I hear many folks say, "Obama is the new Robert Kennedy."
I don't agree. I think Obama is the new Pete Seeger. Obama is saying, just like Pete Seeger: "this land is my land, this land is your land, this land is made for you and me." I don't understand why people are so scared of that idea. Really.
Seriously. I don't get it. Yup, it may cost us something in taxes and maybe we need to take a risk and to reach out to our fellow man. We may even have to WORK (can you believe it?) to understand each other.
Pete has dreams. He dares us to not just believe but to overcome.
What is sad or empowering, I am not sure which, is that the songs Pete sang back in the '60's about Vietnam are absolutely spot on for our situation in Iraq and the world for that matter.
If you read the lyrics without a right/left bias (difficult I know), I think you'll be amazed. Peace requires all of us to take chances. To risk everything. Freedom is more than being able to fuel our SUVs.
Namaste.
(IF YOU LOVE YOUR UNCLE SAM) BRING THEM HOME
If you love your Uncle Sam,
Bring them home, bring them home.
Support our boys in Vietnam,
Bring them home, bring them home.
It'll make our generals sad, I know,
Bring them home, bring them home.
They want to tangle with the foe,
Bring them home, bring them home.
They want to test their weaponry,
Bring them home, bring them home.
But here is their big fallacy,
Bring them home, bring them home.
I may be right, I may be wrong,
Bring them home, bring them home.
But I got a right to sing this song,
Bring them home, bring them home.
There's one thing I must confess,
Bring them home, bring them home.
I'm not really a pacifist,
Bring them home, bring them home.
If an army invaded this land of mine,
Bring them home, bring them home.
You'd find me out on the firing line,
Bring them home, bring them home.
Even if they brought their planes to bomb,
Bring them home, bring them home.
Even if they brought helicopters and napalm,
Bring them home, bring them home.
Show those generals their fallacy:
Bring them home, bring them home.
They don't have the right weaponry,
Bring them home, bring them home.
For defense you need common sense,
Bring them home, bring them home.
They don't have the right armaments,
Bring them home, bring them home.
The world needs teachers, books and schools,
Bring them home, bring them home.
And learning a few universal rules,
Bring them home, bring them home.
So if you love your Uncle Sam,
Bring them home, bring them home.
Support our boys in Vietnam,
Bring them home, bring them home.
Words and Music by Pete Seeger© 1966 Storm King Music, Inc.
1 comment:
I love Pete Seeger having first seen him in London in 1963 and since then a coupe of times in Los Angeles. I love "This land is my land." I believe it ought to be our National Anthem. I get honestly proud to bean American when I hear it.
I just want to say that the song was written by Woody Guthry. Both Pete and Woody and others like them are true American heroes unlike war criminals and their ilk who are called heroes by the right wing fascists.
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