Do we need a new national anthem?

[nemo137]

So, between Memorial Day and the 4th, with all the parades and such, we hear a lot of really great American patriotic music, and it gets me thinking that we might want to switch our national anthem away from The Star-Spangled Banner. I'm willing to bet that, in-between all the election coverage, NPR or CNN or the like will put out a short piece on the debate, like the do every few years.

Personally, I'd like a national anthem that recognizes the whole country, instead of just one historic event on the East Coast - I'd personally like America the Beautiful as a replacement. It recognizes the whole sweep of the country, and the 3rd and 4th verses especially are stunning:

O beautiful, for heroes proved
In liberating strife,
Who more than self their country loved
And mercy more than life!
America! America! May God thy gold refine,
'Til all success be nobleness, and ev'ry gain divine!

O beautiful, for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years,
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America! God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood, from sea to shining sea!

What does DU at large think about a new national anthem, or reasons for keeping the one we've got?

[LiberalEsto]

1. nice but....

I have trouble with the words God, His and brotherhood. Imagine if we substituted the words Goddess, Her and sisterhood. That would upset a lot of guys, so you can see why women aren't comfortable with a national anthem that relates to Him and not Her, brotherhood but not sisterhood.

I do agree with you about needing a new national anthem, particularly one that the average person can sing without straining to hit those high notes on "free",

[nemo137]

6. My second choice would be "Lift Every Voice and Sing"

Which is an amazing song, but it seems disrespectful to co-opt the Black National Anthem.

[Kutjara]

2. Nice tune. Some good sentiments. Not too crazy...

...about the God bits. I'd personally prefer a more secular dirge.

Maybe we need something more modern, an anthem that reflects contemporary America and its concerns: perhaps Guns n' Roses "Civil War" or maybe Springsteen's "Born in the USA."

Personally, though, I think the best one might be the whistling theme from "The Andy Griffith Show." Easy tune; upbeat; with no militaristic or theistic words to learn; anyone can hum it (even if they can't whistle); conveys impressions of fishin', apple pie, small town life and other positive values; non-threatening; non-sexist; non-racist; non-jingoistic. Perfect.

[nemo137]

That would be a blast to hear at the Olympics.

But I think we've got a ways to go before we can pull off being that self-deprecating as a nation.

[Vanje]

3. I vote for....

"Uncle John's Band"

[nemo137]

10. Too mellow, I think. I couldn't watch baseball after that, you know?

I'd wander off for a beer and not come back.

[TransitJohn]

52. LOL

You made me smile....wander off for a beer and not come back....at least until the peak was over. :)

[nichomachus]

4. Why do we need words?

Why not just a nice tune?

Spain's national anthem has no words.

Works for me. Then people don't have to pretend to sing it at public events.

[nemo137]

7. I think they just added words to Spain's this year or last.

Or were talking about it, at least. They were worried that they'd be embarrassed if they didn't have anything to pretend to sing at the Olympics.

How does Fanfare for the Common Man strike you?

[nichomachus]

11. They're not having a lot of luck

Someone wrote a set of words, which is kind of drivelish. However, Spaniards are very leery of nationalistic sentiment after living under a fascist dictator for so long.

I imagine we will be too, when we come to our senses. I don't think I'll be alive to see it, though. We have a lot of suffering to go through before we realize that nationalism and religion are poison, especially when combined.

[nemo137]

20. I looked that up

The old, pre-Franco lyrics weren't too bad, but the new ones were real bland.

I think we're going to be walking a tightrope about nationalism for some time yet. I'd be find with a sense of national pride, but I'd like to be rid of the American Exceptionalism and "chosen nation" horseshit we've been dealing with for the past few decades.

[Captain Angry]

5. I'd just be happy if we could turn it back into something respectful.

You can't sing along with the anthem at any event because the singer has to make it their own by holding certain notes or changing tempo, etc.

Whenever I hear the Canadian anthem, it's the same every time, and the whole crowd sings along. I don't think they're that much prouder of Canada than the average US citizen is of our country. But you can't sing along when the singer is all over the place.

[nichomachus]

8. I agree -- we need to end the "American Idolization" of the anthem -- it's not a jazz song

[Kutjara]

9. I agree. In the UK, the anthem is sung...

...(or rather mumbled) pretty much the same way every time it's played. There's no big deal about it at sporting events (it's only played at matches involving the national team anyway). I think if Mariah Carey or Whitney Houston started warbling all over "God Save the Queen," they'd soon find themsleves in the Tower of London.

