Yep, folk are writing political songs today.

Joanne in Cleveland


.

Subject: RE: The political songs of today?
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 25 Mar 16 - 11:46 AM

This seems to work Anne
Janie Buchan Political Song Collection
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: The political songs of today?
From: Mark Ross
Date: 25 Mar 16 - 11:38 AM

To my money here's the best political song I have heard in a long time;

Behind the Barricades - (David Rovics)

Subject: RE: The political songs of today?
From: Acorn4
Date: 25 Mar 16 - 06:29 AM

Steve:- "Greedy Bastards" with choon:-


https://soundcloud.com/acorn4/ye-greedy-bastards-all-1

Subject: RE: The political songs of today?
From: GUEST,Anne Neilson
Date: 24 Mar 16 - 05:26 PM

The OP may wish to contact the Janey Buchan Political Song Collection at Glasgow University (sorry I can't do the link!).
This is a collection of political songs, both historic and current, from all over the globe and presented without bias.

Please feel free to submit!

Subject: RE: The political songs of today?
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Mar 16 - 02:35 PM

Thanks GeoffLawes - it still doesn't come out blue when I do it! But thanks for posting the link - which does work! :-)

Subject: RE: The political songs of today?
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 24 Mar 16 - 01:51 PM

Leon Rosselson - one of the greatest writer of social and political songs. billy Bragg and others.

Leon

Subject: RE: The political songs of today?
From: GUEST,Joe G
Date: 24 Mar 16 - 12:59 PM

Joe Solo from Scarborough is one of our finest political songwriters and raconteurs - he also puts his money where his mouth is and organised the incredible 'We Shall Overcome' festival last October which saw 250 gigs across 3 continents take place over a week raising the equivalent in cash of £125,000 worth of donation to food banks etc. He also frequently donates the proceeds of sales of his music to support homeless people

'We Shall Overcome' will be repeated this October and will hopefully be an annual event

Joe Solo website

Amongst others I can also highly recommmend Plumhall, Gary Kaye and Jon Palmer Acoustic Band who all feature protest and political songs in their repertoire

Subject: RE: The political songs of today?
From: GUEST,John from Kemsing
Date: 24 Mar 16 - 12:27 PM

I`m with you AlbertsLion. I`ve tried till I`m blue in the face but nothing seems to work.

Subject: RE: The political songs of today?
From: GUEST,John from Kemsing
Date: 24 Mar 16 - 12:24 PM

Not all political songs have to be protestations. Here is a decidedly "political" song that expresses the view that there is much to be celebrated in our modern world.
https://soundcloud.com/johnhhills/envy-view-from-the-other-side

Subject: RE: The political songs of today?
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 24 Mar 16 - 12:16 PM

Acorn
Greedy Bastards All.

Inspired. I love it. Very well written. Nice and simple and straight to the point. A great composition. Does it go to a well-known tune or have you written one?

Subject: RE: The political songs of today?
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 24 Mar 16 - 10:03 AM

"The US has its dustbowl era protest songs (and their fine chroniclers Guthrie and Seeger). "

And how good those songs were, making their points not by firing exocets at specific targets and grabbing us by the lapels, but by telling the people's stories, powerful enough messages on their own without the polemic. Some of my very favourite contemporary singers get up my nose occasionally by pushing their politics (which are usually my politics too) down my throat. No names, no pack drill!

Subject: RE: The political songs of today?
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 24 Mar 16 - 09:43 AM

Copy the address the"blue clicky maker" produces for you then click it into your post. http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=13338949

Subject: RE: The political songs of today?
From: AlbertsLion
Date: 24 Mar 16 - 07:50 AM

two attempts at making a link (Blue Clicky) - doesn't seem to work, can't 'cut and paste' what am I doing wrong anyone?

Subject: RE: The political songs of today?
From: AlbertsLion
Date: 24 Mar 16 - 06:55 AM

http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=13338949

Subject: RE: The political songs of today?
From: AlbertsLion
Date: 24 Mar 16 - 06:51 AM

I've written a few contemporary songs about Mr Blair, ISIS and our glorious leaders, which have recently hit the No 1 folk spot on Soundclick.com (for what that's worth) and I sing them regularly at local sessions here in SW Wales. 'Fading Flowers - Falling Stars' is the latest offering but I need to become more proficient at the recording side of things! http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=13338949

Subject: RE: The political songs of today?
From: Stringsinger
Date: 02 Oct 13 - 01:15 PM

Tom Paxton is still writing. Also, Tim Minchen, a brilliant writer and satirist.

"Let us both not eat pork together".

Subject: RE: The political songs of today?
From: Acorn4
Date: 02 Oct 13 - 09:11 AM

Proud to say that Grace hails from Leicester - great to see her gaining wide recognition.

Subject: RE: The political songs of today?
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 02 Oct 13 - 08:42 AM

Also, of course, John Conolly's Big Society Blues on his new CD...

Kitty

Subject: RE: The political songs of today?
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 02 Oct 13 - 08:29 AM

I already suggested Grace Petrie on Richard's Facebook, so I thought I would share here as well.

Farewell to Welfare

She has quite a few political rants in her repertoire.

Subject: Lyr Add: TRUER SHADE OF BLUE
From: Acorn4
Date: 02 Oct 13 - 05:35 AM

..and there's this - to tune of "Whiter Shade of Pale":-

TRUER SHADE OF BLUE

When you were young and in your prime, your belly full of rage and fire,
You stood out with Trotsky on the barricades, that Little Red Book there to inspire you,
And that poster of Che Guevara, it hung on your wall for years,
You thought you were going to change the world and watch it all come crashing down around their ears,
But the years have flown past so quickly, and it's strange but oh, so true,
That flag once red with the workers' blood now flies a truer shade of blue.

