Furious Bruce Springsteen Dedicates Song to "President Bystander"

[kpete]

Springsteen Dedicates Song To "President Bystander", Says "The Criminal Ineptitude Makes You Furious"...

Springsteen Expresses New Orleans' Pain
By NEKESA MUMBI MOODY, AP Music Writer

NEW ORLEANS - New Jersey's favorite son was adopted by New Orleans on Sunday, as Bruce Springsteen — through speeches and song — vocalized the anger, frustration, pain and resilience of this hurricane-battered city at the annual Jazz & Heritage Festival.

Decrying what he called "criminal ineptitude" in Hurricane Katrina's wake, Springsteen jabbed at the political powers he deemed responsible for New Orleans' slow recovery.

Perhaps the most pointed moment came as he prepared to sing an old song that he had rewritten lyrics to for New Orleans. Noting that he visited the city's ninth ward, perhaps the most devastated area in the city, Springsteen said: "I saw sights I never thought I'd see in an American city," and added: "The criminal ineptitude makes you furious."

With that, he launched into a song titled "How Can A Poor Man Stand Such Times and Live?" and dedicated the song to "President Bystander." Its lyrics included the lines: "There's bodies floatin' on Canal and the levees gone to hell ... them who's got out of town, and them who ain't got left to drown, tell me, how can a poor man stand such times and live?"

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/music_jazz_fest;_ylt=Aoh09Uj03DxgLjf_TlAKahas0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA2Z2szazkxBHNlYwN0bQ--

[Brigid]

1. "The Boss"

Long may he reign. If you haven't already, check out his latest CD! :D

[Raster]

2. It wasn't "criminal ineptitude" Bruce. It was criminal intent. Oh, and

MURDER!

[nofurylike]

16. absolutely. eom

[speedoo]

3. Bruce is a great man.

If there were one tenth of his character in all the stooges and criminals in the WH, this country would be in much better shape than it is.

[speedoo]

4. K&R

[DanCa]

5. That's my hero talking folks.

You can get the song and lyrics here. www.brucespringsteen.net
It's on the first page.

[incapsulated]

6. "And don't vote for that fuck Bush!!"

Bruce: 1988.

:)

[autorank]

7. It's buliding. If MSM won't cover * at the right level, it will burst out

in other areas. Look at this. Just telling the truth. Look at Colbert, devastating.

Recommended.

[PatrioticLeftie]

8. Springsteen

Stone-hard proof you can love America but stand against Bush.

[Schema Thing]

9. And I was there to see him do it, just 4 hours ago;

a great show. If Springsteen comes to your town with the Seeger Session band, go see them.

[Schema Thing]

10. Btw, a plane with an "Impeach Bush" banner flew over the Jazzfest today

It got a nice reaction from the crowd.

[merh]

14. Did you get one of the t-shirts?

"Make Music, not war"

Oh how I envy you! But I am glad you got to go and enjoy the show and the energies.

[Brigid]

17. I want one of those shirts!

I'll bet they're available on his website.

[merh]

19. I'm not sure if it was the Boss' shirt or one of the Jazz Fest

shirts.

Friends of mine that were in NOLA said they were selling them at the Jazz Fest and those were the shirts that were selling out of.

Makes you feel all warm and fuzzy knowing that they were running out of those shirts. :)

[Brigid]

13. I will.

Bruce will be here this summer. I will go if I possibly can. Great stuff on the Pete Seeger CD.

[DanCa]

11. Springsteen in 08

Imagine he can do the state of the union in verse.

[Brigid]

15. He's better qualified than *.

He's smart, he knows how to think, and has far more character than most politicians. You know, there was a time, in the early days of this country, when the best minds went into government -- Hamilton, Washington, Jefferson, Adams, Madison, etc. Today, many of the best seem to be in the entertainment business (George Clooney, Susan Sarandon, Bruce, etc.) What happened?

[DanCa]

22. You know I want to watch Batman Forever again

Just so I can watch George Cloney pound nn Arnold. To bad that wont happen in real life.