[Captain Angry]

15. Whitney Houston was one of the examples that came to mind when I wrote my post.

I remember an MTV softball game that was on TV between athletes from other sports vs. musicians.

The US anthem was noisy with a gospel choir singing certain words, in a manner that didn't add to the song.

The Canadian anthem was sung by Geddy Lee of Rush. No music, just him, and it was fantastic. We looked like the idiots everybody thinks we are after that.

[nemo137]

14. As a side question, do you think that has something to do with "national character?"

America's "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" vs. Canada's "peace, order and good government?" Has our rugged individualism doomed us to shitty renditions of the Star Spangled Banner?

[Captain Angry]

16. No, we had life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for 200 years.

It's only the last 30 years when things ran amok.

[nemo137]

22. It's also only been the Anthem for the past 70 or so

Do you think maybe people got too comfortable with it? Or is it just (as I suspect) another manifestation of our "jerk culture?"

[blondeatlast]

31. Agreed. I simply cringe at the opening notes knowing what's coming. nt

[derby378]

12. I say keep the STAR-SPANGLED BANNER as it is

No caterwauling, no vocal gymnastics, no singing off-key. Sing it well, and sing it proud.

And God bless Jimi Hendrix for showing us how to really take our National Anthem to the next level.

[newmajority]

19. See that's the whole thing.....

If they just played Jimi's version, it would be cool.

None of that crap about bombs and rockets and fire and other war glorifying shit.

[Posteritatis]

56. I hardly see it as glorifying war

Reading the whole thing and coming from an outsider's perspective, I've always parsed it more as a statement that it would take more than mere physical force to destroy the society it was written for. Good chunks of it seem to be about surviving partial occupation during the War of 1812.

The fourth stanza makes my eyebrow raise a little ("Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just, / And this be our motto, In God is our trust"), but I've always read it as being about a country existing despite, possibly as a result of, but not for war. If you want a militaristic anthem, check out the Marseillaise. Aiya.

I've always liked that there's actually some kind of narrative to the US anthem. I like the Canadian one more musically, but the standard paean-to-the-landscape largely feels bland. (The French version's much more interesting, but wigs out secular pacifists.)

[verges]

72. So why is it okay

for Jimi Hendrix to do his own interpretation; and not okay for other performers, such as Whitney Houston, to do their interpretations?

It's just a song. Granted, it has a lot of symbolic and emotional baggage. But it's still just a song. Just as the flag is just a piece of fabric. To deny artists the right or privilege to do their own interpretations is just as silly as not allowing images of the flag to be used in uses that are, let us say, non-traditional.

[LiberalEsto]

13. "This Land is Your Land"

It would be perfect, IMHOP.

[Kutjara]

18. One tiny problem.

Alaska and Hawaii sort of get left out. "From California to the New York Island," sort of delimits what the song is about, emphasized by "From Redwood forests to the Gulf Stream waters." I'd feel a little left out in the cold if I lived in Fairbanks (pun intended).

[cephalexin]

43. So, change it to "From Nome and Maui to the Key West Island"

:D

[Kutjara]

53. Excellent idea, but do we need to also include...

...Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and Puerto Rico? Or, because they're just territories and not full states, can we leave them out?

[Oeditpus Rex]

17. 'Fanfare for the Common Man'

Simple, beautiful and reverential — and no lyrics for people to screw up or get twisted knickers over.

Bonus: The title encompasses what America is supposed to be about.

http://lcweb2.loc.gov/natlib/ihas/service/patriotic/100010429/100010429.mp3

[nemo137]

51. It's an amazing piece of American music.

I would feel a stirring of pride to hear it played at the Olympics.

[Beregond2]

21. Oh God, this again?

"The Star Spangled Banner" is the only national anthem that doesn't sound like German oompah band music, and the words are magnificent. Further, it is tied-in with an actual episode in our history and has a fascinating backstory. I understand that the high notes are difficult for some to reach, but why can't they just sit those out and let the tenors and sopranos handle them?

"America the Beautiful" is insipid, ungrammatical and doesn't even make sense.

I always notice how thrilling our national anthem is compared to all others when we hear them all at the Olympic Games. Why would anyone want to mess with it?

