Lyr Req: Mark Spoelstra song re riots

Subject: Lyr Req: Mark Spoelstra song re riots
From: Felipa
Date: 14 Jun 20 - 10:44 AM

I remember the tune and words of these lines, and that is all:

"your riot has gained, gained a name,
but the name is fear and it has no direction"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mark Spoelstra song re riots
From: GUEST,Starship
Date: 14 Jun 20 - 11:31 AM

Which riot was Mark singing about? What year??

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mark Spoelstra song re riots
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Jun 20 - 11:47 AM

Spoelstra obituary 2007

www.markspoelstra.net/

CD: The Songs of Mark Spoelstra

Google search on Mark Spoelstra - it may contain clues for the song lyrics.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mark Spoelstra song re riots
From: cnd
Date: 15 Jun 20 - 10:43 AM

Felipa, the song you're looking for is "Guns of Our Cities" from State of Mind, 1965.

Listen here: https://open.spotify.com/album/57qD1d8mXffr3TziCeIu3C?highlight=spotify:track:6NNBvdbLSh9whG4bSVLuSw

I can transcribe the lyrics if you'd like

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mark Spoelstra song re riots
From: cnd
Date: 15 Jun 20 - 10:44 AM

Oops, forgot to mention, the song is about the Watts Riots of Los Angeles that same year

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mark Spoelstra song re riots
From: Felipa
Date: 17 Jun 20 - 08:12 PM

cnd -I should have thought of that line, the guns of our cities, beware of your thunder, you make a lot of noise but you ain't no wonder
I haven't enrolled in spotify yet to listen, but thanks for the info.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mark Spoelstra song re riots
From: Felipa
Date: 19 Jun 20 - 04:04 PM

and yes,CND, I would like the lyrics to be added to this thread if you are able for that
though of the three songs by white men re 1960s race-related riots in US featured in Mudcat threads I think Heat of the Summer much the best.

I was able to hear a short sound sample of Spoelstra ... his singing style on this song lighter and quicker than it was in my memory.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mark Spoelstra song re riots
From: cnd
Date: 19 Jun 20 - 05:14 PM

GUNS OF OUR CITIES
(Mark Spoelstra)

I've talked to the people who issued the warning
Told you but you would not believe us
Of what's to come, this is just the beginning
Tired of waiting, too much frustration
And we don't believe in what you call non-violence
'Cause it don't get my soul satisfaction
Just wanna go, let go, let go

CHORUS:
Ah, but guns of our cities, beware of your blunder
You make a lotta noise but you ain't no wonder
Ah, ah, ah, ah
Your riot has gained; gained a name
But your name is fear and it has no direction

Ring the bell, let's burn down the cities
Show everybody a thing or two
Show them we hate and that we don't care
And show them how they don't understand it
And show them how to be a man
And meanwhile back in the jungle we tarry
Beating our drums as the pot is a-boiling
And while we dance, some carry the guns
Just looking for the chance to let go, let go

CHORUS

Load your guns, they're coming this way
War at last, hooray, hooray
We'll solve this thing, once and for all
With a riot squad at city hall
One for the money, two for the show
Three for the public and four 'cause I'm bored
Don't wanna say nothing that's never been said
Just tired of sleeping in a cold water bed

CHORUS

No, it's not funny but kind of absurd
That hate has a color and it's even a word
But it's the one thing that everyone has
If you live in a ghetto or a house with nine beds
They say that human nature has nothing but hate
You're a riot my friend and your brain is late
Slow, maybe so, but times are changing for all
But that's not enough, you gotta start a brawl

CHORUS

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mark Spoelstra song re riots
From: Felipa
Date: 20 Jun 20 - 04:14 PM

not a song I'd be comfortable with singing more than the chorus of - it goes further than expressing the futility and self-harm of riots to really belittle the rioters, and the lines about the drums and the pot boiling have racists overtones (they are primitives, not out of the jungle yet

or am I missing something? satire?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mark Spoelstra song re riots
From: cnd
Date: 20 Jun 20 - 06:04 PM

Same for me. I had at first thought the song could be sarcastic -- mocking anti-riots people -- but reading the liner notes dispels that idea.

"The riot in Los Angeles was the beginning of more to come. I've talked to those who will be in the riots tomorrow. Yet, GUNS OF OUR CITIES is critical of participants because rioting won't bring them what they want in the long run. One or a hundred riots won't give a person a job. And what better excuse could there be for a portion of the white 'community' to 'go let go.' " (link)

I think, rather than mocking African Americans for being tribal, Spoeltra is suggesting that once we burn the cities down, we'll return to a more primitive way of life, though there could be racist undertones to it. Of course, that's entirely an assumption, and I could be wrong there.