Willie Nelson recording anti-war ballad

[rodbarnett]

Associated Press

Willie Nelson plans to debut an anti-war ballad that he wrote Christmas Day at a fund-raising concert Saturday for Democratic presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich at Austin Music Hall.

Nelson said he plans to record What Ever Happened to Peace on Earth on Wednesday in Nashville, Tenn., and rush-release it as a single.

"Now, I haven't played it for Toby (Keith) yet," a laughing Nelson told the Austin American-Statesman for Tuesday editions. Although the two are close friends, the sentiments of Nelson's song are the polar opposite of Keith's angry-American anthem Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue, with its call to arms.

"Toby wrote that song in reaction to 9/11, which was a totally different thing than watching U.S. soldiers die in Iraq," Nelson said. "Toby's said he's not a Republican or a Democrat; he's a Christian. So we're coming from the same place."

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/headline/entertainment/2329584

[silverlib]

1. And for anyone interested...

that didn't see the words to the song posted yesteday in a different forum:

What Ever Happened To Peace On Earth
There's so many things going on in the world
Babies dying
Mothers crying
How much oil is one human life worth
And what ever happened to peace on earth

We believe everything that they tell us
They're gonna' kill us
So we gotta' kill them first
But I remember a commandment
Thou shall not kill
How much is that soldier's life worth
And whatever happened to peace on earth

(Bridge)
And the bewildered herd is still believing
Everything we've been told from our birth
Hell they won't lie to me
Not on my own damn TV
But how much is a liar's word worth
And whatever happened to peace on earth

So I guess it's just
Do unto others before they do it to you
Let's just kill em' all and let God sort em' out
Is this what God wants us to do

(Repeat Bridge)
And the bewildered herd is still believing
Everything we've been told from our birth
Hell they won't lie to me
Not on my own damn TV
But how much is a liar's word worth
And whatever happened to peace on earth

Now you probably won't hear this on your radio
Probably not on your local TV
But if there's a time, and if you're ever so inclined
You can always hear it from me
How much is one picker's word worth
And whatever happened to peace on earth

But don't confuse caring for weakness
You can't put that label on me
The truth is my weapon of mass protection
And I believe truth sets you free

(Bridge)
And the bewildered herd is still believing
Everything we've been told from our birth
Hell they won't lie to me
Not on my own damn TV
But how much is a liar's word worth
And whatever happened to peace on earth

[RamboLiberal]

23. Fantastic Lyrics - can't wait to buy and hear this one!

I've always loved Willie's music. Guess Anthrax Coulter will be labeling him her next traitor.

[Jerseycoa]

2. Willie's the best

You're so lucky to have him with you. :)

[DemBones DemBones]

8. Willie's a natural to be with Dennis,

given his long-term support for farmers.

It'll be great to have a country song that's NOT "Let's kick some foreign butt in honor of God and the US of A." (Any old foreign butt will do, don't ask me to figure out who's guilty and who's not.) :eyes:

[lastliberalintexas]

10. There have actually been quite a few

anti-war country songs, or at least those with anti-war sentiments- Tom T. Hall's song "100 Children" comes to mind. So-called "popular" country music is often very right wing, but if you listen to the real artists of the genre, it tends to be rather progressive/populist. Even if not liberal!

Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Merle Haggard, Hall, Johnny Cash, Graham Parsons, Emmylou Harris and Kris Kristofferson are just some of the more mainstream country artists who've refused to become bullhorns for the repub party.

[Cocoa]

14. Steve Earle

one of the best

[Politicub]

18. Don't forget the Black Eyed Peas! n/t

:bounce:

[tabasco]

25. It is time for all of them to show their true colors !

Be with the American people or be with the anti-American corporate cabal!

[methinks2]

3. Damn!

I knew there was a reason I've always liked Willie! He was one of the original rebels and still is! You Go Willie!!!
:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:
:smoke:
:toast:

[frylock]

4. looks like i'll be purchasing my first country cd..

[AndyTiedye]

22. I'll buy this one, but Dixie Chicks were my first country CDs

[RebelOne]

31. Me, too. And I don't even like country music.

[goforit]

5. He is something else!!......Hats off to Nelson!!!

:bounce:

[kath]

6. Whoa, dude, such lyrics!!

You go, Willy!!!

[Judi Lynn]

7. Thanks a lot, rodbarnett

It won't hurt a bit that he's from Texas, and that he has a formidable reputation going back for decades, either!

Welcome to D.U. :hi: :hi:

[susu369]

26. Willie is a REAL Texan

unlike the phony pretender.