[Mudoria]

23. I have no idea why anyone would want something

else myself. The anthem sounds fantastic as it is. I do take exception when a singer decides to put their "personal" stamp on it though.

[nemo137]

25. It's tied with an event on the East Coast, in a war we basically stalemated

It doesn't represent the whole country, is my biggest problem with it. I agree that Sousa marches have an oompah band feel to them, but I disagree about "America the Beautiful" being insipid and nonsensical. It states, clearly and beautifully what our country is, and what we stand for.

[krispos42]

64. At the time, the entire county WAS the East Coast!

We only has 18 states at the start of the War of 1812 and pretty much all the population centers were on the Atlantic.

And the War of 1812 was the first, and to date the most serious, challange to our national souvereignty.

[nemo137]

66. By the time it was adopted over such forgotten favorites as "Columbia, Gem of the Ocean," however

the country extended from coast to coast. I think it'd be good to recognize that.

[nemo137]

67. double post, ack

sorry.

[Oeditpus Rex]

30. Let's see... so much to address here

• the only national anthem that doesn't sound like German oompah band music

"O Canada"? "God Save the Queen"? "La Marseillaise"? And those are just the ones I know.

Besides, what's wrong with "oompah band music"? :shrug:



• and the words are magnificent.

• "America the Beautiful" is insipid, ungrammatical and doesn't even make sense.

Sure you aren't getting the two confused?



• I understand that the high notes are difficult for some to reach, but why can't they just sit those out and let the tenors and sopranos handle them?

Yeah, a national anthem doesn't have to be for everyone.



• and has a fascinating backstory.

You mean the part about the tune being that of a British drinking song, "To Anacreon in Heaven"?



• I always notice how thrilling our national anthem is compared to all others when we hear them all at the Olympic Games.

I don't want to be "thrilled" by a national anthem. I want to be moved to believe with all my heart what it stands for.

[Wizard777]

24. No we don't!

[nemo137]

26. any particular reason?

[Wizard777]

27. I think our anthem should reflect our struggles to become a free nation.

Not the latest political whim. Also there is an element of power to anthems. Our anthem reflects how we achieved the power to be free. We fought for it. That might make a good national ballad. But not a national anthem. Also I'm from Baltimore. The home of the national anthem. So yes I do have some bias in this.

[nemo137]

28. Fair enough. Thank you.

I think our anthem should reflect who we are as a nation. I think that the Star Spangled banner, since it's so connected to that single event in that single place, makes a good national ballad, but a poor national anthem.

I also have no illusions that we'll be changing it any time soon.

[Wizard777]

39. I think the anthem is best left to history. Not current events.

Because if we fulfill our constitutional obligation to preserve onto our posterity. Who we were should still be who we are and the next generation will be. Free people with liberty. The anthem speaks to that perseverance through adversity. "our flag was still there."

[nemo137]

44. I don't think it should be tied to current events

but I also don't think that a single historical event captures who we were, are, and should be. I think that "O beautiful for patriot dream that sees beyond the years" captures "free people with liberty" as well as or better than "our flag was sill there."

This exchange has been interesting though. Thank you.

[CanonRay]

29. Ditto

:applause:

[nemo137]

32. What would you switch it to and why?

[Paladin]

33. A New National Anthem? Yes. Immediately If Possible

The anthem we're stuck with now is clunky and dated, with a vocal range that's out of the reach of 90% of the people who attempt to sing it (listen to it the next time you're at a ballpark). I've been advocating a change for years, and I think more and more people are in favor of it.

[nemo137]

38. What would you propose?

[Paladin]

71. I Don't Suppose "Inna-Gadda-Da-Vitta" Would Work? (n/t)

[Diclotican]

34. nemo137

nemo137

Norway have this anthem as their national anthem

1.
Ja, vi elsker dette landet,
som det stiger frem,
furet, værbitt over vannet,
med de tusen hjem.
Elsker, elsker det og tenker
på vår far og mor
og den saganatt som senker
drømme på vår jord.
Og den saganatt som senker,
senker drømme på vår jord.

2.
Dette landet Harald berget
med sin kjemperad,
dette landet Håkon verget
medens Øyvind kvad;
Olav på det landet malte
korset med sitt blod,
fra dets høye Sverre talte
Roma midt imot.

3.
Bønder sine økser brynte
hvor en hær dro frem,
Tordenskiold langs kysten lynte,
så den lystes hjem.
Kvinner selv stod opp og strede
som de vare menn;
andre kunne bare grede,
men det kom igjen!

