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Hello DU! When I was in high school, I learned everything I know about politics from John Lennon, Doonesbury, and the Dead Kennedys (and NYS Sen. Pat Moynihan, lol). These sources inspired me to enjoy politics and get involved. The lyrics below were written about the punk scene during the Raygun era. While this song talks about musical factions, I see similarities to the factions here at DU (I see us at DU grouped into DLC, DNC (most here), progressive, socialist, and libertarians (not too many).
This song is helped me to remain in the Dem party. I am a progressive liberal, and I often vote in NYS on the Working Families Party Line (they always cross endorse candidates running against the endorsed conservative candidate). I decided to try to change the Dem party from the inside. I am often disappointed with the DLC, but I remain a Dem.
Are there any other DK fans out there in DU land? Holla!
Chickenshit Conformist Artist: Dead Kennedys Album: Bedtime For Democracy Year: 1986
Punk's not dead It just deserves to die When it becomes another stale cartoon A close-minded, self-centered social club Ideas don't matter, it's who you know If the music's gotten boring It's because of the people Who want everyone to sound the same Who drive bright people out Of our so-called scene 'Til all that's left Is just a meaningless fad Hardcore formulas are dogshit Change and caring are what's real Is this a state of mind Or just another label The joy and hope of an alternative Have become its own cliche A hairstyle's not a lifestyle Imagine Sid Vicious at 35 Who needs a scene Scared to love and to feel Judging everythng By loud fast rules appeal Who played last night? "I don't know, I forgot. But diving off the stage Was a lot of fun." CHORUS: So eager to please Peer pressure decrees So eager to please Peer pressure decrees
Make the same old mistakes Again and again, Chickenshit conformist Like your parents What's ripped us apart even more than drugs Are the thieves and the goddamn liars Flipping people off when they share their stuff When someone falls are there any friends? Harder core than thou for a year or two Then it's time to get a real job Others stay home, it's no fun to go out When the gigs are wrecked by gangs and thugs When the thugs form bands, look who gets record deals From New York metal labels looking to scam Who sign the most racist queerbashing bands they can find To make a buck revving kids up for war Walk tall, act small Only as tough as gang approval Unity is bullshit When it's under someone's fat boot Where's the common cause Too many factions Safely sulk in their shells Agree with us on everything Or we won't help with anythng That kind of attitude Just makes a split grow wider Guess who's laughing while the world explodes When we're all crybabies Who fight best among ouselves
CHORUS
That farty old rock and roll attitude's back "It's competition, man, we wanna break big." Who needs friends when the money's good That's right, the '70s are back. Cock-rock metal's like a bad laxative It just don't move me, ya know? The music's OK when there's more ideas than solos Do we rally need the attitude too? Shedding thin skin too quickly As a fan it disappoints me Same old stupid sexist lyrics Or is Satan all you can think of? Crossover is just another word For lack of ideas Maybe what we need Are more trolls under the bridge Will the metalheads finally learn something- Or will the punks throw away their education? No one's ever the best Once they believe their own press "Maturing" don't mean rehashing Mistakes of the past
CHORUS
The more things change The more they stay the same We can't grow When we won't criticize ourselves The '60s weren't all failure It's the '70s that stunk As the clock ticks we dig the same hole Music scenes ain't real life They won't get rid of the bomb Won't eliminate rape Or bring down the banks Any kind of real change Takes more time and work Than changing channels on a TV set
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