Seemingly political lyrics that actually aren't.

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I remember back when "Keep the Faith" by Bon Jovi was a hit, I used to wonder about this part of the lyrics:

"Walking in the footsteps
Of society's lies
I don't like what I see no more
Sometimes I wish that I was blind
Sometimes I wait forever
To stand out in the rain
So no one sees me cryin'
Trying to wash away the pain"

It seems like it's supposed be a political statement, but I'm not sure what it's about. Jon Bon Jovi doesn't like the "society's lies", but he never clearly articulates what these "lies" actually are; all he says is we got to "keep the faith". Faith in what, Mr. Bongiovi?

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 13:18 (twenty-one years ago)

I don't need no civil wa-aow-ar

― Enrique (Enrique), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 13:26 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeah, that's a good choice.

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 13:28 (twenty-one years ago)

I do hate those lyrics that utilise poltical situations as metaphors for the writer's personal life,...always so cack-handed. What are we supposed to think, 'mmmm, yes, it's so true, so true'.
The worst one i can think of right now is a couple of songs on Pink Floyd's 'The Division Bell' - execrable. Gave it away long ago, so can't give you the examples.
Even Joni uses it on 'Blue Motel Room', which i love in spite of.

― pete s, Wednesday, 10 December 2003 13:31 (twenty-one years ago)

The Dream Academy's "Life In A Northern Town" (in the UK 1985 context, that is) owns this thread.

― robin carmody (robin carmody), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 13:56 (twenty-one years ago)

"Fight For Your Right", also known as "(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party)"

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 14:34 (twenty-one years ago)

Right on, that was clearly meant to be taken seriously.

How about: seemingly non-political lyrics which actually are as alt.thread?

― Enrique (Enrique), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 14:37 (twenty-one years ago)

Pride (In the Name of Love)

― Michael Patrick Brady (Michael Patrick Brady), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 14:48 (twenty-one years ago)

REM, "Bad Day."

― Josh in Chicago (Josh in Chicago), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 15:04 (twenty-one years ago)

This thread reminds me a local band here in NYC named the Casualties. They date back to around 1990, or so, but they're the sort of retro-Punks who refuse to let go of the golden age when GBH/the Exploited/Blitz/Discharge/Crass/Varukers etc. still roamed the musical terrain, dying their `hawks bright purple and gobbing at people up and down the King's Road (the Casualties' first record was fitting titled Die Hards). In any event, they dress like bizarro-world rodeo clowns, complete with the requisite foot long neon spikes sprouting off their heads, tartan bondage trousers and spike-speckled leather jackets, all slathered with punky slogans-a-go-go. That's all fine and good and makes me smile nostalgically and all, but some of their song titles include "City Council," "Political Sin," "Politicians," and "American Justice" (alongside the entirely predictable "Kill the Hippies," "Bored and Glued" and, of course, "Kill Everyone"). What bugs me about this is that these guys *COULDN'T POSSIBLY BE LESS INFORMED* about the state of the world! Making a political statement when you invariably *HAVE NO FREAKIN' IDEA* who the hell is actually in office renders you a complete and utter moron bereft of any possible credibility whatsoever. They probably don't even pay any goddamn taxes, yet they continue to lope about yackin' about the oppression of government and society while what fuck do they know actually about it (or anything outside of getting trashed on malt liquor and panhandling on St.Mark's Place)? I don't mind them singing "Police Brutality" or "Unemployed," because these are things they probably DO know about (although both dilemnas are wilfully brought upon themselves by themselves).

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 15:58 (twenty-one years ago)

Re-Flex: The Politics Of Dancing

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 19:57 (twenty-one years ago)

Neutron Dance - Pointer Sisters

― Huckleberry Mann (Horace Mann), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 19:58 (twenty-one years ago)

What bugs me about this is that these guys *COULDN'T POSSIBLY BE LESS INFORMED* about the state of the world! Making a political statement when you invariably *HAVE NO FREAKIN' IDEA* who the hell is actually in office renders you a complete and utter moron bereft of any possible credibility whatsoever.

future Nader voters, i see!

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 20:02 (twenty-one years ago)

Elvis Costello's 'Armed Forces' album owns this thread.

― Curt (cgould), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 20:54 (twenty-one years ago)

you think "Oliver's Army" isn't political?

― robin carmody (robin carmody), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 21:50 (twenty-one years ago)

Good catch. I was referring more to Costello's supposed intent to write songs that use politics as a metaphor for personal relations, as described by the album's working title of 'Emotional Fascism'. I don't think he really carried through on it, except for a line here and there (esp. "Little Hitler"?). It's probably just as well, given how he could exhaust a metaphor.

― Curt (cgould), Wednesday, 10 December 2003 22:20 (twenty-one years ago)

'Independence Day' by t'Comsat Angels (although intentional, transparent metaphor possibly doesn't count as being 'seemingly political')

'Shot By Both Sides', based on something I vaguely recall Devoto saying in an interview for the Guardian or some shit; it was years later and he might just've been being all 'ooh look how multi-faceted this song is when you Really Think About It')

I can't even remember the lyrics to 'Nonalignment Pact', what about that?

