Songs In The Key Of Bush
March 18, 2005 9:11 AM Subscribe
Songs about George W. Bush?
in the 1980s, there were tons of songs about Reagan. Nowadays I haven't noticed any about George W., but maybe I'm out of the loop. So I ask those in the know: what are some songs (good, bad, indifferent; positive or negative) about George W. Bush?
in the 1980s, there were tons of songs about Reagan. Nowadays I haven't noticed any about George W., but maybe I'm out of the loop. So I ask those in the know: what are some songs (good, bad, indifferent; positive or negative) about George W. Bush?
Ministry just released an entire album about the little shit. Pretty good it is, too.
posted by Decani at 9:22 AM on March 18, 2005
posted by Decani at 9:22 AM on March 18, 2005
Doors -- The End
posted by thomcatspike at 9:24 AM on March 18, 2005
posted by thomcatspike at 9:24 AM on March 18, 2005
American Idiot - Green Day
posted by stovenator at 9:25 AM on March 18, 2005
posted by stovenator at 9:25 AM on March 18, 2005
I saw this somewhere a while ago and pasted it into a text file. I'm not sure where is was from and I don't think this was the whole of the lyrics:
Life is gonna be so great
in the United States.
Make no mistake (yeah).
Life is gonna be so great
when George W. Bush wins the next presidential race.
CHORUS (x2):
George W.,
I'm in love with you.
This vote's for you.
I'll be there in your grassroots campaign
I won't complain.
I'll work for no pay (yeah).
I'll be there at the polls of course.
My voice is hoarse
from shouting your name (yeah yeah).
CHORUS
You'll be my favorite first in command,
with a compassionate hand
addressing the nation.
You'll be there on my TV screen.
You'll look really keen
on every station.
CHORUS
posted by nobody at 9:28 AM on March 18, 2005
Life is gonna be so great
in the United States.
Make no mistake (yeah).
Life is gonna be so great
when George W. Bush wins the next presidential race.
CHORUS (x2):
George W.,
I'm in love with you.
This vote's for you.
I'll be there in your grassroots campaign
I won't complain.
I'll work for no pay (yeah).
I'll be there at the polls of course.
My voice is hoarse
from shouting your name (yeah yeah).
CHORUS
You'll be my favorite first in command,
with a compassionate hand
addressing the nation.
You'll be there on my TV screen.
You'll look really keen
on every station.
CHORUS
posted by nobody at 9:28 AM on March 18, 2005
Punk band NoFx, noted by amberglow, has a pretty strong hate for W.
The War on Errorism
There are also these comp albums:
Rock Against Bush Vol I
Rock Against Bush Vol II
posted by Scottk at 9:29 AM on March 18, 2005
The War on Errorism
There are also these comp albums:
Rock Against Bush Vol I
Rock Against Bush Vol II
posted by Scottk at 9:29 AM on March 18, 2005
Dick Is A Killer is awesome because the artist took the President's speeches and mixed/mashed them into something good. The lyrics are sweet.
posted by plemeljr at 9:31 AM on March 18, 2005
posted by plemeljr at 9:31 AM on March 18, 2005
my personal favorite is Bu$hleager by Pearl jam:
How does he do it? how do they do it?
uncanny and immutable.
This is such a happening tailpipe of a party.
Like sugar, the guests are so refined, (look like melting mice)
A confidence man, but why so beleagued?
He’s not a leader, he’s a texas leaguer
Swinging for the fence, got lucky with a strike
Drilling for fear, makes the job simple
Born on third, thinks he got a triple
Blackout weaves it’s way through the cities
Blackout weaves it’s way through the cities
Blackout weaves it’s way,...
I remember when you sang
That song about today
Now it’s tomorrow and
Everything has changed
A think tank of aloof multiplication
A nicotine wish and a colossus decanter
Retrenchment and foolishness
What’s the buckos?
The haves have not a clue
The immenseness of suffering
And the odd negotiation, a rarity
With onionskin plausibility of life,
And a keyboard reaffirmation
Blackout weaves it’s way through the cities
Blackout weaves it’s way through the cities
Blackout weaves it’s way,...
I remember when you sang
That song about today
Now it’s tomorrow and
Everything has changed
posted by ShawnString at 9:44 AM on March 18, 2005
How does he do it? how do they do it?
uncanny and immutable.
This is such a happening tailpipe of a party.
Like sugar, the guests are so refined, (look like melting mice)
A confidence man, but why so beleagued?
