Monster (our America)

[freethefly 6]

Read iit and ask yourself if this is true about America.
I believe it is.

Words and music by John Kay, Jerry Edmonton, Nick St. Nicholas and Larry Byrom

(Monster)
Once the religious, the hunted and weary
Chasing the promise of freedom and hope
Came to this country to build a new vision
Far from the reaches of kingdom and pope
Like good Christians, some would burn the witches
Later some got slaves to gather riches

But still from near and far to seek America
They came by thousands to court the wild
And she just patiently smiled and bore a child
To be their spirit and guiding light

And once the ties with the crown had been broken
Westward in saddle and wagon it went
And 'til the railroad linked ocean to ocean
Many the lives which had come to an end
While we bullied, stole and bought our a homeland
We began the slaughter of the red man

But still from near and far to seek America
They came by thousands to court the wild
And she just patiently smiled and bore a child
To be their spirit and guiding light

The blue and grey they stomped it
They kicked it just like a dog
And when the war over
They stuffed it just like a hog

And though the past has it's share of injustice
Kind was the spirit in many a way
But it's protectors and friends have been sleeping
Now it's a monster and will not obey

(Suicide)
The spirit was freedom and justice
And it's keepers seem generous and kind
It's leaders were supposed to serve the country
But now they won't pay it no mind
'Cause the people grew fat and got lazy
And now their vote is a meaningless joke
They babble about law and order
But it's all just an echo of what they've been told
Yeah, there's a monster on the loose
It's got our heads into a noose
And it just sits there watchin'

Our cities have turned into jungles
And corruption is stranglin' the land
The police force is watching the people
And the people just can't understand
We don't know how to mind our own business
'Cause the whole worlds got to be just like us
Now we are fighting a war over there
No matter who's the winner
We can't pay the cost
'Cause there's a monster on the loose
It's got our heads into a noose
And it just sits there watching

(America)
America where are you now?
Don't you care about your sons and daughters?
Don't you know we need you now
We can't fight alone against the monster

"...And once you're gone, you can't come back
When you're out of the blue and into the black."
Neil Young

[Gene03 0]

Performed by "Steppenwolf". One of my favorite songs from the 70's

“The only fool bigger than the person who knows it all is the person who argues with him.

Stanislaw Jerzy Lec quotes (Polish writer, poet and satirist 1906-1966)

[freethefly 6]

Steppenwolf Monster album is one of my favorites. I bought it in 71. The album came out in 1970. I had it on the turntable this morning and the words to this song discribes exactly what the US has become. Police watching the people, a government that does not care and fat, lazy people who sit scratching their heads as their rights are slowly eroding away, your vote means nothing, government and corporate corruption and war that is aimed at making the rest of the world just like the US. America has become a monster. John Kay may be legally blind but he does have great insight.

"...And once you're gone, you can't come back
When you're out of the blue and into the black."
Neil Young

[greybeard 0]

The more things change, the more they seem to stay the same.

The human condition, or more specifically the American condition, does seem to lack any skill to link historic reference or reverence to our collective thoughts.

Every "new" experience is 'Knee-jerk' reacted to as if yesturday never happened.

Wouldn't you wish our village, damn big'un tho it is, would be less reactive and more pensive sometimes?

[freethefly 6]

Quote

Wouldn't you wish our village, damn big'un tho it is, would be less reactive and more pensive sometimes?

Too many lack the ability of deep thought. So many have become robotic and without mind do as they are told without question. When the blade falls most do not even have an idea why.

"...And once you're gone, you can't come back
When you're out of the blue and into the black."
Neil Young

[skydyvr 0]

Quote

Read iit and ask yourself if this is true about America.
I believe it is.

The song describes the US in as negative a light as possible, but sure as hell doesn't reflect today's complete picture by any means.

It sounds like the rest of the whiners and crybabies of the nation who do their best to tear down what we have rather than get out there and do something positive to improve things.

. . =(_8^(1)

[freethefly 6]

So, you much rather close your eyes to all that is wrong and bow down and worship the very government that wish to restrict. I myself rather expose the puss that is festering and wash it away. My rights and yours are dangerously on the edge and only a slight wind will topple them into the abyss. Once gone, say so long, as they will never return. There are many like myself who will never bow to the government. I dispise what this country is becoming. I dispise a government that wish to know what I am up to. It is not their right to know me. I am an individual who loves freedom and will not sacrafice that freedom for what little security a rogue government can provide. Someday another revolution will occur in this country. When? I do not know, but let the past be an indication that eventually people do and will rise up against the government when they can no longer be themselves.

