We Need a Protest Song--Any Writers Out There?

[snot]

I just watched the clip of Conyers delivering the DSM petition signatures (here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1866112 ). There's a protest crowd yelling in typical, free-for-all fashion . . .

I realized how much more effective the footage would seem it they'd been chanting or singing some persuasive message, in a more coherent way, preferably with a "moral highground" point of view (by that I mean, I believe we are the good guys in this fight, and I'd like us to come across to others as good guys, rather than as dangerous, deranged, whatever).

E.g., the "We shall overcome" song was perfect for the black civil rights movement. We need a somewhat different tone--something more like "My eyes have seen the glory", perhaps.

But something to convey a clear message that we the people are determined to hold our government to account and to return our country to honorable courses of action.

Similarly, an earlier post brought up the need for us to develop a limited set of talking points--did that ever happen?

[Southsideirish]

1. Agreed - our protests leave much to be desired. Same old chants

and phrases. Sometimes just silence (even worse.) At least bring a pot and a spoon to bang on to get something going in rhythm.
I love the old one "Something's happening here -what it is ain't exactly clear. There's a man with a gun over there, tellin' me I got to beware..."

[medeak]

2. found this on the net

The Downing Street Memo Song

(sung to the tune of "Rawhide")

Downing, Downing, Downing
Scott McClellan's frowning
'Cause that Downing Memo won't hide

'Though Blair was re-elected
And Dubya re-selected
Neither liar's got time on his side

They think the truth can't reach 'em
But wait 'til we impeach 'em
Wait 'til they're indicted, cuffed, and tried

Blog it up, get it out
Pass it on, give a shout
This is real, there's no doubt
They lied!

Say it loud, drive it home
From Jakarta to Rome
Tell the world, spread the word
Far 'n' wide!

Don't let the mainstream media
Scare ya or impede ya
Real journalism has died

Convince your congresspeople
Wake up all the sheeple
Make 'em see what's only been implied

The GOP can't frame you
And Bob Novak can't Plame you
When you've got the whole truth on your side

Blog it up, get it out
Pass it on, give a shout
This is real, there's no doubt
They lied!

Say it loud, drive it home
From Ohio to Nome
Tell the world, spread the word
Far 'n' wide!

[markam]

3. Lets be environmental and recycle

Any of the vietnam war era songs will work perfectly well now.

[goclark]

4. We Shall Over Come IMO

Seems to work well as a plea for TRUTH and the restoration of DIGNITY when a group of people have been oppressed by a gang of uncaring and mean spirited people.

Sounds like it fits today.

[kineneb]

5. Start with Blowing in the Wind

This line keeps going through my head:
"How many time must the cannon balls fly
Before they are forever banned?"

good chant:
Hell no, We won't go
We won't fight for Texaco!
--might need a bit of an update such as:
Hell no, we won't go
We won't fight for Bush and Co!

[ElectroPrincess]

6. The Times They Are A-Changin’

THE TIMES THEY ARE A-CHANGIN’
by Bob Dylan

Come gather ’round people
Wherever you roam
And admit that the waters
Around you have grown
And accept it that soon
You’ll be drenched to the bone.
If your time to you
Is worth savin’
Then you better start swimmin’
Or you’ll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin’.

Come writers and critics
Who prophesize with your pen
And keep your eyes wide
The chance won’t come again
And don’t speak too soon
For the wheel’s still in spin
And there’s no tellin’ who
That it’s namin’.
For the loser now
Will be later to win
For the times they are a-changin’.

Come senators, congressmen
Please heed the call
Don’t stand in the doorway
Don’t block up the hall
For he that gets hurt
Will be he who has stalled
There’s a battle outside
And it is ragin’.
It’ll soon shake your windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin’.

Come mothers and fathers
Throughout the land
And don’t criticize
What you can’t understand
Your sons and your daughters
Are beyond your command
Your old road is
Rapidly agin’.
Please get out of the new one
If you can’t lend your hand
For the times they are a-changin’.

The line it is drawn
The curse it is cast
The slow one now
Will later be fast
As the present now
Will later be past
The order is
Rapidly fadin’.
And the first one now
Will later be last
For the times they are a-changin’.