You were the young icon of the left, you argued deep, deep into the night,
No clouds to block your vision, the truth was there in black and white,
And you wore Fidel Castro's cap, it sat squarely on your head,
Now you talk in hushed voices along the corridors of power, one day soon you'll be a minister it's said..
And now Maggie Thatcher's knickers, they seem the perfect fit for you,
AS they hang out on your washing line, in a truer shade of blue.

You've gotten wealth, you've gotten image, you've protected and survived alright,
And now you worry about those demons, and things that might go bump in the night,
You want a good school for your children, you want investments that will grow,
As you drifted into the middle of the road and onto the other side, safe within that comfort zone..
And as you find yourself saying the things you said you'd never say, just like your parents used to do,
And the political litmus paper has turned a truer shade of blue.

Your feet are firmly on the ladder, you're a winner in the game,
You joined the congregation, you even sing in the choir, that revolution never came anyway,
But sometimes through the opium you catch a glimpse in the mirror, reflecting those far off long gone days,
You try telling yourself it was a natural progression, just a passing phase,
And as you contemplate power dressing for that important interview,
Glad that you've been born again in a truer shade of blue.

Subject: Lyr Add: YE GREEDY BASTARDS ALL
From: Acorn4
Date: 02 Oct 13 - 05:27 AM

Kitty - I think most of my songs are more social comment than overtly political, although the current shower in power have pulled me a bit in that direction. As explained at Sidmouth the "everyman" is a historical ref and can be taken as gender inclusive as in the American ""you guys".

Not got round to recording this yet:-

Ye Greedy Bastards All!
1.Oh come ye greedy bastards all, oh let your tale be told,
Of how ye came into the land, in far off days of old,
To build your castles strong, and hide behind their walls,
To take the best, to feather the nests of greedy bastards all.

2. We worked upon your stubborn soil, to plough and sow and reap,
You stole the forests and the fields, and made them yours to keep,
Like cattle we were bought and sold, while you grew fat and tall,
Our purpose but to fill the gut of greedy bastards all.

Ye greedy bastards all, ye greedy bastards all,
Time to sing of Captain Swing, Wat Tyler and Jack Straw,
And when will everyman be invited to the ball,
And cease his toil and share the spoils with greedy bastards all.

3. You took us from the land, and put us on your mighty wheels,
Eternity upon the treadmill of your wretched mills,
With political economy to demonise the poor,
Who pay the dues and turn the screws for greedy bastards all.

4. Now revolutions came and went, our hopes are all but passed,
Yet still that hydra grows its heads behind its walls of glass,
High up on your balcony, your pride will stand no fall,
Still pissing on the peasants, ye greedy bastards all!

Ye greedy bastards all, ye greedy bastards all,
Time to sing of Captain Swing, Wat Tyler and Jack Straw,
And when will everyman be invited to the ball,
And cease his toil to share the spoils with greedy bastards all.

5. Now dressed up in your finest suits, you stand in serried ranks,
Your judges call for prison walls for the man who robs the bank,
But the banks that rob the man are protected by your laws,
All hail the global mafia of greedy bastards all!

6. We all vote for that rainbow's end, with its pot of gold,
Yet still the markets call the tune, as dreams are bought and sold,
And those starlings in the garden fly away before the fall,
And Robin Hood drowns in the flood of greedy bastards all.

Ye greedy bastards all, ye greedy bastards all,
Time to sing of Captain Swing, King Arthur and Jack Straw,
And when will everyman be invited to the ball,
And cease his toil to share the spoils with greedy bastards all.

Subject: RE: The political songs of today?
From: Stewie
Date: 01 Oct 13 - 09:28 PM

Tom Morello.

James McMurtry.

David Olney.

Tom Pacheco.

Tom Russell.

Chris Smither.

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: The political songs of today?
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 01 Oct 13 - 07:19 PM

Acorn4 - you're being too modest about your own songs, really....

K

Subject: RE: The political songs of today?
From: Acorn4
Date: 01 Oct 13 - 07:16 PM

I really like this writer - bit of 'edge'.

Will Varley

Subject: RE: The political songs of today?
From: Stringsinger
Date: 01 Oct 13 - 04:15 PM

There is one song that comes to mind. I can't find it on YouTube. "Custer's Last Stand in Iraq" by Dale and Marilyn Barcellos. Great tune, exciting lyrics/ anti-war.

Political songs are not being widely disseminated today. Steve Earle, Gil Scott-Herrin,
and surprisingly 94 Year old Pete Seeger are offering interesting new pieces to reflect today's political climate. Some like Billy Bragg and David Rovics. I'm sure there are many songs coming from the Mid-East, South and Central America. I bet there are followers of Victor Jara, there. I'd also like to know more of contemporary political songs. I'm writing some myself. The Islands, Trinidad, Barbados, etc. have a rich tradition of contemporary political songs.

Please let us know when you find some.

Subject: RE: The political songs of today?
From: GUEST,c.g.
Date: 01 Oct 13 - 08:48 AM

Alun Parry from Liverpool http://parrysongs.co.uk/go/

Subject: RE: The political songs of today?
From: GUEST,Allan Conn
Date: 01 Oct 13 - 07:16 AM

Kieran Halpin has various political songs. One example is Letter To America. This was filmed at my club.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5Bp3_HAYeg


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Subject: RE: The political songs of today?
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 01 Oct 13 - 07:06 AM

Not sure what happened to the second link, for Fred the Shred

so I'm trying again...

Kitty

Subject: RE: The political songs of today?
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 01 Oct 13 - 06:57 AM

I could refer you to Paul Openshaw (now based in Dorset) and http://paulopenshaw.com/fred-the-shred.html. He's had a go at modern farming methods too, with I can't not believe it's not butter ....

Kitty