Time for something completely different and off the beaten path. Music is a big part of American culture and the human experience in general, and I confess to being a metalhead (although somewhat dormant over the past year). I was listening to my metal playlist the other day and had a revelation. There are a few metal/hard rock songs whose lyrics convey messages that are entirely appropriate for the 2020 political landscape in America. Here are three of them.
The first is Gallows Pole from Led Zepplin III, their third studio album released in 1970. Metal didn’t exist way back then, of course, but Led Zep has influenced a lot of metal bands over the years. Jimmie Page is one of the greatest lead guitarists ever, although I am partial to Dimebag Darrell (RIP) of Pantera and Corey Beaulieu of Trivium. Gallows Pole is the perfect theme song for US Attorney John Durham as he issues multi-count indictments to the coup conspirators, FISA abusers, and others. The lyrics fit nicely, but I don’t think a little gold or silver will save them:
Hangman, hangman, hold it a little while
Think I see my friends coming
Riding a many mile
Friends did you get some silver?
Did you get a little gold?
What did you bring me my dear friends
To keep me from the gallows pole?
What did you bring me to keep me from the gallows pole?
Listen to the whole song and rock out:
The second is entitled There is No Hope from Generation Kill’s We’re All Gonna Die album released in 2013. This should be the theme song of the Democrat National Convention this year, as they don’t have an ounce of hope or a chance in Hell in November. Think of Democrats as you read the lyrics and listen to the song:
And they don’t know where the tending disease
Destroying the air and avoid what’s now seas
They kill everything that we don’t understand
We are a virus, a virus that come down
It’s all gone
There is no hope
It’s all gone
There is no hope
It’s all gone
There is no hope
Contagious it’s better, is no quarantineThere’s no care for that is a final disease
All that we brought here is death and fear
No one will cry when we all disappear
It’s all gone
There is no hope
It’s all gone
There is no hope
It’s all gone
There is no hope
It’s all gone
There is no hope
Listen to the whole song and rock out, but the main lyrics above and the dirge start around the 3:35 mark:
The third song is Here to Stay, a Grammy award-winning song for best metal performance in 2003 by the nu metal band Korn from their fifth studio album Untouchables released in 2002. This one could easily be President Trump’s theme song, as he endured the shit that’s “gone way too far” from the Democrat-media complex and has “taken everything and … cannot give any more” chances to them. And, triumphantly, he spits in their faces after all they tried to do to impeach him and yells out, “I’m here to stay!” And then finishes by yelling, “Gonna break it down,” which is what he’s doing to The Swamp. Anyway, that’s how it resonates with me.
My mind’s done with this
Okay, I’ve got a question
Can I throw it all away?
Take back what’s mine
So I take my time
Guiding the blade down the line
Each cut closer to the vein
Vein, veinThis state is elevating
As the hurt turns into hating
Anticipating
All the fucked up feelings again
The hurt inside is fading
This shit’s gone way too far
All this time I’ve been waiting
No, I cannot grieve anymore
For once inside awaking
I’m done, I’m not a whore
You’ve taken everything and
Oh, I cannot give any moreI’m here to stay
Bring it down!
I’m here to stay
Bring it down!
I’m here to stay
Bring it down!
I’m here to stay
Bring it down!
Bring it down!
Bring it down!
Bring it down!
Gonna break it down!
Gonna break it down!
Gonna break it down!
Gonna break it down!
Gonna break it down!
Gonna break it down!
Gonna break it down!
Gonna break it!
Listen to the whole thing and watch for the above lyrics (it’s a pretty hairy video, too):
I’ll bet you never thought metal music had any real utility, did you? Anything is possible on God’s Green Earth. And be kind to any kids of yours who listen to metal music, too.
The end.
