Politics/World Event's Song Lyrics

[Peter Parka]

What are the lyrics to some of your favorite songs about politics and or world events? Here's some of mine.

Simple Minds - Belfast Child

When my love said to me
Meet me down by the gallow tree
For its sad news I bring
About this old town and all that its offering
Some say troubles abound
Some day soon theyre gonna pull the old town down
One day well return here,
When the belfast child sings again

Brothers sisters where are you now
As I look for you right through the crowd
All my life here Ive spent
With my faith in God the church and the government
But theres sadness abound
Some day soon theyre gonna pull the old town down

One day well return here,
When the belfast child sings again
When the belfast child sings again

Some come back billy, wont you come on home
Come back mary, youve been away so long
The streets are empty, and your mothers gone
The girls are crying, its been oh so long
And your fathers calling, come on home
Wont you come on home, wont you come on home

Ome back people, youve been gone a while
And the war is raging, in the emerald isle
Thats flesh and blood man, thats flesh and blood
All the girls are crying but alls not lost

The streets are empty, the streets are cold
Wont you come on home, wont you come on home

The streets are empty
Life goes on

One day well return here
When the belfast child sings again
When the belfast child sings again

 

[Peter Parka]

Billy Bragg - Take down the Union Jack

Take down the Union Jack
It clashes with the sunset
And put it in the attic
With the Emperor’s old clothes
When did it fall apart ?
Sometime in the 80’s
When the good and the great
Gave way to the greedy and the mean
Britain isn’t cool you know
And it’s really not that great
It’s not a proper country
It doesn’t even have a patron saint
It’s just an economic union
That’s past its sell-by date
Take down the Union Jack
It clashes with the sunset
And ask our Scottish neighbours
If independence looks any good
‘Cos they just might understand
How to take an abstract notion
Of personal identity
And turn it into nationhood
Is this the 19th Century
That I’m watching on TV ?
The dear old Queen of England
Handing out those MBE’s
Member of the British Empire
That doesn’t sound too good to me
Gilbert and George (A pair of British modern artists whose reputation is doubtful)
Are taking the piss aren’t they ?
Gilbert and George are taking the piss
What could be more British than
"Here's a picture of me bum"
Gilbert and George are taking the piss
Take down the Union Jack
It clashes with the sunset
And pile up all those history books
But don’t throw them away
‘Cos they just might have a clue
About what it really means
To be an Anglo hyphen Saxon
In England-dot-Co-dot-UK
To be an Anglo hyphen Saxon
In England-dot-Co-dot-UK

 

[Peter Parka]

The Specials - Ghost Town

This town, is coming like a ghost town
All the clubs have been closed down
This place, is coming like a ghost town
Bands won't play no more
too much fighting on the dance floor

Do you remember the good old days
Before the ghost town?
We danced and sang,
And the music played inna de boomtown

This town, is coming like a ghost town
Why must the youth fight against themselves?
Government leaving the youth on the shelf
This place, is coming like a ghost town
No job to be found in this country
Can't go on no more
The people getting angry

This town, is coming like a ghost town
This town, is coming like a ghost town
This town, is coming like a ghost town
This town, is coming like a ghost town

 

[Peter Parka]

The Levellers - Dirty Davy

Dirty Davey's down the front
And he's met the coppers there T
hey'll be taking you in cos they hate your skin
And you're dragged away by the hair

It's a kick in the head and a prison bed
And you tell me it's the law

Well Davey's out on two weeks bail
And he's down the town to score
When it all falls in and he's pinned by the chin
And they've busted every floor

Davey's down the old grey squat
And he's lying with his lass
When there's a brick through the pane
And he's out on the lane
With the bailiffs and the glass

The court comes up on a monday morning
And Davey's in the dock
He can't stop his tears
When he gets two years
And he can't turn back the clock

Well Davey's had it up to here ...
Banging his head on the wall
So he's tied his pants to the prison bars ... A
nd he's hung till he's clear of it all

There's a law for the rich
And a law for the poor
And a law for Dirty Davey
His body's gone but his soul lives on
Here's to you Dirty Davey

Corrupt, corrupt from the bottom to the top
And you tell me it's the law

 

[Peter Parka]

Sorry to PW but I'm a bit bored right now and have some more great songs.