Willie's spirit warms my heart!

[argyl]

28. Loved him for years.Lived in Austin when he came home from Nashville.

Great scene,great music.Around the same time Steve Earle left Texas for Nashville.Always seemed strange to me since Earle's style was so much more fit for Austin than Nashville.
Heard him in an interview.People were telling him to stay,that the Austin music scene would really explode.He said it could never rival Nashville in status.His reason:"The weather was too nice,the girls were too pretty,and the dope was too good and cheap".He was right then and still is.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

9. Awesome lyrics, Willie!

You're not 'Crazy' for feeling that way...

[underpants]

11. Good for him

The red headed stranger

[Indiana Democrat]

12. But I thought...

...we were all supposed to hate all country music stars and the inbred rubes who listen to country music???

[Bridget Burke]

13. Yes, we all agree on everything here at DU!

Not really.

There are quite a few here who disdain country music. Others admit to liking Bluegrass or Alt-Country. I like those & would add Old Timey, Western Swing, Hard Core Honky Tonk & (some) Country Rock (damn Gram Parsons for OD'ing & leaving the field to the Eagles).

There's not much good to say about what the Nashville Establishment churns out on country radio. But Willie left that behind & has not done too badly.

[Tinoire]

19. Well...

You thought wrong.

[Cocoa]

15. Ted Koppel will be burning copies of this record

he's still mad at Dennis for humiliating him, and he's going to take it out on Willie.

[Dems Will Win]

16. Here's another anti-war song (Sing to Country Joe's Vietnam Rag):

THE IRAQNAM RAG

Give me an O
Give me an I
Give me an L
What's that spell?
What's that spell?
What's that spell?

OIL! OIL! OIIIIIILLL!!!

Well, come on all you real young men
That son of a Bush needs your help again.
He's got himself in a terrorist jam
Way over yonder in Iraqnam
So put down your books and pick up a gun,
We're gonna have a whole lotta fun!

And it's one, two, three --
It’s OIL we’re fighting for!
That’s why we have to kill Saddam,
Next stop is Iraqnam;
And it's five, six, seven,
Open up the pearly gates,
Well the media don’t wonder why,
Whoopee! we're all gonna die.

If you don’t know, here’s the PNAC Plan:
Lose Osama in Afghanistan,
Then take over in Iraqnam
You we need the gas for our mini-vans.
Uzbekistan, Tajikistan,
There you got the PNAC Plan!

And it's one, two, three --
It’s OIL we’re fighting for!
That’s why we have to kill Saddam,
Next stop is Iraqnam;
And it's five, six, seven,
Open up the pearly gates,
Well the media don’t wonder why,
Whoopee! we're all gonna die.

Well, come on PNAC, let's move fast;
Your big chance has come at last.
Our need for oil's just increased,
I hear they got some in the Middle East.
We’re gonna make sure, it’s for certain
The world’s safe for Halliburton!

And it's one, two, three --
It’s OIL we’re fighting for!
That’s why we have to kill Saddam,
Next stop is Iraqnam;
And it's five, six, seven,
Open up the pearly gates,
Well the media don’t wonder why,
Whoopee! we're all gonna die.

Well come on soccer moms throughout the land,
Pack your kids off to Iraqnam!
Come on fathers, don't hesitate,
Send your kids off before it's too late.
Be the first one on your block
To have your kid come home in a box.

And it's one, two, three --
It’s OIL we’re fighting for!
That’s why we have to kill Saddam,
Next stop is Iraqnam;
And it's five, six, seven,
Open up the pearly gates,
Well the media don’t wonder why,
Whoopee! we're all gonna die.

Come on now people! There’s something like 35,653 of you out there and if you really want to end this war you’re going to have sing louder than that! Are you ready?

And it's one, two, three,
It’s OIL we’re fighting for!
That’s why we have to kill Saddam,
Next stop is Iraqnam;
And it's five, six, seven,
Open up the pearly gates,
Well the media don’t wonder why,
Whoopee! we're all gonna die!!

[mbperrin]

27. Thanks! Rest assured I'll pass it on and sing it (badly) but LOUDLY!

nt

[tex46]

17. Willie for President!!!!

[revcarol]

20. Tell me, do tell me, that this will be played on Clear Channel

and other stations that were "warned" not to play anti-war songs..

