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Midnight Oil
July 31, 2007 ( politics )
I re-acquired my old Midnight Oil tunes (they'd been trapped on the tapes - yes tapes - I'd bought in the early 90s and have been listening to their songs a lot the past few days. I'd forgotten how strong their lyrics were, and am constantly surprised by their frankly disturbing applicability to today's global political situation.
Take Short Memory, for a prime example:
Conquistador of Mexico, the Zulu and the Navaho The Belgians in the Congo short memory! Plantation in Virginia, the Raj in British India The deadline in South Africa short memory! The story of El Salvador, the silence of Hiroshima Destruction of Cambodia Short memory!The sight of hotels by the Nile, the designated Hilton style
With running water specially bought
short memory!
A smallish man Afghanistan, a watch dog in a nervous land
They're only there to lend a hand
short memory!
Wake up in sweat at dead of night
And in the tents new rifles
hey! short memory
'cuz, y'know, that's not suggestive of anything in current events.
It somehow pleases me to see that while the band has broken up, it's because their lead singer is now in the Australian House of Representatives and is the Shadow Minister for Climate Change, Environment & Heritage, Arts...
A few more choice lyrics after the cut.
One Country
was it just a dream, were you so confused
was it just a giant leap of logic
was it the time of year, that makes a state of fear
methods, were their motives for the actionand did i hear you say
my country right or wrong?i hear you say the truth must take a beating
the flag a camouflage for your deceiving
i know we all make mistakes
US Forces
US Forces give the nod, it's a setback for your country
Bombs and trenches all in rows, bombs and threats still ask for more
Divided world the CIA, who controls the issue
You leave us with no time to talk, you can write your assessmentWill you know it when you see it, high risk children -- dogs of war
Now market movements call the shots, business deals in parking lots
Waiting for the meat of tomorrowEveryone is too stoned to start emission
People too scared to go to prison
We're unable to make decision
Political party line -- don't cross that floor!
Blue Sky Mine
The balance sheet is breaking up the sky
So I'm caught at the junction still waiting for medicine
The sweat of my brow keeps on feeding the engine
Hope the crumbs in my pocket can keep me for another night
And if the blue sky mining company won't come to my rescue
If the sugar refining company won't save me
Who's gonna save me?
Posted by griffjon at July 31, 2007 09:20 PM
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