"...And once you're gone, you can't come back
When you're out of the blue and into the black."
Neil Young

[pajarito 0]

I agree. Whiners suck!

[greybeard 0]

What exacatly is ment by your comment to go out and do something positive. I sense that you may be a lemming following the crowd without any individual thoughts.

What have you gone out and done recently. Enlisted? Voted? Protested? Protested protesters?

Commenting here is doing something positive! Reflecting and discussing relevence.

Dissent may sound negative to you. Much too complicated to address. It's the American way!

[GrendelKhan 0]

Here's some RATM lyrics from a song that came out in 97 or 98. Maybe not as good as the old school Steppenwolf, but its a different generations take on what seems to be repeating issues.

NO SHELTER
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The main attraction - distraction
got ya number than nnumber than numb
Empty ya pockets son; they got you thinkin that
What ya need is what they sellin
Make you think that buyin is rebellin
From the theaters to malls on every shore
Tha thin line between entertainment and war
The frontline is everywhere, there be no shelter here
Speilberg the nightmare works so push it far
Amistad was a whip, the truth was feathered and tarred
Memory erased, burned and scarred
Trade in ya history for a VCR

Cinema, simulated life, ill drama
Fourth Reich culture - Americana
Chained to the dream they got ya searchin for
Tha thin line between entertainment and war

There be no shelter here
Tha frontline is everywhere

Hospitals not profit full
Yet market bulls got pockets full
To advertise some hip disguise
View tha world from American eyes
Tha poor adore keep fiendin for more
Tha thin line between entertainment and war
They fix the need, develop the taste
Buy their products or get laid to waste
Coca-Cola is back in the veins of Saigon
And Rambo too, he got a dope pair of Nikes on
And Godzilla pure muthafuckin filler
To keep ya eyes off the real killer

Cinema, simulated life, ill drama
Fourth Reich culture - Americana
Chained to the dream they got ya searchin for
Tha thin line between entertainment and war

American eyes, American eyes....
View the world from American eyes
Bury the past, rob us blind
And leave nothin behind

Just stare
Relive the nightmare.

Grendel Khan-The Official DZ.Com Newbie Forum Nuisance
"They sicken of the calm, that know the storm."

[greybeard 0]

I am not a whinner! I am an antagonist!

I expected more from you, son. Think.

[skydyvr 0]

Quote

So, you much rather close your eyes to all that is wrong and bow down and worship the very government that wish to restrict.

This and the rest of your post is a bunch of nonsense.

You have no idea who I am, or what I believe, and you certainly don't demonstrate comprehension of the huge political middle-ground between that which you represent (far left), and that which you rail against (far right).

FYI: there's a large mass of thinking people out there, most of whom don't belong to the very extreme ends of any political party -- that area is reserved for morons.

Don't you tell me who I kneel down and worship.

. . =(_8^(1)

[rushmc 23]

Too many lack the ability of deep thought. So many have become robotic and without mind do as they are told without question. When the blade falls most do not even have an idea why.

[freethefly 6]

Rage wrote good stuff on the condition of our society. BULLS ON PARADE

"...And once you're gone, you can't come back
When you're out of the blue and into the black."
Neil Young

[greybeard 0]

Strong and straight forward reply. Good on you.

Continue please.

How do address today's complex political situation with your daily life?

"No bragging and no complaining".

I think the thought put forward was, do you reconize the current past as having any relevence to todays currency, (tommorrow's past).

[skydyvr 0]

Quote

Continue please.

Honestly, I don't converse much with complete strangers who say to me "I sense that you may be a lemming following the crowd without any individual thoughts". There's nothing I can say to that.

. . =(_8^(1)

[freethefly 6]

Quote

You have no idea who I am

Not once did I claim to know you


Don't you tell me who I kneel down and worship.

Quote

I never once said whom it is you kneel to and worship. Read it again as I only asked if you rather close your eyes to what is wrong. Your reply was extremely defensive and on one level a personal attack.

***...the very extreme ends of any political party -- that area is reserved for morons.

This statement implies that the founding fathers were morons as they were considered to be extreme.

Maybe, I am a throwback from the sixties and seventies as I still believe that this country can and should strive for less government and more personal freedom. You're free to call me and others morons, but why so defensive when I did not attack you?

"...And once you're gone, you can't come back
When you're out of the blue and into the black."
Neil Young

[skydyvr 0]

Quote

Read it again as I only asked if you rather close your eyes to what is wrong. Your reply was extremely defensive and on one level a personal attack.

