Just for fun! What should Bernie's Campaign Song be?

[sabrina 1]

Last edited Wed May 6, 2015, 02:41 PM - Edit history (1)

Here are a few from past elections:

Editing to include Pete Seeger's 'Which Side Are you On'

10 Great Campaign Songs

Bill Clinton's was Fleetwood Mac's: 'Don't Stop Thinkin' about Tomorrow'

I kind of like 'High Hopes' for Bernie:

Just what makes that little old ant
Think he'll move that rubber tree plant
Anyone knows an ant, can't
Move a rubber tree plant

But he's got high hopes
He's got high hopes
He's got high apple pie
In the sky hopes

So any time your gettin' low
'Stead of lettin' go
Just remember that ant
Oops, there goes another rubber tree plant
Oops, there goes another rubber tree plant
Oops, there goes another rubber tree plant

When troubles call
And your back's to the wall
There a lot to be learned
That wall could fall

Once there was a silly old ram
Thought he'd punch a hole in a dam
No one could make that ram, scram
He kept buttin' that dam

'Cause he had high hopes
He had high hopes
He had high apple pie
In the sky hopes

So any time your feelin' bad
'Stead of feelin' sad
Just remember that ram
Oops, there goes a billion kilowatt dam
Oops, there goes a billion kilowatt dam
Oops, there goes a billion kilowatt dam

All problems just a toy balloon
They'll be bursted soon
They're just bound to go pop
Oops, there goes another problem kerplop
Oops, there goes another problem kerplop
Oops, there goes another problem kerplop, kerplop

Read more at http://www.songlyrics.com/frank-sinatra/high-hopes-lyrics/#6VGx1qbLxmqAOohA.99

Oops, just saw that JFK used High Hopes.

So, I guess that takes care of that.

What would you suggest for Bernie's Campaign Song.

[NYC_SKP]

1. I still like "High Hopes". Also, "This Land is Your Land" and "Rainbow Connection"!

[sabrina 1]

2. I like that song too, 'Rainbow Connection'

Could he use JFK's song though? Maybe he needs his own.

[NYC_SKP]

4. I like "Sixteen Tons". Here's a list of ten from the Nation:

http://www.thenation.com/blog/163148/top-ten-labor-day-songs

Here's a different list of 20 from The Pessimist: http://thepessimist.com/2013/02/11/the-20-greatest-songs-about-work/

[sabrina 1]

12. I like that 'Sixteen Tons and What do you get, another day older and deeper in debt'

I am going to have to listen to all of them later, can't slack off anymore today.

Thank you SO much for these links!

[deutsey]

3. Lennon's "Working Class Hero"

I know...it would never fly. But it was the first song that came to mind.

[sabrina 1]

14. Lol, just looked at the lyrics, it's a great song, but you're right, it wouldn't fly,too bad though!

Doesn't mean we can't sing it at rallies etc!

[Gregorian]

5. My choice would be:

[sabrina 1]

9. That's a good one. And we can!! Good song!

[Hiraeth]

17. good one and another good one by Sly for Bernie's campaign: Everyday People

[sabrina 1]

32. That's a great one. Great lyrics too!

Sometimes I'm right and I can be wrong
My own beliefs are in my song
The butcher, the banker, the drummer and then
Makes no difference what group I'm in
I am everyday people, yeah yeah
There is a blue one who can't accept the green one
For living with a fat one trying to be a skinny one
And different strokes for different folks
And so on and so on and scooby dooby doo-bee
Oh sha sha - we got to live together
I am no better and neither are you
We are the same whatever we do
You love me you hate me you know me and then
You can't figure out the bag l'm in
I am everyday people, yeah yeah
There is a long hair that doesn't like the short hair
For bein' such a rich one that will not help the poor one
And different strokes for different folks
And so on and so on and scooby dooby doo-bee
Oh sha sha-we got to live together
There is a yellow one that won't accept the black one
That won't accept the red one that won't accept the white one
And different strokes for different folks

[Hiraeth]

33. Thanks. I really like it, too. It is upbeat and should resonate with the 99%.

We are everyday people.

[Proud Public Servant]

6. This Land is Your Land

How is this even a question?

[sabrina 1]

8. True, or how about 'Which Side are you on'!

Here's Bernie being interviewed about his brief career as a Folk Singer, which he says was a total failure and we don't want to hear him sing! He does a little dance step in the video though

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/bernie-sanders-folk-dancing-video/story?id=30700370

[cascadiance]

23. Bring Billy Bragg along to sing this song along with others of Woody Guthrie

Which he's done a lot in his works...