― Flex Kavannah (Ferg), Thursday, 11 December 2003 00:44 (twenty-one years ago)

Fleetwood Mac's recent single "Peacemaker" might be political but jesus christ I can't figure out what side Lindsey Buckingham is on.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Thursday, 11 December 2003 01:13 (twenty-one years ago)

"I Pity The Poor Immigrant"

― Colin Beckett (Colin Beckett), Thursday, 11 December 2003 01:59 (twenty-one years ago)

Bob Dylan's entire catalogue, to hear him tell it sometimes.

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Thursday, 11 December 2003 02:01 (twenty-one years ago)

two years pass...

Ace of Base: "Happy Nation"

Laudate omnes gentes laudate
magnificat in secula
et anima mea laudate
magnificat in secula

[Translated:
praise, all people praise
the greatest in all time
and praise my soul
the greatest in all time]

Happy nation living in a happy nation
where the people understand
And dream of perfect man
situation lead to sweet salvation
For the people for the good
For mankind brotherhood

We're traveling in time

Ideas by man and only that will last
And over time we've learned from the past
That no man's fit to rule the world alone
A man will die but not his ideas

Happy nation...

We're traveling in time
Traveling in time

Tell them we've gone too far
Tell them we've gone too far
Happy nation come through
And I will dance with you
Happy nation

Happy nation...

What the hell is this supposed to be about?

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Thursday, 19 October 2006 07:17 (eighteen years ago)

It's time we collectively face the fact that most Fugazi lyrics, which at first blush have the aura of a political statement, are so vague as to be essentially unintelligible most of the time, and only rarely rise to level of a political "feeling", as in the Argument's "Cashout", which MAY be about housing issues, but who actually knows. They've been around since 1987, and I have no clue what they're on about.

― mat maiellro (chelvis), Thursday, 19 October 2006 07:29 (eighteen years ago)

There's another thread with a similar title/theme that gets into Fugazi.

― Tiki Theater Xymposium (Bent Over at the Arclight), Thursday, 19 October 2006 07:58 (eighteen years ago)

You could argue that personal issues, especially relationships, tie into politics...I've seen some critics do that, but it was a long time ago.

― You must be JOking! (section241), Thursday, 19 October 2006 08:48 (eighteen years ago)

Once upon a time
Not so long ago
Tommy used to work on the docks
Unions been on strike
Hes down on his luck...its tough, so tough
Gina works the diner all day
Working for her man, she brings home her pay
For love - for love
She says weve got to hold on to what weve got
cause it doesnt make a difference
If we make it or not
Weve got each other and thats a lot
For love - well give it a shot

Chorus:
Whooah, were half way there
Livin on a prayer
Take my hand and well make it - I swear
Livin on a prayer

― You must be JOking! (section241), Thursday, 19 October 2006 08:50 (eighteen years ago)

I have no clue what they're on about

How dare they? Why not write them a letter and complain?

― James Herbert Dip (noodle vague), Thursday, 19 October 2006 08:51 (eighteen years ago)

I think the political message in Living on a Prayer is rather clear: Bon Jovi suggests Christianity as a solution to the problems of the working class. Opiate for the masses, right?

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Thursday, 19 October 2006 09:26 (eighteen years ago)

two years pass...

That song isn't about Christianity at all. It's about their faith in each other. The "prayer" is just a metaphorical phrase meaning nothing as in we aren't living on anything at all, just wisps of breath fading into the air. " It doesn't make a difference if we make it or not" is one of the most cynical and hopeless lyrics in the history of 1986-1987. This flies in the face of his later assertion ""I wrote that song during the Reagan era and the trickle-down economics are really inspirational to writing songs...." - Jon Bon Jovi"

When Bon Jovi's spiritual forefather revisited these themes 20 year later for "Working on a Dream", his Dream unlike their prayer is based upon a concrete plan of action and seeks a way forward.

"Bad Medicine" on the other hand is about the Navajo.

― james k polk, Wednesday, 24 June 2009 06:20 (sixteen years ago)

There’s A Place In Your Heart
And I Know That It Is Love
And This Place Could Be Much
Brighter Than Tomorrow
And If You Really Try
You’ll Find There’s No Need To Cry
In This Place You’ll Feel
There’s No Hurt Or Sorrow

There Are Ways To Get There
If You Care Enough For The Living
Make A Little Space
Make A Better Place…

Heal The World
Make It A Better Place
For You And For Me
And The Entire Human Race
There Are People Dying
If You Care Enough
For The Living
Make A Better Place
For You And For Me

If You Want To Know Why
There’s A Love That Cannot Lie
Love Is Strong
It Only Cares For Joyful Giving
If We Try
We Shall See In This Bliss
We Cannot Feel Fear Or Dread
We Stop Existing And Start Living

Then It Feels That Always
Love’s Enough For Us Growing
So Make A Better World
Make A Better World…

Heal The World
Make It A Better Place
For You And For Me
And The Entire Human Race
There Are People Dying
If You Care Enough For The Living
Make A Better Place
For You And For Me

