Steppenwolf's "Monster" Is More Relevant Than Ever

[Syrinx]

Once the religious, the hunted and weary
Chasing the promise of freedom and hope
Came to this country to build a new vision
Far from the reaches of kingdom and pope
Like good Christians, some would burn the witches
Later some got slaves to gather riches

But still from near and far to seek America
They came by thousands to court the wild
And she just patiently smiled and bore a child
To be their spirit and guiding light

And once the ties with the crown had been broken
Westward in saddle and wagon it went
And 'til the railroad linked ocean to ocean
Many the lives which had come to an end
While we bullied, stole and bought our a homeland
We began the slaughter of the red man

But still from near and far to seek America
They came by thousands to court the wild
And she just patiently smiled and bore a child
To be their spirit and guiding light

The blue and grey they stomped it
They kicked it just like a dog
And when the war over
They stuffed it just like a hog

And though the past has it's share of injustice
Kind was the spirit in many a way
But it's protectors and friends have been sleeping
Now it's a monster and will not obey

(Suicide)
The spirit was freedom and justice
And it's keepers seem generous and kind
It's leaders were supposed to serve the country
But now they won't pay it no mind
'Cause the people grew fat and got lazy
And now their vote is a meaningless joke
They babble about law and order
But it's all just an echo of what they've been told
Yeah, there's a monster on the loose
It's got our heads into a noose
And it just sits there watchin'

Our cities have turned into jungles
And corruption is stranglin' the land
The police force is watching the people
And the people just can't understand
We don't know how to mind our own business
'Cause the whole worlds got to be just like us
Now we are fighting a war over there
No matter who's the winner
We can't pay the cost
'Cause there's a monster on the loose
It's got our heads into a noose
And it just sits there watching

(America)
America where are you now?
Don't you care about your sons and daughters?
Don't you know we need you now
We can't fight alone against the monster

[Mythsaje]

1. Absolutely...

I've posted it myself a few times...

[Syrinx]

2. I didn't mean to be a copycat

:)

It never ceases to amaze me how truly evil these people are. It seems that every day that comes around, I'm more sickened and frightened by what is being perpetrated in our name.

Here's hoping that somehow we find our way out of this nightmare.

[Mythsaje]

4. I'd say the song was prophetic, but it's more a matter of

history repeating itself.

[Syrinx]

6. good point

But it's also an issue of degree. While we haven't had near the number of American deaths in Iraq as in Vietnam (yet), the neocon domestic agenda is something that would have made Nixon blush. These guys are playing for keeps. Nixon had deep personal flaws... these guys are truly evil.

[Mythsaje]

8. I agree...

Nixon was flawed...but, interestingly, those who fed on his madness, such as it was, are part of this whole thing too.

[robinlynne]

18. Absolutely, Cheney has been waiting for years to avenge Nixon.

[carpetbagger]

3. Steppenwolf, both dated and timeless. Here's more.

This is from "The Ostrich"


You're free to speak your mind my friend
As long as you agree with me
Don't criticize the father land
Or those who shape your destiny
'Cause if you do
You'll lose your job your mind and all the friends you knew
We'll send out all our boys in blue
They'll find a way to silence you

[Syrinx]

5. prescient, even

I've never been a huge Steppewolf fan, and don't know a lot about them. Oh, I've been a fan of "Born To Be Wild" and "The Pusher," which I think was written by Kris Kristofferson, but maybe I should give them another look. Thanks for "The Ostrich."

[H2O Man]

14. Hoyt Axton

wrote "The Pusher." He was primarily a country-western musician, and is probably best known for writing Ringo's "No-No Song," and a couple Three Dog Night hits, "Never Been to Spain," and "Joy to the World."

[ConsAreLiars]

7. Long ago bands of traveling troubadors

went from village to village, singing truths that exposed the lies of the powerful. And in our more recent history balladeers and folk singers and rockers have continued to do the same. I can name dozens of who have sung truth, and I am sure there are thousands. And those who hear them number millions. Thank you Steppenwolf, and Ochs and Guthrie and MC5 and Rovics and Dylan and Seeger and Greenday and Young and Cash and Pink and Dixie Chicks and Chumbawumba and Franto and diFranco Chuck D and Mosh and ................................

Many more can be found here: http://www.benfrank.net/nuke/Free_Peace_mp3s.html

[Bombtrack]

9. youtube music video to the song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmmJ03rSgII

[skids]

10. Neat thanks.

And as to the OP, totally on the same wavelength, man:

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2005/10/8/215353/404

[cureautismnow]

19. Nice work by the editors

That song really tugs at the heartstrings. Yes, America, where are you now?