4.
Visstnok var vi ikke mange,
men vi strakk dog til,
da vi prøvdes noen gange,
og det stod på spill;
ti vi heller landet brente
enn det kom til fall;
husker bare hva som hendte
ned på Fredrikshald!

5.
Hårde tider har vi døyet,
ble til sist forstøtt;
men i verste nød blåøyet
frihet ble oss født.
Det gav faderkraft å bære
hungersnød og krig,
det gav døden selv sin ære –
og det gav forlik.

6.
Fienden sitt våpen kastet,
opp visiret for,
vi med undren mot ham hastet,
ti han var vår bror.
Drevne frem på stand av skammen
gikk vi søderpå;
nu vi står tre brødre sammen,
og skal sådan stå!

7.
Norske mann i hus og hytte,
takk din store Gud!
Landet ville han beskytte,
skjønt det mørkt så ut.
Alt hva fedrene har kjempet,
mødrene har grett,
har den Herre stille lempet
så vi vant vår rett.

8.
Ja, vi elsker dette landet,
som det stiger frem,
furet, værbitt over vannet,
med de tusen hjem.
Og som fedres kamp har hevet
det av nød til seir,
også vi, når det blir krevet,
for dets fred slår leir.

http://david.national-anthems.net/no.htm where you can hear the melody also;) It is in MIDI format, so it is not the best to hear but you do get the impression..

This is a better impression of the national anthem http://quattro.no/audio/QCD9409-20.html

Usually we use 1 and two, and then nr 8 when singing the song on 17 of may... Our national day..

Diclotican

Sorry my bad english, not my native language.

[nemo137]

36. Friend, your English is better than my Norwegian.

My knowledge of Scandinavian languages is confined to a few Lutheran Hymns and a drinking song in Swedish. Beautiful anthem, though, "Yes, we love this country."

[Diclotican]

40. nemo137

nemo137

Thank you;). But if you practice your Norwegian, you might would improve, as my own, rather bad english have improved after I have used it for a while;)..

Well, to know some Lutheran Hyms is not bad;). And the knowledge of swedish drinking songs is not bad. They have many good drinking songs in Sweden;).. We have it to, but it a lost knowledge for the most part.. The Swedish have been better to keep that part of the heritage than we have... :evilgrin:

JA vi elsker is a very nice anthem, I like it very well;): Little nationalistic I know, but when you have seen the flag, the celebrating of our national day and such like that,you might understand the Norwegian little more... But I know some american who was little shocked by our celebrating.. First time Abroad, and bang into our national day celebrating.. He was coming to Norway 3 weeks before the celebrating, and have not exactly to much knowledge about our way of celebrating If I may say it. But he took it with good attitude then;): http://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/17._mai_%28grunnlovsdag%29 (It is in norwigian, but I believe you can find a english, translating little down the page..

Diclotican

Sorry my bad english, not my native language

[nemo137]

41. Diclotican,

It's a little nationalistic, but not badly. I looked up the translation, and it talks about the land and family and stories. It's a good anthem.

There's no need to apologize about your English, it's quite good. You seem to have gotten on well enough with it here at DU. :)

[Diclotican]

45. nemo137

nemo137

I guess, when everything comes to everything our national anthem are not the worst in the book... But it do tell little of our history, and why we are the people we are today.. From the old ages, to the time when the anthem was written.. Norway have not always been that rich as we are today....

I guess I am better than I believe myself then;). But I know that I have not exactly the best english in the book.. I know others who can "talk" much better english than I do... But I am a work in progress so to speak, and I have been better and better here on DU. But I guess the grammar are not the best:evilgrin: Verry "Norwegian" in style.. But some of them who I have "talked" to here on du liked it in some way:).. But I guess the speaking english are fare worse. When I write I can always use the dictionary to get the right words.. But in speaking english I have to relay on that the other gay would try to understand my.. And I have a accent to my english... Very clear that I am not english speaking:P And the more difficult words in your language I am just lost at... The "signature line" is because I was meat by the "grammar police" the first time I was here, and therefore decide to warn them all, that I am not native in english...

Diclotican

Sorry my bad english, not my native language

[nemo137]

50. Once again, friend

Your English is better than most Americans' Norwegian, so even for a work in progress, I'd say you're doing great.