The Levellers - Battle of the Beanfield (about the time in the late eighties when the Police beat the shit out of the travellers for merely going to Stonehenge to celebrate the summer solstice)

I thought I heard something calling me
I've seen the pictures on TV
And I made up my mind that I'd go and see
With my own eyes

It didn't take too long to hitch a ride
With a guy going south to start a new life
Past the place where my friend died
Two years ago

Down the 303 at the end of the road
Flashing lights - exclusion zones
And it made me think it's not just the stones
That they're guarding

Hey, hey, now can't you see
There's nothing here that you can call free
They're getting their kicks
They're laughing at you and me

As the sun rose on the beanfield
They came like wolf on the fold
And no, they didn't give a warning
They took their bloody toll

I seen a pregnant woman
Lying in blood of her own
I seen her children crying
As the police tore apart their home

And no they didn't need a reason
It's what your votes condone
It seems they were committing treason
By trying to live on the road

And I say,
Hey, hey, now can't you see
There's nothing here that you can call free
They're getting their kicks
They're laughing at you and me

Hey, hey, now can't you see
There's nothing here that you can call free
They're getting their kicks
They're laughing at you and me

Bastards

Remember what you heard,

Hey, hey, now can't you see
There's nothing here that you can call free
They're getting their kicks
They're laughing at you and me

 

[tonight at noon]

" Julie " by The Levellers, Pete....I won't write out the words as I'm sure you know them well. It's a great song, that's just as much a tirade against a cold and cruel society as it is a sad and sweet documentation of a life that's falling apart....The last two lines stay with me always:

" Julie hates, she hates the world below
But Julie loves, she loves too much to know. "

 

[skyblue]

The Specials - Ghost Town

This town, is coming like a ghost town
All the clubs have been closed down
This place, is coming like a ghost town
Bands won't play no more
too much fighting on the dance floor

Do you remember the good old days
Before the ghost town?
We danced and sang,
And the music played inna de boomtown

This town, is coming like a ghost town
Why must the youth fight against themselves?
Government leaving the youth on the shelf
This place, is coming like a ghost town
No job to be found in this country
Can't go on no more
The people getting angry

This town, is coming like a ghost town
This town, is coming like a ghost town
This town, is coming like a ghost town
This town, is coming like a ghost town

was actually about coventry

 

[skyblue]

are you irish by descent peter?

 

[Peter Parka]

Well my Great Granddad was an Orangeman. Doubt he'd like to interpret himself as being Irish but yeah, I guess he actually was.

 

[Peter Parka]

" Julie " by The Levellers, Pete....I won't write out the words as I'm sure you know them well. It's a great song, that's just as much a tirade against a cold and cruel society as it is a sad and sweet documentation of a life that's falling apart....The last two lines stay with me always:

" Julie hates, she hates the world below
But Julie loves, she loves too much to know. "

Awesome song, wish they would play it live more!

 

[Maritxu]

This is a great thread
DEAR MR PRESIDENT - PINK

Dear Mr. President
Come take a walk with me
Let's pretend we're just two people and
You're not better than me
I'd like to ask you some questions if we can speak honestly

What do you feel when you see all the homeless on the street
Who do you pray for at night before you go to sleep
What do you feel when you look in the mirror
Are you proud

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
And tell me why

Dear Mr. President
Were you a lonely boy
Are you a lonely boy
Are you a lonely boy
How can you say
No child is left behind
We're not dumb and we're not blind
They're all sitting in your cells
While you pay the road to hell

What kind of father would take his own daughter's rights away
And what kind of father might hate his own daughter if she were gay
I can only imagine what the first lady has to say
You've come a long way from whiskey and cocaine

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
Hard work
Hard work
Oh

How do you sleep at night
How do you walk with your head held high
Dear Mr. President
You'd never take a walk with me

 

[Maritxu]