"Which Side are You on?"

"All You Fascists" (also the theme song of the Majority Report with Sam Seder and Janeane Garafalo)

"There is Power In A Union"

"Internationale"

"Between the Wars"

[sabrina 1]

38. Those are great, I like his version of the Internationale.

Global Unions may be needed if the TPP passes. That will be the final blow of the Globalists against the world's workers.

[MissDeeds]

13. +1

That would be my choice. Wonder if it's been used before...

[VideoGameVet]

7. I think this would work

[sabrina 1]

11. Another good one. Lyrics, especially the chorus are great:

I've paid my dues
Time after time
I've done my sentence
But committed no crime
And bad mistakes
I've made a few
I've had my share of sand
Kicked in my face
But I've come through

And we mean to go on and on and on and on

We are the champions - my friends
And we'll keep on fighting
Till the end
We are the champions
We are the champions
No time for losers
'Cause we are the champions of the World

I've taken my bows
And my curtain calls
You brought me fame and fortune
And everything that goes with it
I thank you all
But it's been no bed of roses
No pleasure cruise
I consider it a challenge before
The whole human race
And I ain't gonna lose

And we mean to go on and on and on and on

We are the champions - my friends
And we'll keep on fighting
Till the end
We are the champions
We are the champions
No time for losers
'Cause we are the champions of the World

We are the champions - my friends
And we'll keep on fighting
Till the end
We are the champions
We are the champions
No time for losers
'Cause we are the champions

[Maedhros]

10. Call It Democracy

[Buzz Clik]

15. The Internationale seems appropriate:

It's truly inspirational in this version:

[cascadiance]

16. Steve Earle's "Revolution Starts NOW!" and John Lennon's "Power to the People!"

This for those who miss the Occupy activism, who if today were asked to pick a leader would probably pick Bernie, despite their desires to be leaderless then...

And another could be John Lennon's "Power to the People" being played here also in Occupy Wall Street!

[deutsey]

18. Good choice with Earle's song

It ties in with Bernie saying we need a political revolution...and it's really energizing song.

Not that I don't like Lennon's Power to the People...

[sabrina 1]

37. I love that Steve Earle and the video. And OWS's original organizers have endorsed Bernie.

Remember when he was one of the first major Politicians to support OWS. I think that movement speaks for him too. Might have made him realize that they people had not been fooled, they KNEW, just didn't know what to do about it. So they Occupied Wall St.

Anyone who is a member in Vt should raise this with their local group and ask them to spread the word, we have found someone we can support. They could go back out on the streets, this time to support Bernie for President.

Great video, great music!

[nickknack]

19. Bob Dylan's ' Masters Of War'...

Last edited Wed May 6, 2015, 03:53 PM - Edit history (2)

Or...
The Strolling Scones...' Something's Happening In The Air'...
Or...Bob Dylan's...'Times,They Are A Changin'...
Or...Pete Seeger's...'This Land Is Your Land'...
Or...Barry McGuire's 'Eve Of Destruction'...
Or...'We Shall Overcome'...

Not exactly uplifting songs...But they seem appropriate...as this Mess in America reminds me so much of the 60s...Never thought I would have to live through That again...

"Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable"
John F. Kennedy

[sabrina 1]

36. Some of those would be great at rallies, or concerts for Bernie.

We should plan some of those, concerts where people get to sing songs like those.

Love all of them. And they are as relevant today as they were when they were written. Today people seem to be way more apathetic.

Music can arouse people to action. Great songs, and I can think of a few more.

[cascadiance]

20. For union worker crowds, bring Tom Morello along to sing his "Union song" which he sang in Madison!

[sabrina 1]

22. Omg, I have such a crush on Tom Morello!

Thanks for posting that.

[A-Schwarzenegger]

21. A nice sweet little lilting tune...

[sabrina 1]

35. That would be great at a rally for Bernie. And have the moderator shout at the end:

So you want the truth now? And WHO will give you the truth now?

Crowd: BERNIE!

Mod: What did you say? I didn't hear that. Let me ask that again. WHO WILL GIVE YOU THE TRUTH NOW??

Crowd: (singing) 'Bernie will give us the truth now, all we want is the truth now, all we want is the truth now ....Bernie will give us the truth now .. BERNIEEEEEEE!!

Yep, that could be fun at a rally!

