Intelligence Squad #127

5/1/06

MESSAGE IN THE MUSIC

Songs Of Protest Explode

1960's rock was famous for its protest songs. The Regan era early-and-mid 1980's spawned "political/conscious" subgenre of hip-hop. And now it is turn-of-the 21st Bushism drawing artists deeper into the world of political commentary. Unlike those earlier eras, though, this outbreak of politically-minded recordings comes from a broad spectrum of genres. In other words, Bush has proven to be a "uniter" after all: uniting the worlds of popular music against his stupidity.

Check out some excerpts:

FROM HIP-HOP

"BIN LADEN" – Immortal Technique (audio)
And if you speak about the evil that the government does
The Patriot Act'll track you to the type of your blood
They try to frame you, and say you was tryin' to sell drugs
And throw a federal indictment on niggaz to show you love

This shit is run by fake Christians, fake politicians
Look at their mansions, then look at the conditions you live in
All they talk about is terrorism on television
They tell you to listen, but they don't really tell you their mission
They funded Al-Qaeda, and now they blame the Muslim religion
Even though Bin Laden was a CIA tactician
They gave him billions of dollars, and they funded his purpose
"Fahrenheit 9/11," that's just scratchin' the surface

"CAN’T HOLD US BACK" – Public Enemy (audio)
Even if some got de-rebelized
The revolution will still not be televised
US government telling hella lies
And it’s evident when you look in this president’s devil eyes

"GEORGE BUSH DOESN'T CARE ABOUT BLACK PEOPLE" – The Legendary K.O. (audio)
(regarding Katrina)
Niggas starvin' and they dyin' of thirst
Bet he had to go and check the refineries first
Making a killin' off the price of gas
He woulda been up in Connecticut twice as fast
After all that we been through nothin' has changed
You can call Red Cross but the fact remains that

George Bush ain't a gold digger
but he ain't fuckin' with no broke niggas
George Bush ain't a gold digger
but he ain't fuckin' with no broke niggas

FROM ROCK

"SWEET NEO-CON" – The Rolling Stones
You call yourself a Christian
I think that you're a hypocrite
You say you are a patriot
I think that you're a crock of shit

[SNIP]

It's liberty for all
'Cause democracy's our style
Unless you are against us
Then it's prison without trial

But one thing that is certain
Life is good at Haliburton
If you're really so astute
You should invest at Brown & Root.... Yeah

"LET’S IMPEACH THE PRESIDENT" – Neil Young
Let's impeach the president
For hijacking our religion and using it to get elected
Dividing our country into colors
And still leaving black people neglected

"BUSHLEAGUER" – Pearl Jam
He’s not a leader, he’s a Texas Leaguer
Swinging for the fence, got lucky with a strike
Drilling for fear, makes the job simple
Born on third, thinks he got a triple

FROM COUNTRY

"NOT READY TO MAKE NICE" – Dixie Chicks (audio)
(regarding threats following their insulting of Bush)
I'm not ready to make nice,
I'm not ready to back down,
I'm still mad as hell
And I don't have time
To go round and round and round
It's too late to make it right
I probably wouldn't if I could
Cause I'm mad as hell
Can't bring myself to do what it is
You think I should

"WHATEVER HAPPENED TO PEACE ON EARTH?" – Willie Nelson (audio)
And the bewildered herd is still believing
Everything we’ve been told from our birth
Hell they won’t lie to me
Not on my own damn TV
But how much is a liar’s word worth
And whatever happened to peace on earth

"REBUILD AMERICA FIRST" – Merle Haggard (audio)
Yeah, men in position but backing away
Freedom is stuck in reverse
Let's get out of Iraq and get back on the track
And let's rebuild America first

FROM POP

"WHERE IS THE LOVE" – Black Eyed Peas
Nations droppin' bombs
Chemical gasses fillin' lungs of little ones
With ongoin' sufferin' as the youth die young
So ask yourself is the lovin' really gone
So I could ask myself really what is goin' wrong

In this world that we livin' in people keep on givin' in
Makin' wrong decisions, only visions of them dividends
Not respectin' each other, deny thy brother
A war is goin' on but the reason's undercover
The truth is kept secret, it's swept under the rug
If you never know truth then you never know love

"DEAR MR. PRESIDENT" – Pink (audio)
How do you sleep while the rest of us cry
How do you dream when a mother has no chance to say goodbye
How do you walk with your head held high
Can you even look me in the eye

Let me tell you bout hard work
Minimum wage with a baby on the way
Let me tell you bout hard work
Rebuilding your house after the bombs took them away
Let me tell you bout hard work
Building a bed out of a cardboard box
Let me tell you bout hard work
Hard work
Hard work
You don't know nothing bout hard work

Music to our ears.