We'd like to play hockey, have kids and grow old

[sun_set_bravely]

On the drive to Maryland last night, we listened to Moxy Fruvous's "Gulf War Song" (written in the early 90s, released on their "Bargainville" CD) and I was struck once again by the simple and powerful sentiment in this song. It's nothing earth-shattering, but I like it. Here are the lyrics, for those who don't know it.

Moxy Fruvous
"Gulf War Song"

We got a call to write a song about the war in the Gulf
But we shouldn't hurt anyone's feelings
So we tried, then gave up, 'cause there was no such song
But the trying was very revealing
What makes a person so poisonous righteous
That they'd think less of anyone who just disagreed?
She's just a pacifist, he's just a patriot
If I said you were crazy, would you have to fight me?

Fighters for liberty, fighters for power
Fighters for longer turns in the shower
Don't tell me I can't fight, 'cause I'll punch out your lights
And history seems to agree that I would fight you for me

So we read and we watched all the specially selected news
And we learned so much more 'bout the good guys
Won't you stand by the flag? Was the question unasked
Won't you join in and fight with the allies?
What could we say...we're only 25 years old?
With 25 sweet summers, and hot fires in the cold
This kind of life makes that violence unthinkable
We'd like to play hockey, have kids and grow old

Fighters for Texaco, fighters for power
Fighters for longer turns in the shower
Don't tell me I can't fight 'cause I'll punch out your lights
And history seems to agree that I would fight you for me
That us would fight them for we

He's just a peacenik and she's just a warhawk
That's where the beach was, that's where the sea
What could we say...we're only 25 years old?
And history seems to agree
that I would fight you for me
That us would fight them for we

Is that how it always will be?

Comments

Solid!

[gmoneyjonesiii.livejournal.com]

I dig that, big time. Go Früvous. That's a more embraceable batch of lyrics than the previous Best Gulf War Protest Song I Ever Heard, "The Bravery Of Being Out Of Range", written during the Gulf War, by Roger Waters. To wit, if I may:

You have a natural tendency
To squeeze off a shot,
You're good fun at parties,
You wear the right masks.
You're old but you still
Like a laugh in the locker room.
You can't abide change.
You're at home on the range.

You opened your suitcase
Behind the old workings
To show off the magnum;
You deafened the canyon.
A comfort, a friend
Only upstaged in the end
By the Uzi machine gun.
Does the recoil remind you,
Remind you of sex?

Old man, what the hell you gonna kill next?
Old timer, who you gonna kill next?

I looked over Jordan, and what did I see?
Saw a U.S. Marine in a pile of debris.
I swam in your pools
And lay under your palm trees,
I looked in the eyes of the Indian
Who lay on the Federal Building steps.

And through the range finder over the hill,
I saw the frontline boys popping their pills.
Sick of the mess they find
On their desert stage,
And the bravery of being out of range.
Yeah, the question is vexed:

Old man, what the hell you gonna kill next?
Old timer, who you gonna kill next?

Hey, bartender! Over here!
Two more shots
And two more beers.
Sir, turn up the TV sound;
The war has started on the ground.
Just love those laser-guided bombs
They're really great
For righting wrongs
You hit the target
And win the game
From bars 3,000 miles away.
3,000 miles away.

We play the game
With the bravery of being out of range
We zap and maim
With the bravery of being out of range
We strafe the train
With the bravery of being out of range
We gain terrain
With the bravery of being out of range

We play the game
With the bravery of being out of range.

- Roger Waters, "The Bravery Of Being Out Of Range"