Any song by outlandish... few esamples:
Outlandish - Una Palabra lyrics


This ain't a story 'bout race, color or creed
It's a story 'bout hate, envy and greed
Talk about ambitions but don't want us to progress
Ya talk about assistance but all we get is the stress
U don?t really wanna see me grow
Hating on me choking on my flow
U say we rude, don't like our attitude
We crude, ain't got no gratitude
But I wasn't born to be low, I was born to rise
Wasn't born to pretend or keep my faith in disguise
Ain't got no freedom of speech
No freedom to teach - make our kids out of reach
Wanna break ties - alienated in their own land
Running riot in the streets, day by day getting out of hand
U don't want me to be an inspiration
U wanna blame me for agitation
How can u tell me 'bout participation
When all u really want is segregation

Una palabra no dice nada
Y al mismo tiempo
Lo esconde todo
Como aquel viento que esconde el agua
Como las flores que esconde el lodo

[Translation:]
One word contains nothing
And at the same time
It contains everything
Like the air contains water
Like the flowers contain the mire

Is it my religion - u keep seeing as a threat
U think it's all about - murder, violence and death
But do u care to find - find the truth
Or is it easier to keep fronting and oppressing our youth
Is this why I'm a be awestruck?
Damn these lies just make us stuck
Bow down to something greater
Nah forget that maybe later
Really must be joking, deceits and lies is all I see
Should I be your enemy or should I trust your lies
Should your treatment of my peeps make us forge them ties
Got to tell me the truth as it is
Or we'll be keeping coming back right here to this
Second class citizen in my own home
Been 30 years gone - and still no dome, still gotta stay strong
Thinking I'm thick trying to sell me this hypocrisy
Heard it before, u must be kidding me!

Wanna dictate who I marry
And even what my sis? should wear
Then prevent her from a job
Stuck on welfare - seems
To provoke and oppress us is ok - seems
Racism is cool - despite what u say
Wanna blame us for ya shortcomings
Just want a scapegoat
Still seeing us like a problem
Like we just off the boat
Guess u wanted cheap labour to build ya home

Una palabra no dice nada
Y al mismo tiempo
Lo esconde todo
Como aquel viento que esconde el agua
Como las flores que esconde el lodo

Una Mirada no dice nada
Y al mismo tiempo
Lo dice todo
Como la lluvia sobre tu cara
O el Viejo mapa de algún tesoro

[Translation:]
One word contains nothing
And at the same time
It contains everything
Like the air contains water
Like the flowers contain the mire

One look contains nothing
And at the same time
It contains everything
Like the rain on your face
Or an old map leading you to some treasure

Where the next Abu Dharr at?
Where the next Khalid Ibn Walid aka Sayf-Allah at?
Tell us how we fuel this crime
Everyday statistics, everyday media - plenty of us doing time
Why should I take the blame or shame
When I know u just looking for someone to frame
My individual freedom; abused
Redicule of my deen, my beliefs, guess I be the new jew
I've become the new ni**a of the world
Product of your society, adopted your values in their entirety
Wasn't born like this, I was made this way
U like it or not, player - I'm here to stay
We walk the same streets, breathe the same air
Add to this state, but do u even care?
Guess u gotta reciprocate
Want us to be people of faith or people of hate?
U got your deen, I got mine - okay?

 

[Maritxu]

I Only Ask Of God Lyrics by Outlandish

I only ask of God
He won't let me be indifferent to the suffering
That the very dried up death doesn't find me
Empty and without having given my everything

(Todos juntos Por Favor!)
I only ask of God
He won't let me be indifferent to the wars
It is a big monster which treads hard
On the poor innocence of people
It is a big monster which treads hard
On the poor innocence of people

People...people, people

(Yo)
I only ask of God
He won't let me be indifferent to the injustice (ohh no no no no...)
That they do not slap my other cheek
After a claw has scratched my whole body

(Todos juntos Por Favor!)
I only ask of God
He won't let me be indifferent to the wars (no no no...)
It is a big monster which treads hard
On the poor innocence of people
It is a big monster which treads hard
On the poor innocence of people

People...people...people
(Yeah... Put Your Lights On. For All My People)

(Gracias...)
Solo le pido a Dios
Que la guerra no me sea indiferente
Es un monstruo grande y pisa fuerte
Toda la pobre inocencia de la gente
Es un monstruo grande y pisa fuerte
Toda la pobre inocencia de la gente

People...people...people

 

[Maritxu]

Try Not to Cry

by Outlandish

album:

You, you’re not aware
That we’re aware
Of your despair
Don’t show your tears
To your oppressor
Don’t show your tears