[bklyncowgirl]

36. Every revolution needs a poet

Hmmm...Václav Havel was a dramatist before he became president of Czechoslovakia--Nah--he'd never do it.

[lapislzi]

39. What a great line!

"Every revolution needs a poet." Mind if I borrow it? Speaking as a poet, I think it couldn't be more true.

:hi:

[young_at_heart]

12. How many will it take for the MSM....."liberal media" to notice?

Seriously, what is it going to take for them to speak out? Surely they have children and grandchildren that they care about. Thank you Bruce, from an old fan!

[SeattleGirl]

18. Sounds like it was a fabulous show. Kudos to The Boss!

And kudos to anyone and everyone who speaks, writes, or sings out against the horrors wrought upon this land -- and other lands -- by this Administration.

If the politicians won't speak up, the people will. We will lead THEM to where we need to go.

[DanCa]

21. It was a one two punch this weekend wasn't it?

Colbert keep jabbing at the chimps face all last night and Springsteen just rocked him with a sunday punch to the mid section. Lets hope this will hurt chimpy's numbers even more.
:hug: I missed you SG.

[SeattleGirl]

24. It was glorious indeed!

And, the third punch was Neil Young's new album streaming online. Have you listened to it yet? I've listened to it about 4 times, and it is so freakin' good! I want to get the CD when it comes out.

How are you doing, Danny? You been feeling okay since your trip to DC? :hug:

[DanCa]

29. Good

I 've been walking alot more on my own since we hit consitent warm weather. Alittle set back today but that what happens. I plan on buying Neil Youngs Album Tuesday, thanks for the review.
:hug: hope your doing goood.

[dweller]

20. okay, time for a Neil Young/Bruce Sprinsteen tour

ya know you want one, ya know we need one, ya know it will kick some *moron ass...

dreaming of a duet of "Let's Impeach the President"
dp

[DanCa]

23. And they bring out Pink as a special guest perfomer

That would be so cool. I'd pay lots of money to see that.

[SeattleGirl]

26. And how about Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert as co-MC's?

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[dweller]

27. me too, i bet many performers would be signing on

for a chance to speak up.

We've been sadly lacking up till now in new protest songs to fill the air.
dp

[DanCa]

30. Heres a new one for you

www.stephansmith.com he's an indie folk guy so I don't expect many DU'ers to know him.
Also chekc out James Mcmurtry www.jamesmcmurtry.com we can't make it here, its pretty decent as well.

[dweller]

31. thanks for the links

i've seen a stephan smith thread here,will check him out, and have listened to mcmurty before, dl'd his song.

i guess Dylan would have to be included, the possibilities are endless tho if one were to imagine a 'Let's Impeach the President' tour.

'freespeech zones' would be moot.

peace DanCa,
dp

[OneBlueSky]

32. actually, they're touring separately . . .

Bruce is taking the Seeger Sessions tour to Europe first, and then a run in the US . . . and Neil Young is re-teaming with old compatriots David Crosby, Stephen Stills and Graham Nash for a CSNY Freedom of Speech tour . . . should be a great summer for live music . . .

[Odin2005]

25. Da Boss is Da Man!

[Hissyspit]

28. Bruce lyrics after the first Iraq war:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=1067354&mesg_id=1067354

[DanCa]

33. Hissyspit your beyond cool

Your what cool considers cool. :D Thanks for the link.

[pearl]

34. Negligent Genocide

Ethnic,partisan and class clensing. Plain and simple. Good for the Boss.

[Hissyspit]

35. Thanks, DanCa

I just felt it was appropriate.

[rodeodance]

37. note my signiture line

He has long been a fan of mine. Saw him last in Madison WI--Kerry campaign.

[Hissyspit]

38. I have noticed it before!

I didn't get to see any Kerry appearances - wish I had.

[DanCa]

41. Check out mine

Mrs Mcgrath is such a cool song the way he performs it.

[zanne]

40. A true American rock hero.

As other "protest" musicians from days of old sell their souls by singing for Ford and Honda, there remain very few genuine artists. Springsteen does not disappoint. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that he remains true to his music and his soul.

[ComerPerro]

42. President Bystander ... Love it