The Illusion of Free will

I have always found it fascinating how a single frame picture can capture what wise men have burrowed through tomes to bring forth…the power of the picture, the power of pure imagery…

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History’s satirical echo

Marx once famously said that “history repeats itself…first as a tragedy and then as a farce”

Here then is a song that uncannily sings about the economic fall that we see around us today and all the black comedy associated with it.

The song is “I am changing my name to Chrysler”, a biting satire on the farce that is “free-market”, a term beloved to those who unquestioningly embrace capitalism in all its forms. The song is sung by Arlo Guthrie, son of Woody Guthrie along with Pete Seeger (lyrics by Tom Paxton) – the best people undoubtedly to sing a song which with its simple lyrics tears apart capitalist gospel.

 

The song is about half a century old yet what it talks about is uncannily familiar to us – right from corporate behemoths running around with a begging bowl to AIG giving bonuses from the people’s money and the ones losing out in it all – you and me.

It’s a must hear not only for its timelessness or for its humorous, black satire but most importantly, because its an example of a song that is visual in its lyrics and was not made for the purpose of selling maximum copies. Its a throwback to times when songs were much closer to people and the lives they led rather than being beholden to marketing objectives.

But if for nothing else, hear it for the humour…it is sure to bring a smile, especially the last paragraph

You can download the song from here or from here

and here are the lyrics to the song…

Enjoy song activism at its best…

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We were the world!!!

This was a poem i found in MAD...and i just had to put it up on the blog...moreso since this is something that is close to my heart...

It has parallels in India as in other countries as well (like France with its student riots of 1968); when youth rose up like a huge wind of hope and as years passed and very small gains made, settled down into a life of compromise and craving for the very things they fought against once...

Satire is the perhaps the best way to express anger. Maybe it is the most mature expression of protest, not to say, the most delightful.

Now I leave you in the hands of MAD

 

"Ever wondered what became of the tens of thousands of screaming rock fanatics who were part of

WOODSTOCK 1969?

Well, for one thing, they're a lot older! For another,they're now part of that large group of Americans called Yuppies (Young Urban Professionals)! What's it like when flower children and protestors turn into high-tech, tie-wearing, church-going,money making achievers? Lets hear from the Yuppies themselves as MAD presents...

WOODSTOCK REVISITED

There was a time...that we barely can recall

When we flipped out at the great Wood-stock Fair;

Though you're sure to won-der

When you look at us today,

If...we...were...real-ly...ev-er...there.

Those days are gone...and we've found a brand new cause;

Now its big bucks that we groove, ye-sir-ee!

With our wives we're talk-in'

Stocks and bonds and pension plans -

What's...more-we...dig...the ...G...O...P

WE WERE THE WORLD!

We were the children!

We were the ones...who told off cops

and crooked pol-i-ti-cians;

But those kicks...we...got...then

Are nothin' like the thrill

We get...from braggin' what we paid

for our Seville

Once we'd turn on, and get mellow from the high,

But the glow is for-got-ten and gone;

Today...we turn on...whatever's on TV;

Ain't no grass - ex-cept...what's...on...our...lawns

WE WERE THE WORLD!

We were the voices!

We were the ones..who burned the flag

and led a rev-o-lu-tion;

"Filthy punks" they called us;

It suited us just fine

But now...we're suited by Bill Glass

and Calvin Klein

Once our hair was long, and blowin' free and wild

Now we pay thir-ty bucks to have it set and styled,

Hell, hell, hell - once we used to march...go stormin'

down the street

Now "The...Establishment" real neat!

Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!

WE WERE THE WORLD!

We were the spirit!

we were the oes...who screamed for "Peace"

and hollered, "Screw the System!"

All the dreams we fought for -

They never came about,

Be-cause...some-where along the line

We all sold out.

 

Delightful!!!

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