CHORUS:
Try not to cry little one
You’re not alone
I’ll stand by you
Try not to cry little one
My heart is your stone
I’ll throw with you

Isam:
‘Ayn Jalut where David slew Goliath
This very same place that we be at
Passing through the sands of times
This land’s been the victim of countless crimes
From Crusaders and Mongols
to the present aggression
Then the Franks, now even a crueller oppression
If these walls could speak,
imagine what would they say

For me in this path that I walk on
there's only one way
Bullets may kill, bones may break
Still I throw stones like David before me and I say

CHORUS

You, you’re not aware
That we’re aware
Of your despair
Your nightmares will end
This I promise, I promise

CHORUS

Lenny:
No llores, no pierdas la fe
La sed la calma el que haze
Agua de la arena
Y tu que te levantas con orgullo entre las piedras
Haz hecho mares de este polvo
Don’t cry, don’t lose faith
The one who made water come out of the sand
Is the one who quenches the thirst
And you who rise proud from between the stones
Have made oceans from this dust

Waqas:
I throw stones at my eyes
’cause for way too long they’ve been dry
Plus they see what they shouldn’t from oppressed babies to thighs
I throw stones at my tongue
’cause it should really keep its peace
I throw stones at my feet
’cause they stray and lead to defeat
A couple of big ones at my heart
’cause the thing is freezing cold
But my nafs is still alive
and kicking unstoppable and on a roll
I throw bricks at the devil so I’ll be sure to hit him
But first at the man in the mirror
so I can chase out the venom

Isam:
Hmm, a little boy shot in the head
Just another kid sent out to get some bread
Not the first murder nor the last
Again and again a repetition of the past
Since the very first day same story
Young ones, old ones, some glory
How can it be, has the whole world turned blind?
Or is it just ’cause it’s only affecting my kind?!
If these walls could speak,
imagine what would they say
For me in this path that I walk on
there’s only one way
Bullets may kill, bones may break
Still I throw stones like David before me and I say

CHORUS

 

[Sparkey Duck]

Oxford Town, Bob Dylan, based on a true story, totally cutting.

Oxford town, oxford town
Evrybodys got their heads bowed down
The sun dont shine above the ground
Aint a-goin down to oxford town

He went down to oxford town
Guns and clubs followed him down
All because his face was brown
Better get away from oxford town

Oxford town around the bend
He come in to the door, he couldnt get in
All because of the color of his skin
What do you think about that, my frien?

Me and my gal, my gals son
We got met with a tear gas bomb
I dont even know why we come
Goin back where we come from

Oxford town in the afternoon
Evrybody singin a sorrowful tune
Two men died neath the mississippi moon
Somebody better investigate soon

Oxford town, oxford town
Evrybodys got their heads bowed down
The sun dont shine above the ground
Aint a-goin down to oxford town

 

[Sparkey Duck]

The Levellers - Battle of the Beanfield

I think they played that one when I went to see them.. MANY a year ago.

 

[charLIE2291]

For What It's Worth lyrics- Buffalo Springfield
There's something happening here

What it is ain't exactly clear

There's a man with a gun over there

Telling me I got to beware

I think it's time we stop, children, what's that sound

Everybody look what's going down

There's battle lines being drawn

Nobody's right if everybody's wrong

Young people speaking their minds

Getting so much resistance from behind

I think it's time we stop, hey, what's that sound

Everybody look what's going down

What a field-day for the heat

A thousand people in the street

Singing songs and carrying signs

Mostly say, hooray for our side

It's time we stop, hey, what's that sound

Everybody look what's going down

Paranoia strikes deep

Into your life it will creep

It starts when you're always afraid

You step out of line, the man come and take you away

We better stop, hey, what's that sound

Everybody look what's going down

Stop, hey, what's that sound

Everybody look what's going down

Stop, now, what's that sound

Everybody look what's going down

Stop, children, what's that sound

Everybody look what's going down

 

[boombala]

With God On Our Side by Bob Dylan

Oh my name it is nothin'
My age it means less
The country I come from
Is called the Midwest
I's taught and brought up there
The laws to abide
And that land that I live in
Has God on its side.

Oh the history books tell it
They tell it so well
The cavalries charged
The Indians fell
The cavalries charged
The Indians died
Oh the country was young
With God on its side.