[PADemD]

24. do you hear the people sing

[sabrina 1]

31. Yes, beautiful song!

[SummerSnow]

25. Do You Hear The People Sing?"--Les Miserables

Do You Hear The People Sing?"

[Enjolras:]
Do you hear the people sing?
Singing a song of angry men?
It is the music of a people
Who will not be slaves again!
When the beating of your heart
Echoes the beating of the drums
There is a life about to start
When tomorrow comes!

[Combeferre:]
Will you join in our crusade?
Who will be strong and stand with me?
Beyond the barricade
Is there a world you long to see?

[Courfeyrac:]
Then join in the fight
That will give you the right to be free!

[All:]
Do you hear the people sing?
Singing a song of angry men?
It is the music of a people
Who will not be slaves again!
When the beating of your heart
Echoes the beating of the drums
There is a life about to start
When tomorrow comes!

[Feuilly:]
Will you give all you can give
So that our banner may advance
Some will fall and some will live
Will you stand up and take your chance?
The blood of the martyrs
Will water the meadows of France!

[All:]
Do you hear the people sing?
Singing a song of angry men?
It is the music of a people
Who will not be slaves again!
When the beating of your heart
Echoes the beating of the drums
There is a life about to start
When tomorrow comes

http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/lesmiserablescast/doyouhearthepeoplesing.html

[sabrina 1]

30. I love that song!

I just listened to it! Very moving song. OWS used it airc.

[PADemD]

34. Would make the following change

From:
Will you give all you can give
So that our banner may advance
Some will fall and some will live
Will you stand up and take your chance?
The blood of the martyrs
Will water the meadows of France!


To:
Will you give all you can give
So that our campaign may advance
Some will lose and some will gain
Will you stand up and take your chance
The time that you donate
Will help our cause to advance

[janlyn]

26. Well since so many think he doesn't have a snowballs chance in hell

Gloria Gaynor- I will survive
At first I was afraid I was petrified
Thinking I couldn't live without you by my side
And I've been spending nights
Thinking how you did me wrong
And I grew strong
And I learned how to get along
And now you're back
From outer space
And I find you here with that sad look upon your face
I should have changed that stupid lock
Oh made you leave your key
If I've known for a second you'd be back to bother me
Go on now, go walk out the door
Turn around now
You're not welcome anymore
You're the one who tried to hurt me with goodbye
Do you think I'd crumble
Did you think I'd lay down and die?

No, not I, I will survive
Long as I know how to love
I know I'll stay alive
I've got all my life to live
And all my love to give and I'll survive
I, I, I will survive

[Gregorian]

27. Not too upbeat, but it has a message.

[left-of-center2012]

28. This Land Is Your Land by Woody Guthrie

The visuals of average Americans holding up signs would make a great campaign ad:

[cascadiance]

29. A while back I posted how Midnight Oil, was prescient with songs like "Beds are Burning"...

... from decades ago with some of their song themes.

Perhaps these aren't all "the theme song" for Bernie, but as noted I think one or more of these songs could be used in a rally. While perhaps noting which song everyone thinks is the best to capture the spirit of Bernie's campaign and used as his "theme", I think it is still noteworthy to keep track of all of the recommendations here that could be played together in rallies rather than just having one song over and over again. There are many pieces and many groups of people that all should be uniting to work to get him elected.

Beds are Burning (though for the native people of Australia, I think that the banksters should also "give it back" to us as well before their "beds are burning&quot . It also has a lot of sub themes for the fight on climate change too that wasn't obvious then either. Then again, the lead singer, , should probably know about this stuff as he was heading up Australia's ministry for the environment until recently. Maybe if he comes here to help someone like Bernie get elected, we can return the favor and help Australia also get back a progressive government again that they lost a few years ago.

"Beds are Burning" is really a song that we'd like to have the banksters at some point feel they have to sing, once they discover they need to be a part of America instead of trying to steal from their country and screw it.

Blue Sky Mine is also a testament on how much the fossil fuel companies have been screwing so many of us as workers and surrounding communities over the years too, as well as our planet with climate change now.

"King of the Mountain" sung in front of Exxon headquarters in New York City to do a "pre-Occupy" protest of the Exxon oil spill.

"Dead Heart" speaks to me too...

"...
We carry in our hearts the true country
And that cannot be stolen
We follow in the steps of our ancestry
And that cannot be broken

Mining companies, pastoral companies
Uranium companies
Collected companies
Got more right than people
Got more say than people
Forty thousand years can make a difference to the state
of things
The dead heart lives here"