[Diclotican]

78. nemo137

nemo137

Thank you;). I guess my english teacher was doing right after all then;).. And she was given many gray hair over my homework:P
And I would say most american are not that sure where Norway are... Some thing Norway are the capital in Sweden and sutch...

By the way, Oslo (the name of our capital) are also a little city in the middle of nowhere in the US;... I think the population are like 8000 or so... In the US that is

Diclotican

Sorry my bad english, not my native language

[Selatius]

35. The US doesn't deserve the Star Spangled Banner as an anthem. It lost that right a long time ago.

The US is the Evil Empire. What makes you think it is anymore deserving of this new anthem?

[nemo137]

37. It ought to remind us of what we can and should be

Is the short answer. I'm not ready to give up yet.

[WritersBlock]

42. Yes we do. That "Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave" line just doesn't cut it anymore.

The Bush administration have done their level best to ensure that.

[Unvanguard]

46. "This Land is Your Land." n/t

[MilesColtrane]

58. Yes.

THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND
words and music by Woody Guthrie

Chorus:
This land is your land, this land is my land
From California, to the New York Island
From the redwood forest, to the gulf stream waters
This land was made for you and me

As I was walking a ribbon of highway
I saw above me an endless skyway
I saw below me a golden valley
This land was made for you and me

Chorus

I've roamed and rambled and I've followed my footsteps
To the sparkling sands of her diamond deserts
And all around me a voice was sounding
This land was made for you and me

Chorus

The sun comes shining as I was strolling
The wheat fields waving and the dust clouds rolling
The fog was lifting a voice come chanting
This land was made for you and me

Chorus

As I was walkin' - I saw a sign there
And that sign said - no tress passin'
But on the other side .... it didn't say nothin!
Now that side was made for you and me!

Chorus

In the squares of the city - In the shadow of the steeple
Near the relief office - I see my people
And some are grumblin' and some are wonderin'
If this land's still made for you and me.

[maryf]

70. Sorry for the dupe

I missed this and Unvanguard's post very early this morning, the last stanza is so telling and timely, hey?

[Papagoose]

47. "America" is not a country

just a pet peeve of mine.

[nemo137]

49. What would you like for the national anthem of the United States, then?

[Papagoose]

80. I have no problem with the current anthem

but my point is that "America" is not the name of our country. I have a friend from Bolivia who pointed out to me once that he is as "American" as I am.

[zorahopkins]

48. From "Cabaret"

I think we definitely need a new national anthem.

I would suggest a song from the musical, "Cabaret":

Money makes the world go round
The World Go Round.

Money makes the world go round.

[provis99]

55. right musical, wrong song

The way Bush's Amerika is going, the national anthem should be "Tomorrow Belongs to Me".

[Goldfish]

54. I totally agree with you!

The Star Spangled Banner is very difficult to sing.
How about "This is My Country." The words and music are
very stirring and always fill me with pride.

[nemo137]

57. Very nice song.

It covers the whole country, which the current anthem fails to do.

[kineneb]

59. We need to ditch that unsingable English drinking song

Singers hate it. People who know the original lyrics, laugh. It really does need to go.

[Withywindle]

60. Hell no.

I love our unsingable old English drinking song with its bad Francis Scott Key poetry from the War of 1812- it shows our roots. I'm not into modernizing every-fucking-thing: truth be told, our country was founded by a bunch of 17th-century English rejects, and I LOVE the fact that our anthem reflects that. It's where we've been and who we are. Besides, I love the melody - it's way prettier than any of the suggested alternatives.

[nemo137]

63. I lol'd at "a bunch of 17th-century rejects"

I disagree about the melody, but your reasoning is full of win.

[Iggo]

61. I like the old one....(n/t)

[Lugnut]

62. I agree with you.

I've always thought that America the Beautiful would be the perfect national anthem.

[krispos42]

65. It's fine the way it is

But how about "The Battle Cry of Freedom"?

Yes, we'll rally round the flag, boys,
We'll rally once again,
Shouting the battle cry of Freedom,
We will rally from the hillside,
We'll gather from the plain,
Shouting the battle cry of Freedom.

(chorus)
The Union forever, Hurrah! boys, hurrah!
Down with the traitors,
Up with the stars;
While we rally round the flag, boys,
Rally once again, Shouting the battle cry of Freedom.

We are springing to the call
Of our brothers gone before,
Shouting the battle cry of Freedom;
And we'll fill our vacant ranks with
A million free men more,
Shouting the battle cry of Freedom.