I saw no question marks in your question, but anyway . . .

Nothing personal, but I do believe political extremists are generally lesser thinkers than their moderate counterparts. The smartest people I know have a mixed, balanced set of belief systems.

. . =(_8^(1)

[Lindsey 0]

You can find all that is wrong and fight to get rid of it.

You can find all that is right and try to strengthen it.

I think at any given time we have some of both. Because someone isn't fighting against what is wrong doesn't mean they're doing nothing.

Peace~
linz

--
A conservative is just a liberal who's been mugged. A liberal is just a conservative who's been to jail

[peacefuljeffrey 0]

Quote

Quote

Read iit and ask yourself if this is true about America.
I believe it is.

The song describes the US in as negative a light as possible, but sure as hell doesn't reflect today's complete picture by any means.

It also fails to note that many of the things that it condemns the U.S. for doing are done in many other countries, and sometimes to far worse degree.

For example, is the U.S. the only country in the world to have slavery? Nope. And ours was abolished 150 or so years ago. There are countries that have it going on NOW.

Amazing that GENOCIDE is still going on in countries around the world -- countries are still ruled, in poverty, by ACTUAL DICTATORS -- and people berate the U.S., and call Bush a "dictator." Way to cheapen the word's meaning.

-

-Jeffrey
"With tha thoughts of a militant mind... Hard line, hard line after hard line!"

[akarunway 1]

from my other thead
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Be nice if the civilians could have a few when it's time to overthrow the U.S Govt.

I hold it true, whate'er befall;
I feel it, when I sorrow most;
'Tis better to have loved and lost
Than never to have loved at all.

[pajarito 0]

Quote

I am not a whinner! I am an antagonist!

I expected more from you, son. Think.

Son?....

[jakee 1,489]

Quote

It also fails to note that many of the things that it condemns the U.S. for doing are done in many other countries, and sometimes to far worse degree.

So?

If you had secret police investigating you would it be OK as long as they're not as bad as the ones in China?

I'm not going to make any judgement against the US but that argument 'it's ok if we're unjust because because other countries are worse which makes us good' is just odd.

Do you want to have an ideagasm?

[rehmwa 2]

Quote

Nothing personal, but I do believe political extremists are generally lesser thinkers than their moderate counterparts. The smartest people I know have a mixed, balanced set of belief systems.

This is really nicely stated. Extremists (in our country) do tend to not really think, only react to their 'guts'.

Every song with a political bent I've heard was just a bunch of clap designed to ellicit an emotional response, not really think. Shallow script from one extreme or the other. Certainly that's what music is designed to do - ellicit an emotional response - so if we recognize that, then the song can be enjoyed without putting too much into it.

Political songs are no better than politicians giving speeches, only with crappy writing, some rhyming, and incessant repetition of nonsense. So again, it's good to enjoy it for the response it brings, but to take it seriously is nonsense - positions should be based on strong thinking and assessment, not emotive response.

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[freethefly 6]

Quote

You can find all that is wrong and fight to get rid of it.

You can find all that is right and try to strengthen it.

I think at any given time we have some of both. Because someone isn't fighting against what is wrong doesn't mean they're doing nothing.

Peace~
linz

Linz, pretty much hit the nail on the head. My view is that this is what the song is about. Throughout our history there has been an enormous amount of injustice and the people recognized it and remedied the problem to make the US a greater nation that the world can see that all is not lost. The people have the right to rebel against the government if the government lose sight and waver from the path. I admire those who stand up and tell the powers that be where to shove it. That takes determination and a lot of guts as by doing so you open yourself up to investigation and to the critics. This happened to those who went against Joseph McCarthy. They were labeled as "commies" and many lost everything. Imagine how today would be if McCarthy was not exposed as a tyrannical nut. There is so much talk about spying on the people and that it is needed to find the bad guys. Well, in order to find the bad, you have to go down the entire list. Maybe that white middle class family down the street with 2.2 kids and a dog in the yard are part of a terrorist network. How will you ever know unless you look at everyone. What is the cost in order to expose them? The cost is being scrutinized yourself. So, you are not a terrorist, you have nothing to worry about if the government picks your life apart in order to learn you are not. Would you want to be under the light for them to be able to move on to the next person and pick them apart? I wouldn't and I don't. I have skeletons in my closet, just like you and you and you. We all do. I do not want the government going through my closet. I do not want them in my house, period. I do not want a return to the McCarthy era. I am not willing to give up my privacy in the name of "national security". Are you?

"...And once you're gone, you can't come back
When you're out of the blue and into the black."
Neil Young