He’s not a leader, he’s a texas leaguer
Swinging for the fence, got lucky with a strike
Drilling for fear, makes the job simple
Born on third, thinks he got a triple
Blackout weaves it’s way through the cities
Blackout weaves it’s way through the cities
Blackout weaves it’s way,...
I remember when you sang
That song about today
Now it’s tomorrow and
Everything has changed
A think tank of aloof multiplication
A nicotine wish and a colossus decanter
Retrenchment and foolishness
What’s the buckos?
The haves have not a clue
The immenseness of suffering
And the odd negotiation, a rarity
With onionskin plausibility of life,
And a keyboard reaffirmation
Blackout weaves it’s way through the cities
Blackout weaves it’s way through the cities
Blackout weaves it’s way,...
I remember when you sang
That song about today
Now it’s tomorrow and
Everything has changed
posted by ShawnString at 9:44 AM on March 18, 2005
The Party Party do a lot of stuff with actual speeches of GWB that are pretty funny, and some actually pretty good, too...
posted by mdn at 9:55 AM on March 18, 2005
posted by mdn at 9:55 AM on March 18, 2005
"When The President Talks To God" by Bright Eyes.
Excerpt:
when the president talks to god
are the conversations brief or long?
does he ask to rape our womens' rights
or to send poor farm kids off to die?
will the president recommend an oil hike
when the president talks to god?
posted by skylar at 10:08 AM on March 18, 2005
Excerpt:
when the president talks to god
are the conversations brief or long?
does he ask to rape our womens' rights
or to send poor farm kids off to die?
will the president recommend an oil hike
when the president talks to god?
posted by skylar at 10:08 AM on March 18, 2005
Many-times-Grammy-nominated folk musician John McCutcheon has plenty. He's got a whole album, Hail to the Chief. You can download a bunch of 'em as high-quality MP3s from his site, too. My favorite is "Hail to the Chief," but I quite like "Not Me," also.
posted by waldo at 10:14 AM on March 18, 2005
posted by waldo at 10:14 AM on March 18, 2005
Rickie Lee Jones - Ugly Man
He's an ugly man
He always was an ugly man
He grew up to be like his father
An ugly man
And he'll tell you lies
He'll look at you and tell you lies
He grew up to be like his father
Ugly inside
[stuff deleted]
And we'll take it back
Now we take the country back
Everywhere that you're not looking
Ugly man...
posted by matildaben at 10:17 AM on March 18, 2005
He's an ugly man
He always was an ugly man
He grew up to be like his father
An ugly man
And he'll tell you lies
He'll look at you and tell you lies
He grew up to be like his father
Ugly inside
[stuff deleted]
And we'll take it back
Now we take the country back
Everywhere that you're not looking
Ugly man...
posted by matildaben at 10:17 AM on March 18, 2005
We Got Back the Plague by The Fiery Furnaces
posted by PinkStainlessTail at 10:21 AM on March 18, 2005
posted by PinkStainlessTail at 10:21 AM on March 18, 2005
Public Enemy's 'Son of a Bush' is about him (as opposed to Paris' 'Bush Killa,' which is about Bush 41, and which I mention for no reason).
posted by box at 10:34 AM on March 18, 2005
posted by box at 10:34 AM on March 18, 2005
"Waiting for a Dream," on the new Rufus Wainwright album, has:
There's a fire in the priory
And an ogre in the oval office.
(He's said in interviews that the one good thing about the election was that the song isn't out-of-date yet).
posted by Jeanne at 10:44 AM on March 18, 2005
There's a fire in the priory
And an ogre in the oval office.
(He's said in interviews that the one good thing about the election was that the song isn't out-of-date yet).
posted by Jeanne at 10:44 AM on March 18, 2005
"Hey Mr. President (Anyone But You)" by Will Hoge. It never names Bush directly but it's all about voting for anyone but Bush in the 2004 election.
posted by whatideserve at 10:45 AM on March 18, 2005
posted by whatideserve at 10:45 AM on March 18, 2005
There's a hilarious one that I can't find a reference to - it sounds like a campaign song from 2000 and the chorus is along the lines of "We love Bush and Cheney/Give us Bush and Cheney/ELECT BUSH AND CHENEY!" It references leave no child behind, and eagles soaring and such things. I have no idea who sung it or if it was an official song, but it was a duet so bad it may well have been parody. I have the .mp3, but no way of hosting it.
posted by loquax at 10:58 AM on March 18, 2005
posted by loquax at 10:58 AM on March 18, 2005
Aha! Found it:
After hearing George W. Bush speak at the Republician convention and discovering that he would be visiting my home town. We decided to put his vision into music. Enjoy the song and share it with your friends.