(chorus)

We will welcome to our numbers
The loyal, true and brave,
Shouting the battle cry of Freedom;
And although they may be poor,
Not a man shall be a slave,
Shouting the battle cry of Freedom.

(chorus)

So we're springing to the call
From the East and from the West,
Shouting the battle cry of Freedom;
And we'll hurl the rebel crew
From the land that we love best,
Shouting the battle cry of Freedom.

(chorus)

An excellent, period-accurate performance here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ccQ6cT-9kk

The wording is a little different in a couple of places, but you get the idea.

[nemo137]

68. That'd be a good replacement.

[maryf]

69. This land more realistic

THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND
words and music by Woody Guthrie

Chorus:
This land is your land, this land is my land
From California, to the New York Island
From the redwood forest, to the gulf stream waters
This land was made for you and me

As I was walking a ribbon of highway
I saw above me an endless skyway
I saw below me a golden valley
This land was made for you and me

Chorus

I've roamed and rambled and I've followed my footsteps
To the sparkling sands of her diamond deserts
And all around me a voice was sounding
This land was made for you and me

Chorus

The sun comes shining as I was strolling
The wheat fields waving and the dust clouds rolling
The fog was lifting a voice come chanting
This land was made for you and me

Chorus

As I was walkin' - I saw a sign there
And that sign said - no tress passin'
But on the other side .... it didn't say nothin!
Now that side was made for you and me!

Chorus

In the squares of the city - In the shadow of the steeple
Near the relief office - I see my people
And some are grumblin' and some are wonderin'
If this land's still made for you and me.

Chorus (2x)

©1956 (renewed 1984), 1958 (renewed 1986) and 1970 TRO-Ludlow Music, Inc. (
BMI)

[papapi]

73. Has anybody ever played the 'Anthem' backwards?

I here it has a subliminal repug message.

[treestar]

74. ITA. One, it should be singable by average people, which the SSB

is not. Second, it should be a simple paen to the country, not just the country at war. Who knows but that its pernicious influence is what makes the citizens of this country patriotic ONLY in times of war! And not of the Constitution, or freedom, or the republic. People in this country have more reverence for the flag as a piece of cloth than of that for which it stands!

Other countries have this. We have doomed ourselves to war as the only way we can feel patriotic, and a major reason is this choice of national anthem!

[trof]

75. I vote for "Don't worry, be happy".

;-)

[jakefrep]

76. I'd like an anthem that I could sing well without opera training

"The Star Spangled Banner" doesn't qualify.

[depakid]

79. Something like "oh, Beautiful." Oh, wait...

That's sung to the tune of God Save the Queen!

[MedleyMisty]

77. Can we just not have one?

If we must - I think this song by the Flobots would be appropriate.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nh2p1zJit7Y

I can actually see a lot of people singing along at some sporting event with "I can end the planet in a holocaust!" and being all like "Whoo yeah doggie, nuke 'em and make 'em glow!"

[salguine]

81. Let's work on a new government first.

[raccoon]

82. "My Hometown" by Bruce Springsteen seems appropriate. nt

[Marrah_G]

83. Our Anthem is fine just as it is.

[noonwitch]

84. No, I just wish I had to vocal range to sing the one we have!

It's too hard for me to hit some of those notes-I must admit, "O Canada" is easier to sing.

But ours is fun to play in a band or orchestra.

[bean fidhleir]

85. Agreed: America the Beautiful, with slightly updated words.

We glorify war too goddamned much.

[raccoon]

86. "My Ding-a-Ling," by Chuck Berry.

Sorry, forgot this isn't the Lounge. :silly:

[tom_paine]

87. For Imperial Amerika? You're damned right we need a new song AND a new flag.

It's not right and it disgarces Free America (1776-2000, RIP) that we use the same song and flag.

My suggestion for the flag is simple, tasteful, and will communicate the change in Amerikan governance in no uncertain terms.

Just change the field of blue stars to a field of black, to refelct the dark evil now at the heart of Bush-Occupied Imperial Amerika, and all totalitarianisms from the nicest kindest and gentlest (for now) Amerikan version of Inverted Totalitarianism to the deepest darkest Third World (of which Imperial Amerika is now a part) brutal, Classic Totalitarianism. They and we all share the saqme root meaning at the bottom of our respective enslaved nations. The power and aggrandizement of the Arsitcracy, as well as the muzzling of the peasantry; power, privilege, Superiors and Inferiors, THAT is what Amerika is all about...now that we have no Constituion nor Bill of Rights, it is ALL we are about, and nothing more.

