Fiddle and the Drum

And so once again/ My dear Johnny my dear friend/ And so once again you are fighting us all/ And when I ask you why/ You raise your sticks and cry,/ and I fall/
Oh, my friendHow did you come/ To trade the fiddle for the drum/ You say I have turned/ Like the enemies you've earned/ But I can remember/ All the good things you are/
And so I ask you please/ Can I help you find the peace and the star/Oh, my friend/ What time is this/ To trade the handshake for the fist/And so once again/

Oh, America my friend/ And so once again/ You are fighting us all/ And when we ask you why/ You raise your sticks and cry and we fall/ Oh, my friend/ How did you come/To trade the fiddle for the drum/

You say we have turned/ Like the enemies you've earned/ But we can remember/ All the good things you are/ And so we ask you please/ Can we help you find the peace and the star/

Oh my friend/We have all come/To fear the beating of your drum

-song by Joni Mitchell. Thought I'd share it.. seemed appropriate.

 

Joni Mitchell .. i think she was a Canadian singer/songwriter.
That always reminds me of Burton Cummings 'American Woman' which is refering to the USA as a nation and critiques the 'War machine'
That brings me to Neil Young's critique song about 'Alabama'.

As a Canadian I think other Canadian artists should spend a little less time pointing fingers at their Host country and more time minding their own business.

IMHO

 

That Said - Burton Cummings fucking Rocks!

 

Well alot of these Canadian Artists spend most of there time south of the border. Your comment just annoy's me to know end. I don't think anyone should mind there own business. If everyone did, nothing would be said or done.

 

And your annoying me.. but this forum is in Cyberspace and for that matter comes from The Netherlands.

Burton Cummings 'American Woman' is a little different because he is talking about the experience of his career (and his Yankee Girlfriend i suppose) from a Canadian perspective and from his place in Canada.
(thats my take on it anyway)

Neil Young made a lot of money and accolades by gracious Americans who allowed him the privilage to live in the US and make these songs.
Then he has no problem ranting and raving about how much it sucks.

Mind you .. all this music business is pure bullshit anyway.
These songs are often contrived and deliberately targeted by focus groups of record-execs to reach a target market.

Probably you brothersun

 

I posted these lyrics because the song has a meaning and a message, I don't think the writer's origin is as important. I posted it for sake of the song itself.

 

Im wondering if you think the song refers to the invasion of Iraq?

I ask because the USA, Great Britain and Australia are all liberating Iraq.

There are too many support nations to mention incl, Canada, Poland etc etc.. who while not directly placing troops inside Iraqi fighting - are certainly helping the other three do so.

Then again, you might be one of those arrogant Americans who actually think the USA is doing this on its own, by itself.

 

I'm aware we are being helped. I am also aware there is strong opposition in Europe to helping us , including Great Britain. The other countries that are not helping are fearful of our actions. Most of the middle east is fearful of us - or should I say, they have strong distaste for us.

 

A lot of people in the middle-east think you are a vulgar pig and want to see you killed and forced to worship Allah.
There is not much 'strong' opposition to the Iraq invasion, considering most of those nations supported the action - but felt we should have waited longer.

 

Their governments have given support. But, just like in the US, the people have strong opposition against the action.

 

After the election in the USA it seems pretty clear the majority of Americans are in support of invading Iraq.

Keep in mind the second place candidate John Kerry Kohn was FOR INVADING IRAQ.

 

The election was pretty close. Statistically the average of the population is divided.

 

Herd mentality.
If everyone says its okay, I guess its okay then, huh?
The mob rules.

 

The Majority Rules (sometimes unfortunately) however that is not really the point.
The Point is that almost all electors chose a candidate who supported the invasion of Iraq.
Kerry was FOR invading Iraq and if elected planned to continue occupying Iraq until democracy ruled.

This is not the only reason people voted for Kerry - but it indicates they supported Kerry's Pro-Iraq invasion policy enough to support him overall.

 

Horsefeathers.
If you have two options, and both are for it, what choice does one have?
The Nader option is not really an option, now is it?

 

I have no idea why you wouldnt vote for Nader (if he represented your ideals)?

People dont seem to get it, the more a third party gets - the more the others sit up and listen (and hopefully emulate).

One of the reasons Kerry and the Democrats can afford to be 'Bush Lite' and get away with it is because there are no Nader votes to scare them straight.

Dont think it will work?
Canada's Reform Party did just that and changed the landscape.
Now there are Three DISTINCT Parties.
Before there was Liberals and their nearly identical counter-parts - The Conservatives.

If you are not for the Iraqi invasion then please do not vote for a Kerry who was FOR invading Iraq.

 

Hey, Ive said it before, Kerry is for almost everything Bush is for.
The difference was that Kerry 'acted' like he was somehow a liberal peacenik or a pro-gay marriage lover when it suited him.
Kerry was PRO IRaq-invasion and was opposed to gay marriage.
He was also extremely super-rich.

I have far more respect for Nader, who at least states his agenda plain and simple.
You know where he stands.

 

Quit it, yer freakin me out......go back to being totally disagreeable, at least that was consistent, these last couple of opinions make me think you were just being the devil's advocate before, and if so, damn I hate that, what a waste of my time............

 

Well if it makes you feel any better - I still think you are the biggest racist on these boards right now?