(PZ member and commenter Susan Fenyx sent this to me. It struck a chord – pun intended – and I thought readers might like her current take on things. Hopefully the tech person will get it posted under her name instead of mine. Let’s welcome someone for making the effort to contribute in a bigger way. Denis Elliott) I know this is a political website, and I’ll get there, I promise! You see, as long as I can remember, music has been a big part of my life. It runs the gamut from Gregorian Chillout (yes, it’s real), to Nine Inch Nails, and almost everything in between. I often turn to it for good or bad reasons, like after the election just passed.
So tell me, how could this song written decades ago be so appropriate now? I think this describes our current situation just about perfectly!
This is Witch Hunt, by Rush:
The night is black without a moon
The air is thick and still
The vigilantes gather on
The lonely torch lit hill
Features distorted in the flickering light
Faces are twisted and grotesque
Silent and stern in the sweltering night
Mob moves like demons possessed
Quiet in conscience, calm in their right
Confident their ways are best
Oh-oh-oh
Oh
The righteous rise with burning eyes
Of hatred and ill-will
Madmen fed on fear and lies
To beat, and burn, and kill
They say there are strangers who threaten us
Our immigrants and infidels
They say there is strangeness too dangerous
In our theatres and bookstore shelves
Those who know what’s best for us
Must rise and save us from ourselves
Quick to judge, quick to anger
Slow to understand
Ignorance and prejudice
And fear, walk hand in hand
Take a listen:
I know that “witch hunt” were two of tRumps favorite phrases. And I’m afraid this is what we are looking at from on the opposite side. But you shall not defeat us because we don’t GIVE UP. We are better than this!
POWERFUL, Susan! The lyrics bring to mind some of Bob Denver’s words. The Rush lyrics are absolutely perfect, as if they were written for this exact moment. Thanks for your contribution. Denis, good scouting!
Thank you! I appreciate the compliment! I think I’m gong to stick them all the wall next to my desk 🙂
I know it’s not a song from the US, but I can’t help thinking a new set of lyrics could be set to ‘Anarchy in the UK’, which would sum things up nicely.
(The way Johnny Rotten sang “UK” allows “USA” as an easy substitution.)
I *knew* I knew that song – and I agree!
There’s a killer on the road
His brain is squirming like a toad
Take a long holiday
Let your children play
If you give this man a ride, sweet family will die
Killer on the road
(from Riders on the Storm by The Doors)
Since as I recall he was a Trumper I hate to cite Meat Loaf but the opening of the song Bat Our Of Hell also seems appropriate – and the song does go on to express that there’s still something good to latch on to:
The sirens are screaming and the fires are howling
Way down in the valley tonight
There’s a man in the shadows with a gun in his eye
And a blade shining, oh, so bright
There’s evil in the air, there’s thunder in the sky
And a killer’s on the bloodshot streets
Oh, and down in the tunnel where the deadly are rising
Oh, I swear I saw a young boy down in the gutter
He was starting to foam in the heat
Being 79, I figured I would remember what was going on when this was released. Yup. It was Reagan’s first year in office, having defeated Jimmy Carter, at least partly “thanks” to John Anderson. Colorado Congresswoman Pat Schroeder was coining the term “Teflon President.” Since Rush was Canadian, I also point out the the Quebec Referendum in 1980 led to patriation in 1981. Also in 1980, I expect every Canadian who was then alive and still is remembers Terry Fox – not that he deserves the song – anything but – but his light would have been shining against the darkness.
Ha we known what was coming, we would not have been impressed by any of this. But e didn’t and many of us, at least in the US, were quite upset.