As to the new National Anthem of Empire, let me think...

And Justice For All

Halls of Justice Painted Green
Money Talking
Power Wolves Beset Your Door
Hear Them Stalking
Soon You'll Please Their Appetite
They Devour
Hammer of Justice Crushes You
Overpower

The Ultimate in Vanity
Exploiting Their Supremacy
I Can't Believe the Things You Say
I Can't Believe
I Can't Believe the Price You Pay
Nothing Can Save You

Justice Is Lost
Justice Is Raped
Justice Is Gone
Pulling Your Strings
Justice Is Done
Seeking No Truth
Winning Is All
Find it So Grim
So True
So Real

Apathy Their Stepping Stone
So Unfeeling
Hidden Deep Animosity
So Deceiving
Through Your Eyes Their Light Burns
Hoping to Find
Inquisition Sinking You
With Prying Minds

The Ultimate in Vanity
Exploiting Their Supremacy
I Can't Believe the Things You Say
I Can't Believe
I Can't Believe the Price You Pay
Nothing Can Save You

Justice Is Lost
Justice Is Raped
Justice Is Gone
Pulling Your Strings
Justice Is Done
Seeking No Truth
Winning Is All
Find it So Grim
So True
So Real

Lady Justice Has Been Raped
Truth Assassin
Rolls of Red Tape Seal Your Lips
Now You're Done in
Their Money Tips Her Scales Again
Make Your Deal
Just What Is Truth? I Cannot Tell
Cannot Feel

The Ultimate in Vanity
Exploiting Their Supremacy
I Can't Believe the Things You Say
I Can't Believe
I Can't Believe the Price We Pay
Nothing Can Save Us

Justice Is Lost
Justice Is Raped
Justice Is Gone
Pulling Your Strings
Justice Is Done
Seeking No Truth
Winning Is All
Find it So Grim
So True
So Real
Seeking No Truth
Winning Is All
Find it So Grim
So True
So Real

[nomorenomore08]

88. Funny how they had that song and "One" on one album, then "Don't Tread on Me" on the next.

Almost makes me think it had something to do with marketing - fear of being branded "unpatriotic," or some bullshit like that.

[KansDem]

89. Let's make "Route 66" the new national anthem...

Now, before you say, "ooh, ohh, KansDem, you're dumb!" let me explain the lyrics:

Well if you ever plan to motor west (There's the "go west (young man) go west" theme)
Just take my way that's the highway that's the best ("Best"--because everything's "best" in America!)
Get your kicks on Route 66 ("Kicks"--a subtle reference to "having fun")

Well it winds from Chicago to L.A. (Mentions two of the largest "with-it" cities in U.S.)
More than 2000 miles all the way (Refers to the vast expanse of America)
Get your kicks on Route 66 (See above)

Well goes from St. Louie down to Missouri (Now we start naming off some prominent landmarks)
Oklahoma City looks oh so pretty (I've been there and think Tulsa is prettier, but it's not on "66")
You'll see Amarillo and Gallup, New Mexico
Flagstaff, Arizona don't forget Winona
Kingman, Barstow, San Bernadino (At least 10 cities named from very big to very small, kinda like a cross-section of American society--from the movers and shakers of the cities to humble farm families)

Would you get hip to this kindly tip (Good ol' American wisdom--kinda like Will Rogers)
And go take that California trip ("California"--the Golden State.)
Get your kicks on Route 66 (See above)

Well goes from St. Louie down to Missouri (Repeat of previous stanzas)
Oklahoma city looks oh so pretty
You'll see Amarillo and Gallup, New Mexico
Flagstaff, Arizona don't forget Winona
Kingman, Barstow, San Bernadino

Would you get hip to this kindly tip
And go take that California trip
Get your kicks on Route 66


I count 4 states and 11 cities mentioned, way more than our current National Anthem. Other American themes include: "go west," "the best," vast expanse, American wisdom, and "fun."

And the fact that Route 66 doesn't exist anymore is another symbol of America: progress. The "kindly old two-lane 66" was replaced by the faster, sleeker, 4-lane I-40, I-44, and some other interstate segment(s).

KansDem