[LWolf]

29. If they'll play it,

I might decide to tune in again. :evilgrin:

And here's a favorite song of mine about that very subject:

Listen to it here:

http://www.folkmusic.com/f_mp3.htm


The List
Words & music by John McCutcheon
Work version (9/19/01)

Clear Channel Communication
Sent a memo to their stations
Asking DJs to take care
With songs they play upon the air
That might upset, that might divide
That just might stem the growing tide
To send the country into war
Guess that’s what the media is for

To help the listeners of this nation
Clear Channel Communication
Made a list and sent it out
Of songs we should think twice about
One hundred sixty songs or so
To not hear on your radio
Mettalica, The Clash and Queen
AC/DC, Bruce Springsteen
Van Halen, Kansas, Jackson Browne
Dave Matthews, Pink Floyd, Three Doors Down
A huge and most impressive list
But as I read I said, “What’s this?”
Louis Armstrong’s on there too
Neil Diamond, him I always knew
Elvis, Peter, Paul & Mary
James Taylor, he was always scary
“Imagine,” “Peace Train,” “Get Together”
“He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother”
As I read this litany
One awful thought came clear to me

I didn’t make this list
Though I’ve worked my whole life long
Twenty five recordings
They can’t find one lousy song?
It’s a slap in the face, an awful disgrace
What do I have to do
To make the grade and not be played
Like Sinatra and U2?

“How many songs must a folksinger write
“Before they’re forever banned?”

“Imagine there’s no airplay
“It’s easy if you try…”

I’ve always disagreed with folks who’ve said
The world is saved by songs
One thing I’ve learned from all of this
Is that I must be wrong
Some people think it’s dangerous
These things we sing and write
The pen is mightier than the sword
And I’m wielding mine tonight

No, I didn’t make the list
Though I’m really not surprised
I guess that means I can resist
When they’ve silenced all these other guys
I’m taking it well, I’m giving ‘em hell
It’s the only sane solution
So here’s a song, now sing along
And join the revolution

“Come on, people, now smile on your brother
“Everybody get together and love one another right now”

©2001 John McCutcheon/Appalsongs (ASCAP)

[0007]

21. Go Willie go!

[NashVegas]

24. And He's On a Bill With Toby Keith Tonight!

The local news was all over the story about Willie's song tonight, and mentioned the show, but made no comment. That's the funniest thing about it :)

[buycitgo]

30. speaking of songs.....I heard this last night

radio show was playing some "patriotic" songs, and I thought.....great

almost turned it off, but waited a minute, and THIS came up.

amazingly powerful...hard to describe the effect it had.....made my hair stand up

chord changes here:

http://www.sing365.com/music/Lyric.nsf/The-Power-And-The-Glory-lyrics-Phil-Ochs/F687B94BBA3067E548256A2B001F6797

Come and take a walk with me thru this green and growing land
Walk thru the meadows and the mountains and the sand
Walk thru the valleys and the rivers and the plains
Walk thru the sun and walk thru the rain

Here is a land full of power and glory
Beauty that words cannot recall
Oh her power shall rest on the strength of her freedom
Her glory shall rest on us all (on us all)

From Colorado, Kansas, and the Carolinas too
Virginia and Alaska, from the old to the new
Texas and Ohio and the California shore
Tell me, who could ask for more?

Yet she's only as rich as the poorest of her poor
Only as free as the padlocked prison door
Only as strong as our love for this land
Only as tall as we stand

But our land is still troubled by men who have to hate
They twist away our freedom & they twist away our fate
Fear is their weapon and treason is their cry
We can stop them if we try.

and there's always this:

http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/I-Ain't-Marching-Anymore-lyrics-Phil-Ochs/9FF8010CA72C634648256A2B00217AF4

his best known?

[Danieljay]

32. and yet another

::::::::::::::

Anti-War Song


::::::::::::::

Refrain 1
Children's choir:
Where have all the hippies gone
Long time passing
Where have all the hippies gone
Long time ago

Rap: flowing:
Robot planes steered from Washington
Dropping bombs on Afghani children
We-S-A and E-U
Dropping cluster bombs
With peanut butter too
It's the mother of all stupidities
Admit it please
Need this war to feed
Your ailing economies -- period

Refrain 2
Soul:
War is not the answer
There's no need to escalate

Rap: Driving:
Why the hell you bombing Afghanistan
Going after a single man
I just don't understand
Bombing an entire land
Chasing down bin Laden
Makes no sense my friend
And where's it end
Can't defend
This military action
It's over-reaction
It's genocide
Kiss the bride goodnight
War unending
Last man standing