Bush Victory Song (by Ray Soular & Frank Jaramillo)
It's time to get back to the shining star * America proud of everything we are
Join in the voices singing near and farm * We're gonna elect Bush and Cheney
We want Bush and Cheney * We need Bush and Cheney
We want Bush and Cheney * ELECT! Bush and Cheney
Live on the bright side in morning sunshine * Our pledge is to leave no child behind
Put education and values in line * We're gonna elect Bush and Cheney
We want Bush and Cheney * We need Bush and Cheney
We want Bush and Cheney * ELECT! Bush and Cheney
United States ... (America) * Inaugurates ... (America)
Integrity ... (America) * VOTE! Bush and Cheney
posted by loquax at 11:23 AM on March 18, 2005
After hearing George W. Bush speak at the Republician convention and discovering that he would be visiting my home town. We decided to put his vision into music. Enjoy the song and share it with your friends.
Bush Victory Song (by Ray Soular & Frank Jaramillo)
It's time to get back to the shining star * America proud of everything we are
Join in the voices singing near and farm * We're gonna elect Bush and Cheney
We want Bush and Cheney * We need Bush and Cheney
We want Bush and Cheney * ELECT! Bush and Cheney
Live on the bright side in morning sunshine * Our pledge is to leave no child behind
Put education and values in line * We're gonna elect Bush and Cheney
We want Bush and Cheney * We need Bush and Cheney
We want Bush and Cheney * ELECT! Bush and Cheney
United States ... (America) * Inaugurates ... (America)
Integrity ... (America) * VOTE! Bush and Cheney
posted by loquax at 11:23 AM on March 18, 2005
"Blinded by the Right" by Rilo Kiley
"You could be President if your daddy was first
If your brother the governor had the power to coerce
It's absurd but he could change laws so certain votes were heard
For what it's worth, that "democratic" election could be yours
Blinded by the Right
It's the beginning of the end
Now Big Brother is your friend
The Patriot Act enacted allows the government in
To see how you spend, read what you read, jail you indefinitely
And defend they don't intend to end your personal privacy
Blinded by the Right
It's fucked up being seduced by the coalition of Christ"
posted by ludwig_van at 11:34 AM on March 18, 2005
"You could be President if your daddy was first
If your brother the governor had the power to coerce
It's absurd but he could change laws so certain votes were heard
For what it's worth, that "democratic" election could be yours
Blinded by the Right
It's the beginning of the end
Now Big Brother is your friend
The Patriot Act enacted allows the government in
To see how you spend, read what you read, jail you indefinitely
And defend they don't intend to end your personal privacy
Blinded by the Right
It's fucked up being seduced by the coalition of Christ"
posted by ludwig_van at 11:34 AM on March 18, 2005
Sleater-Kinney's "Combat Rock" deals with the Republican party in power, but doesn't address Bush specifically:
Where is the questioning where is the protest song?
Since when is skepticism un-American?
Dissent's not treason but they talk like it's the same
Those who disagree are afraid to show their face
Let's break out our old machines now
It sure is good to see them run again
Oh gentlemen start your engines
And we know where we get the oil from
posted by patgas at 11:39 AM on March 18, 2005
Where is the questioning where is the protest song?
Since when is skepticism un-American?
Dissent's not treason but they talk like it's the same
Those who disagree are afraid to show their face
Let's break out our old machines now
It sure is good to see them run again
Oh gentlemen start your engines
And we know where we get the oil from
posted by patgas at 11:39 AM on March 18, 2005
While I'm at it, "Faraway," a Sleater-Kinney song about 9/11, actually does reference Bush:
And the president hides
while working men rush in
To give their lives
posted by patgas at 11:40 AM on March 18, 2005
And the president hides
while working men rush in
To give their lives
posted by patgas at 11:40 AM on March 18, 2005
James McMurtry's "We Can't Make it Here" is available for download, and heavily requested on my favorite radio station.
posted by tizzie at 11:45 AM on March 18, 2005
posted by tizzie at 11:45 AM on March 18, 2005
Fuzzy, without a doubt, you are looking for The George W Bush Singers.
As discussed here.
posted by DrJohnEvans at 11:53 AM on March 18, 2005
As discussed here.
posted by DrJohnEvans at 11:53 AM on March 18, 2005
Random article I just googled entitled "Rock for Regime Change" about current bands and musicans with anti-Bush messages, some of the same names mentioned, but I didn't really read it.
