Go Away and Die

Personal responsibility and dismissal is married to a toe-tapping tune by Ann Zimmerman, song writer and song singer from Kansas.

Madison Avenue, Rodeo Drive,
Wall Street, they’re all paved
From our pockets and thrive.
But, hear the words of wisdom
Of the wealthy from their thrones.
The poor, the sick, the very slow
Should get by on their own.

Mr. Wendel

I loved this album (3 Years, 5 Months, and 2 Days in the Life of Arrested Development), so imagine my pleasure to hear this cool tune by Arrested Development 28 years later.

Civilization, are we really civilized, yes or no.
Who are we to judge,
When thousands of innocent men could be brutally enslaved
And killed over a racist grudge.

The Love

There’s no doubt here of the path desired. Black Eyed Peas and Jennifer Hudson perform a sermon, a call and answer.

People killin’ people dyin’
Children hurtin’, I hear them cryin’
Could you practice what you preach?
Would you turn the other cheek?
Father, Father, Father help us
Send some guidance from above
‘Cause people got me, got me questioning
(Where’s the love)
(Where’s the love)

Here’s a link to the longer, less Biden-heavy version

I feel the weight of the world on my shoulders
As I’m gettin’ older y’all people gets colder
Most of us only care about money makin’
Selfishness got us followin’ the wrong direction
Wrong information always shown by the media
Negative images is the main criteria
Infecting the young minds faster than bacteria
Kids wanna act like what they see in the cinemas
What happened to the love and the values of humanity?

Show Them the Way

With the first phrase, anyone who know Stevie Nicks will recognize the voice and the rock-and-roll build. I hope we recognize the prayer behind this 2020 song, as well.

It’s appropriate, given the upcoming general election.

Back in the room where it all began.
My heart began to heal, I believe it.
I remember the beauty of the Hamptons,
Shadows playing in the sun.
A voice said, “The dream is not over, no
The dream has just begun.”
I spun around to see another shadow
Slipping through the door.
And my eyes opened wide, “What is this all for?”
And the shadow said, “Don’t forget it. Don’t forget
What we were fighting for. Don’t forget it.”

Decent Man

Sounding a lot like Lenoard Cohen, Lawrence Rothman begins with slow solemn piano chords and, with the help of Lucinda Williams and ghostly guitars, it swells and chills to full protest, while the video scans an abandoned lot of presidential busts.

Now we’re just a lifeless empty Midwest mall,
The aftermath of a hot head playing god.
We dreamed a little dream inside a dream,
while paradise bet and lost it all.
That hot head bet and lost it all.

In a time of contagion

I wandered into a slope

Littered with fallen pines

And festooned with new growth.

Wind and flame,

years of rain,

and scorched cone seeds

Rooted in thin soil,

A carpet of green

Not knowing when their cycle ends

In wind and flame

And another begins.

We’re All Doomed

Weird Al comes through for the American people once again. The first September 2020 debate gets royally skewered

Exploding trees
COVID 19
Hurricanes with names past the letter Z
Conspiracy theories about vaccines
Murder Hornets coming from across the sea
Too many memes about World War III
Can’t tell what’s Hell or reality
Earthquakes ruining my whole week
‘Cause I dropped my keys in the crack between the cup holder and my car seat!

.

Love is the Message

Okday, so the lyrics aren’t all that deep, but maybe they’ll bring you on the dance floor to dance your way to social awareness. Disco love may have been an inch deep, but it was a mile wide.

Love is, love is the message that I sing to you.
Love is the message that I bring to you.
Love is the message for a song.

If you’re ready for another go, here’s another dance jam, TSOP from (Mother Father Sister Brother).

People all of the world
Let’s get it on
It’s time to get down

Workin’ Together

I never heard this on my radio growing up. Guess it was too hopeful or not edgy enough. More the reason to include it here.

Unless we get together the world would never survive,
And the hopes of the world will surely surely die.
It takes people like you and me to speak up for what is right.
‘Cuz only then will the world see the light.

Born Under a Bad Sign

Albert King, backed by the mighty Booker T. and the M.G.s, sings true blues during a time when Stax was busy creeping past the walls of prevalent racism. Music brought people together.

I can’t read, haven’t learned how to write.
My whole life has been one big fight.
Born under a bad sign.
I been down since I began to crawl.
If it wasn’t for bad luck, I said, I wouldn’t have no luck at all.