Today is July 4th, or as the English refer to it, Bloody Uppity Ungrateful Colonists Day. It is a day of song and celebration. In these disturbing times, three pieces perhaps not often thought of in conjunction with the holiday suggest themselves.

Some months back, I reviewed the album Vital by veteran Christian alt-rock band Vector, deservedly praising it to the skies. While I was assembling the “Of Forgiveness Without Compromise” post last night, I was going through the latest Cephas Hour episode and was struck by the lyrics of “Flesh and Bone” from Vital, which is in the show.

We’ve been told so many lies to lock us down
Do we wonder why we’re broken
Take our dreams apart and throw them to the ground
While everything is stolen

We are more than flesh and bone
We are more than that
We are more than that

If all the people
Choose to stand
And not lie down
Show their faces
Making their voices clear and loud

There is nothing in the world that we should fear
Together we are stronger
It’s time to make our message clear
You can’t control us any longer

We are more than flesh and bone
We are more than that
We are more than that

If all the people
Choose to stand
And not lie down
Show their faces
Making their voices clear and loud

Stay inside
Will there be time
Will we have a second chance
To show them who we are

Will we draw the line
Will we shine
We are more than that
We are more than that
We are more than flesh and bone
Flesh and bone

Choose to stand
And not lie down
Show their faces
Making their voices clear and loud

Talk about an anthem behind which to rally.

Another song standing fast in the face of oppression comes from a few years back and the band KXM. Consisting of King’s X bassist/vocalist Doug Pinnick, former Dokken/current Lynch Mob guitarist George Lynch, and Korn drummer Ray Luzier, the trio’s first album, released during Obama’s second term, contains this slice of in-your-face defiance against government overreach (warning: language).

A sample of the lyrics:

To add to the confusion
We question the conclusion
In choosing the solution
To take our rights away
Take our rights away

Ignore the Constitution
And take away our freedom
Resist they call it treason
And put your ass away

Finally, we have the gentlemanly brilliance that is Richie Furay.

Enjoy the 4th, everyone.