[daninthemoon]

23. GREAT Video link! Thanks. Also thanks for the lyrics and thread

[H2O Man]

11. It is one

the the songs from that era that not only holds up very well, but may actually be more meaningful today. I still have my copy of the album from when it was first released, and one of my sons has it on CD.

[bluedogyellowdog]

12. Great song!

Here's another.

"Justice Don't Be Slow" by Steppenwolf. (1974)

I'm sorry to hear 'bout your problems
It came as a shock to us all
You know that we have always read
There's no way that you'd ever fall
Well, I grant you, it looks good on paper
But lately you've dropped out of sight
And we feel it's gone quite far enough
Don't you think that it's time now to light?

Justice, don't be slow
Everyone's here but you
You haven't got far to go

Now they make your life worth leaving
When they covered your face with their dung
Then they laughed while you lay floundering
Just hoping you'd swallow your tongue
Their hatchetmen bungled your mansion
And throttled your sons in the night
Their foot soldiers pummeled your daughter
God dammit, your vengeance is right.
Well, now that you've caught your tormentor
He still won't admit to his sin.

Justice, don't be slow
Everyone's here but you
You haven't got far to go

He claims he was busily sleeping
While his henchmen were doing you in
But all of this high-ranking jesters
Have turned into sniveling louts
They're pleading for mercy and freedom
I say throw all those hooligans out!

[skids]

20. Huh. And I thought I had all those albums...

I don't remember that one. Guess I'm going to have to go find out which one I'm missing.

[bluedogyellowdog]

22. that's from Slow Flux

came out in 1974. Came out right in the middle of the Watergate scandal. Still had the classic Wolf sound at that point.

[sendero]

13. Steppenwolf...

.... never got the credit they deserved. Born to be Wild was a nice anthem, but nowhere near their best work!

[johnnie]

15. Steppenwolf is one of my favorites

John Kay was a phenomenal writer and thinker. It's too bad they aren't recognized as one of the legends in music. They are in my top 10 of favorites.

[natrat]

16. and the good old grateful dead

Brother Esau

My brother Esau killed the hunter, back in 1969,
Before the killing was done his inheritance was mine.
When at first my brother walked away,
Before a weary band,
Esau gave his sleeplessness for a piece of moral land.

Our father favored Esau, he was eager to obey,
All the wild commandments, the old man shot his way.
But all this ended when, my brother failed at war,
He staggered home and found me in the door.

Esau he's on rollerskates today,
And he make a statement to someone in L.A.
Sometimes at night I dream, he's still that hairy man,
Shadow boxing the apocalypse, wandering the land.

Esau holds the blessing, brother Esau holds the curse,
I was thinking that the blame was mine,
But suspected something worse.
The more my brother looks like me, the more I understand,
The silent war it bloodied both our hands.
None of us can win.
Outside that dream, still that hairy man.
Well sometimes at night I think I understand.
Shadowboxing the apocalypse, wandering the land.

[markbark]

17. Relevant AND Prescient

Randy Newman's "Political Science"
Didn't the BFEE realize that this song, like "1984" was weritten as a warning, NOT an instruction manual?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Vb0Mu0mhlw

--MAB

[stepnw1f]

21. This is a Good One from Steppenwolf as Well

Pusher=Media

You know I smoked a lot of grass.
Oh Lord! I popped a lot of pills.
But I've never touched nothin'
That my spirit couldn't kill.
You know I've seen a lot of people walking 'round
With tombstones in their eyes.
But the pusher don't care
If you live -- or if you die.
God Damn! The pusher.
God Damn! The pusher.
I said God Damn! God damn the pusher man.
You know the dealer, the dealer is a man
With a lump of grass in his hand.
But the pusher is a monster
Not a natural man.
The dealer for a nickel
Goin to sell you lots of sweet dreams.
Ah...but the pusher will ruin your body;
Lord he'll leave your mind to scream.
God Damn! The pusher.
God Damn! God damn the pusher.
I said God Damn! God damn the pusher man.
Well now if I were the president of this land
You know I'd declare total war on the pusher man.
I'd cut him if he stands, and I'd shoot him if he run,
And I'd kill him with my bible, and my razor and my gun....
GOD DAMN! The pusher
God damn the pusher.
I said God damn! God damn the pusher man!

- Steppenwolf