Firecrackers
With the 4th of July upon us -- and my neighbors barricading off the streets in preparation for a block party -- I was thinking about the notion of independence from both a personal and a musical standpoint. (To be honest, my idea of freedom right now is to leave my neighborhood before anyone can chat me up about their new lawnmower). Independence, freedom, and rebellion mean something different to each of us at different times in our lives. Some might have experience actually fighting for one's country, while others have waged their own battles -- some small, others quite significant. Freedom might mean breaking away from our parents, from normative culture, a crappy job, a bad relationship, discrimination, or a set of values with which we disagree.
These moments of fleeing -- of embracing a new way of being, of standing up for something -- often have soundtracks: music and lyrics to remind us why we're fighting, to motivate and galvanize us, to soothe, and to provide release.
As teenagers, maybe music was the final push in a slowly mounting "f--- you" campaign. But as adults, we're not immune to the power, solace, and validation that music provides to our own struggles.
What are your favorite lyrics or songs that encapsulate a sense of independence, rebellion, or freedom, personal or otherwise?
Two song excerpts that come to mind for me:
From Stiff Little Fingers' "Alternative Ulster"
Take a look where you're livin'
You got the Army on your street
And the RUC dog of repression
Is barking at your feet
Is this the kind of place you wanna live?
Is this where you wanna be?
Is this the only life we're gonna have?
What we need is
An Alternative Ulster
Grab it and change it, it's yours
Get an Alternative Ulster
Ignore the bores and their laws
Get an Alternative Ulster
Be an anti-security force
Alter your native Ulster
Alter your native land
Check out this 1979 performance of the song:
And from Bruce Springsteen's "Badlands"
Lights out tonight
trouble in the heartland
Got a head-on collision
smashin' in my guts, man
I'm caught in a crossfire
that I don't understand
But there's one thing I know for sure, girl
I don't give a damn
For the same old played-out scenes
I don't give a damn
For just the in-betweens
Honey, I want the heart, I want the soul
I want control right now
talk about a dream
Try to make it real
you wake up in the night
With a fear so real
Spend your life waiting
for a moment that just don't come
Well, don't waste your time waiting
Watch a 1985 performance of the song:
Happy 4th of July.
5:20 PM ET | 07- 3-2008 | permalink
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