James McMurtry Gets Political Again With "Cheney's Toy"

[Hissyspit]

http://www.countrystandardtime.com:80/news/newsitem.asp?xid=1376&t=James_McMurtry_gets_political_again_with_Cheneys_Toy

James McMurtry gets political again with "Cheney's Toy"

Monday, February 11, 2008 – Texas singer/songwriter James McMurtry is once again making a political statement through his music, and this time he's giving it away for free. On his new song, "Cheney's Toy," McMurtry picks up where he left off with "We Can't Make it Here." "Cheney's Toy" makes veiled references to Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib prison and the stark image of a soldier who returned from the conflict, blind and brain damaged.

McMurtry is giving away the song, which will be part of his next CD in April, for free exclusively through eMusic's Daily Download. The song is also on McMurtry's MySpace page and the Lightning Rod Records website.

Fans can use the free mp3 to create their own videos and post them online. McMurtry will choose the best videos and post them on his official MySpace page and website.

Creators of each of the top five video creators will receive t-shirts and autographed copies of McMurtry's new album, "Just Us Kids" (out April 15). McMurtry's choice for the best overall video will also receive an 8 Gb Apple iPod nano with video capabilities. Fans can send links to their videos to [e-mail].

JAMES McMURTRY
"Cheney's Toy"

Another unknown soldier
Another lesson learned
Kick the gas can over
Strike a match get back and watch that sucker burn

Keep smiling for the camera
Keep waving for the crowd
Don't let up for an instant
Stay the course and make your mama proud

You're the man
Show'em what your made of
You're no longer daddy's boy
You're the man
That they're all afraid of
But you're only Cheney's toy

Another unknown soldier
Who's seen it all before
All in the name of Jesus
Behind the razor wire and shackled to the floor

Just keep smiling at the cameras
And keep that twinkle in your eye
We don't need to know the answers
Just hit your marks and say your lines

You're the man
Show'em what your made of
You're no longer daddy's boy
Take a stand
Give 'em what they paid for
But you're only Cheney's toy

They'll take a fork and turn you over
While the fat lady sings
One more pin on one more shoulder
Is all the future brings
For another unknown soldier
Who don't know his own name
And he don't get any older
And he can't see for the shrapnel in his brain

Ain't you grand
When the guns are blazin'
Bring 'em on
Cheney's toy

Bring 'em on
Cheney's toy

(Multi-Chorus)

[unapatriciated]

1. Thanks for the info Hissyspit.

I will let lame know about it, We love McMurtry. Here is a vid lame made for "We Can't Make it Here"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTW0y6kazWM

[argyl]

2. Genius doesn't always skip a generation.McMurtry's political songs are far superior

to those of artists who have been lionized for decades and whose musings are treated as coming from on high.

I'm not dissing a handful of venerable old legends. I appreciate their work and the attention it gets.

I'd just like to see McMurtry begin to receive the attention he so richly deserves. The only artist who is penning songs of a political nature comparable to McMurtry at the present is Steve Earle,IMHO.

As an aside,McMurtry,after releasing "We Can't Make It Here Anymore" stated that he had a visceral objection to protest songs so things must be really bad for him to start writing them.

[Warpy]

3. I bought "Childish Things" on the strength on the one cut

"Can't Make it here Anymore" played by the local college station. I found the whole album to be solid, good lyrics and musicianship. I have to admit that country is the genre I like second to last, but McMurtry is the cream of that crop.

I suppose I'll buy this one, too. I wondered where this war's poet was going to be found. I think we've found him.

It's nice to know that the biting topical song didn't die when Phil Ochs did.