Refrain 3
Guitar riff rock:
Lucy in the sky dropping bombs

Refrain 4
Red-neck talk:
Can't bomb the Saudi's, please
Gas three bucks a gallon
Hell, that's unAmerican

Rap: Direct:
Shah was our buddy
Though he did things bloody
The Iran - Iraq war
Bought the whole store
Of weapons, from us
Israel is left free
To do as it please
We're related, see
At least semantically
All just a Disney tour
In attack helicopters
Saudi royal family in rapture
It's their sons
Pockets full of ones
From us
Trading guns for oil
Who jacked them planes
And took us down in flames

Refrain 4 (2)
Can't bomb the Saudi's please
Gas three bucks a gallon
Hell, that's unAmerican

Rap: flowing:
Stupidly and brazenly
Junior feels free
To start World War Three
Junior's full of jism
With his war on terrorism
It's mindless jingoism
Be honest please
Need this war to feed
Your ailing economy -- period

Refrain 3 (2)
Lucy in the sky dropping bombs

Rap: Fast:
Just knew
When you voted him in
The world
Was in trouble
See he's like
The Hubble
All twisted
And bubbled
Inside taking
Us for a ride
Down forget-me-not lane
He's actually insane
How else you explain
This trouble
Rotten inside and out
What's it all about, Junior
Is it all a blur
A joyride
Into the future

Refrain 2(2)
War is not the answer
There's no need to escalate

Rap: Statement:
Has nothing to do with justice
Not with freedom
But with war-lust

Rap: Driving:
You've fallen victim to
A faulty nepotism
Voted Junior in
'cuz his dad
had done the sin
it's a dirty deed
but what we truly need
is a war on poverty
hopelessness
and despair
can't be waged from the air
dance like Fred Astaire
on the debt-burden
to our heirs
hell, our middleclass
is millionaires
compared to them

Refrain 1(2)
Where have all the hippies gone
Long time passing
Where have all the hippies gone
Long time ago

Rap: Blunt:
Isn't the problem in reality
We don't want to know our enemy
A strategy arriving from revenge
Is certain to be defeated
Sun Tzu said it sweetest

((WEAVE THE FOLLOWING))

Refrain 4 (3)
Can't bomb the Saudi's please
Gas three bucks a gallon
Hell, that's unAmerican

Refrain 3 (3)
Lucy in the sky dropping bombs

Refrain 2(3)
War is not the answer
There's no need to escalate

Refrain 1(3)
Where have all the hippies gone
Long time passing
Where have all the hippies gone
Long time ago

[diamond14]

33. YOUNG artists should already have hundreds of war songs out

on the streets...and plays, performances, artwork...

afterall, Vietnam was our war...and we are old now...

and IRAQ is today's YOUNG people's war...they are fighting it on the front lines already, most dead/injured soldiers are/were YOUNG, they will soon be drafted...they already will pay the bill for it for the rest of their lives....

and YOUNG people haven't yet come up with any good songs, plays, artwork to STOP this insanity....

it just saddens me to no end that old Willy Nelson has to fill this void...it means that this war WILL last forever, because the YOUNG Americans don't care to get up off the couch and do anything to stop it...

and it's takes YOUNG people to stop it...if just 1% of the YOUNG people would do something...then this war could be stopped in a flash...

[pinkpops]

34. They could always cover this one.

[argyl]

35. I've always loved the populism that runs through true country music.

It's good to see it recognized by the more cosmopolitan people of DU and the Democratic Party in general,and not dismissed out of hand as"redneck".
Keep it up,Willie,Steve Earle,Michelle Shocked,Dixie Chicks,Merle Haggard,Emmylou Harris,Roseanne Cash,Kris Kristofferson,and many others.
Thank you for your contributions,Woody Guthrie,Johnny Cash,Waylon Jennings,Doug Sahm,and others.May you RIP.

[westman]

36. Good song.

If he does perform it at a political function, I just hope he doesn't forget the words as he did with the National Anthem at the 1980 Democtratic convention.

[jokerman93]

37. This is Great News!

Hopefully more music and lyrics will follow from other courageous artists all over the world.

PNAC and the Iraq war are NOT only an American problem.

By the way, a while back I started a little thread for fun. I was hoping everyone that posted these great songs on this thread will add them to my Favorite Protest SongBook thread.
Here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=105&topic_id=523107

I'll be posting some of Dylan's on the thread for the younger DUers who may not be familiar with the power of his music.

[Gato Moteado]

38. toby keith is a christian?

coulda fooled me.

[Bridget Burke]

39. Toby's not vicious

Just not real bright.