Oh the Spanish-American
War had its day
And the Civil War too
Was soon laid away
And the names of the heroes
I's made to memorize
With guns in their hands
And God on their side.

Oh the First World War, boys
It closed out its fate
The reason for fighting
I never got straight
But I learned to accept it
Accept it with pride
For you don't count the dead
When God's on your side.

When the Second World War
Came to an end
We forgave the Germans
And we were friends
Though they murdered six million
In the ovens they fried
The Germans now too
Have God on their side.

I've learned to hate Russians
All through my whole life
If another war starts
It's them we must fight
To hate them and fear them
To run and to hide
And accept it all bravely
With God on my side.

But now we got weapons
Of the chemical dust
If fire them we're forced to
Then fire them we must
One push of the button
And a shot the world wide
And you never ask questions
When God's on your side.

In a many dark hour
I've been thinkin' about this
That Jesus Christ
Was betrayed by a kiss
But I can't think for you
You'll have to decide
Whether Judas Iscariot
Had God on his side.

So now as I'm leavin'
I'm weary as Hell
The confusion I'm feelin'
Ain't no tongue can tell
The words fill my head
And fall to the floor
If God's on our side
He'll stop the next war.

 

[boombala]

Masters of War by Bob Dylan

Come you masters of war
You that build all the guns
You that build the death planes
You that build the big bombs
You that hide behind walls
You that hide behind desks
I just want you to know
I can see through your masks

You that never done nothin'
But build to destroy
You play with my world
Like it's your little toy
You put a gun in my hand
And you hide from my eyes
And you turn and run farther
When the fast bullets fly

Like Judas of old
You lie and deceive
A world war can be won
You want me to believe
But I see through your eyes
And I see through your brain
Like I see through the water
That runs down my drain

You fasten the triggers
For the others to fire
Then you set back and watch
When the death count gets higher
You hide in your mansion
As young people's blood
Flows out of their bodies
And is buried in the mud

You've thrown the worst fear
That can ever be hurled
Fear to bring children
Into the world
For threatening my baby
Unborn and unnamed
You ain't worth the blood
That runs in your veins

How much do I know
To talk out of turn
You might say that I'm young
You might say I'm unlearned
But there's one thing I know
Though I'm younger than you
Even Jesus would never
Forgive what you do

Let me ask you one question
Is your money that good
Will it buy you forgiveness
Do you think that it could
I think you will find
When your death takes its toll
All the money you made
Will never buy back your soul

And I hope that you die
And your death'll come soon
I will follow your casket
In the pale afternoon
And I'll watch while you're lowered
Down to your deathbed
And I'll stand o'er your grave
'Til I'm sure that you're dead

 

[Carthage]

Toby Keith: Curtosey of the Red White and Blue

American Girls and American Guys
We’ll always stand up and salute
We’ll always recognize
When we see Old Glory Flying
There’s a lot of men dead
So we can sleep in peace at night
When we lay down our head

My daddy served in the army
Where he lost his right eye
But he flew a flag out in our yard
Until the day that he died
He wanted my mother, my brother, my sister and me
To grow up and live happy
In the land of the free.

Now this nation that I love
Has fallen under attack
A mighty sucker punch came flyin’ in
From somewhere in the back
Soon as we could see clearly
Through our big black eye
Man, we lit up your world
Like the 4th of July

Hey Uncle Sam
Put your name at the top of his list
And the Statue of Liberty
Started shakin’ her fist
And the eagle will fly
Man, it’s gonna be hell
When you hear Mother Freedom
Start ringin’ her bell
And it feels like the whole wide world is raining down on you
Brought to you Courtesy of the Red White and Blue

Justice will be served
And the battle will rage
This big dog will fight
When you rattle his cage
And you’ll be sorry that you messed with
The U.S. of A.
`Cause we`ll put a boot in your ass
It`s the American way

Hey Uncle Sam
Put your name at the top of his list
And the Statue of Liberty
Started shakin’ her fist
And the eagle will fly
Man, it’s gonna be hell
When you hear Mother Freedom
Start ringin’ her bell
And it feels like the whole wide world is raining down on you
Brought to you Courtesy of the Red White and Blue