And The Dream We Were Conceived In
Will Reveal A Joyful Face
And The World We Once Believed In
Will Shine Again In Grace
Then Why Do We Keep
Strangling Life
Wound This Earth
Crucify Its Soul
Though It’s Plain To See
This World Is Heavenly
Be God’s Glow

We Could Fly So High
Let Our Spirits Never Die
In My Heart
I Feel You Are All My Brothers
Create A World With No Fear
Together We’ll Cry Happy Tears
See The Nations Turn Their Swords
Into Plowshares

We Could Really Get There
If You Cared Enough
For The Living
Make A Little Space
To Make A Better Place…

Heal The World
Make It A Better Place
For You And For Me
And The Entire Human Race
There Are People Dying
If You Care Enough
For The Living
Make A Better Place
For You And For Me

There Are People Dying
If You Care Enough
For The Living
Make A Better Place
For You And For Me

You And For Me

― Geir Hongro, Wednesday, 24 June 2009 07:33 (sixteen years ago)

Batman.

Batman?

Batman.

Batman? Batman?

Batman.

Nah, nah, nah, nah. Nah, nah, nah, nah.
Nah, nah, nah, nah. Nah, nah, nah, nah.

Nah!

Batman.

― Mark G, Wednesday, 24 June 2009 07:46 (sixteen years ago)

I love how Standing in the way of Control is meant to be about gay marriage.

― Wax Cat, Wednesday, 24 June 2009 07:49 (sixteen years ago)

I hate this whole "I'm so adult" posturing, it was common in the eighties. Partly because I wasn't an adult, but also my parents would be bored to tears with that crap. If you need to use music to feel "more adult" (less socially engaged), perhaps you are hiding an inner immaturity.

― I DIED (u s steel), Wednesday, 24 June 2009 12:46 (sixteen years ago)

I mean, if you can't deal with kids / teens in your audience, how mature are you?

― I DIED (u s steel), Wednesday, 24 June 2009 12:47 (sixteen years ago)

What about Merle Haggard's "Okie From Muskogee"? Taken approvingly by many as a jingoist/reactionary anthem, but supposedly written as a gently mocking character study.

― Josefa, Wednesday, 24 June 2009 15:57 (sixteen years ago)

Merle's explanation is somewhat compromised by the follow-up single, The Fightin' Side of Me, in which he's all out to wallop hippies.

― Dorian (Dorianlynskey), Wednesday, 24 June 2009 16:22 (sixteen years ago)

Yeah, I did think there was something suspect about Merle's ex post facto explanation.

― Josefa, Wednesday, 24 June 2009 22:32 (sixteen years ago)

"(You've Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party"

― Geir Hongro, Wednesday, 24 June 2009 22:51 (sixteen years ago)

"Fight For Your Right", also known as "(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party)"

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Wednesday, December 10, 2003 2:34 PM (5 years ago) Bookmark

joke even funnier the second time around

― Suckanoosik Chamber of Commerce (Shakey Mo Collier), Wednesday, 24 June 2009 22:54 (sixteen years ago)

hmmmm fugazi seem to be pretty explicit and clear about their politics from what i can tell. but perhaps it's just me going that extra level and giving them false meaning.

― Charlie Howard, Thursday, 25 June 2009 05:39 (sixteen years ago)

Ultimate favourite is 'Eve of Destruction' -- total pastiche of a protest song that ultimately boils down to basically nothing except 'peace', vaguely. I love that song!

― sleepy, Thursday, 25 June 2009 09:49 (sixteen years ago)

You ever hear that answer song, "Dawn of Correction" ?

― Mark G, Thursday, 25 June 2009 09:52 (sixteen years ago)

"Sunday, Bloody Sunday" <--------- what a load of shoite

― Then in walked Barbara Castle with the Lady Eleanor (Tom D.), Thursday, 25 June 2009 09:54 (sixteen years ago)

I looked up the lyrics to 'Dawn of Correction'-- very funny. But there's just no way you could improve on 'my blood’s so mad feels like coagulatin’/ I’m sitting here just contemplatin'.'

― sleepy, Thursday, 25 June 2009 10:01 (sixteen years ago)

total pastiche of a protest song that ultimately boils down to basically nothing except 'peace', vaguely.

Don't see what makes it a pastiche tbh.

― Stobby Buld (Noodle Vague), Thursday, 25 June 2009 10:02 (sixteen years ago)

My favourite lyric from Dawn of Correction is "You missed all the good in your evaluation/What about the things that deserve commendation?", which I imagine being sung by Jemaine from Flight of the Conchords.

― Dorian (Dorianlynskey), Thursday, 25 June 2009 10:36 (sixteen years ago)

nine years pass...

^had no idea there was an answer song to Eve until I read this

― fuck the NRA (Neanderthal), Thursday, 12 July 2018 15:01 (seven years ago)

Dawn of Correction: wow a conservative song praising the efforts of the UN.

― Mungolian Jerryset (bendy), Thursday, 12 July 2018 15:10 (seven years ago)

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