Of Montreal "If He Is Protecting Our Nation, Then Who Will Protect Big Oil, Our Children?"
posted by Jack Karaoke at 12:03 PM on March 18, 2005
Of Montreal "If He Is Protecting Our Nation, Then Who Will Protect Big Oil, Our Children?"
posted by Jack Karaoke at 12:03 PM on March 18, 2005
And another Rilo Kiley song, "It's a Hit":
Any chimp can play human for a day.
Use his opposable thumbs to iron his uniform
and run for office on election day
fancy himself a real decision maker
and deploy more troops than salt in a shaker.
But it's a jungle when war is made,
and you'll panic and throw your own shit at the enemy.
The camera pulls back to reveal your true identity.
Look, it's a sheep in wolf's clothing.
A smoking gun holding ape.
Any asshole can open up a museum.
Put all of the things he loves on display
so everyone could see them.
The house, a car, a thoughtful wife
ordinary moments in his ordinary life.
But if she breaks a smile, she'll give you away
'cause no one wants to pay to see your happiness.
No one wants to pay to see your day to day
and I'm not buying it either
but I'll try selling it anyway.
Any idiot can play Greek for a day
and join a sorority or write a tragedy
and articulating all that pain
and maybe you'll get paid.
But it's a sin when success complains,
and your writers block-it don't mean shit.
Just throw it against the wall and see what sticks.
Gotta write a hit
I think this is it.
It's a hit.
And if it's not,
then it's a holiday for hanging
yeah it's a holiday for hanging
yeah it's a holiday for hanging
yeah it's a holiday for hanging
yeah shoo-bop-shoo-bop my baby
Any fool can play executioner for a day,
and say with fingers pointed in both directions
'he went thataway',
It's only a switch or syringe,
aww, exempt from eternal sins.
But you still wear a cross,
and you think you're gonna get in.
Ah, but the pardons never come from up-stairs.
They're always a moment too late,
but it's entertainment
keep the crowd on their toes,
it's justice, we're safe.
It's not a hit, it's a holiday
shoo-bop-shoo-bop my baby
It's a holiday for hanging, yeah
(etc)
posted by librarina at 12:27 PM on March 18, 2005
Any chimp can play human for a day.
Use his opposable thumbs to iron his uniform
and run for office on election day
fancy himself a real decision maker
and deploy more troops than salt in a shaker.
But it's a jungle when war is made,
and you'll panic and throw your own shit at the enemy.
The camera pulls back to reveal your true identity.
Look, it's a sheep in wolf's clothing.
A smoking gun holding ape.
Any asshole can open up a museum.
Put all of the things he loves on display
so everyone could see them.
The house, a car, a thoughtful wife
ordinary moments in his ordinary life.
But if she breaks a smile, she'll give you away
'cause no one wants to pay to see your happiness.
No one wants to pay to see your day to day
and I'm not buying it either
but I'll try selling it anyway.
Any idiot can play Greek for a day
and join a sorority or write a tragedy
and articulating all that pain
and maybe you'll get paid.
But it's a sin when success complains,
and your writers block-it don't mean shit.
Just throw it against the wall and see what sticks.
Gotta write a hit
I think this is it.
It's a hit.
And if it's not,
then it's a holiday for hanging
yeah it's a holiday for hanging
yeah it's a holiday for hanging
yeah it's a holiday for hanging
yeah shoo-bop-shoo-bop my baby
Any fool can play executioner for a day,
and say with fingers pointed in both directions
'he went thataway',
It's only a switch or syringe,
aww, exempt from eternal sins.
But you still wear a cross,
and you think you're gonna get in.
Ah, but the pardons never come from up-stairs.
They're always a moment too late,
but it's entertainment
keep the crowd on their toes,
it's justice, we're safe.
It's not a hit, it's a holiday
shoo-bop-shoo-bop my baby
It's a holiday for hanging, yeah
(etc)
posted by librarina at 12:27 PM on March 18, 2005
Has anyone mentioned mosh? I never knew I could like an Eminem ditty.
posted by danOstuporStar at 12:47 PM on March 18, 2005
posted by danOstuporStar at 12:47 PM on March 18, 2005
Not about Bush in particular, but Dylan's Masters of War pretty much fits the times. Sadly.
Even Jesus would never forgive what you do.
posted by jokeefe at 1:21 PM on March 18, 2005
Even Jesus would never forgive what you do.
posted by jokeefe at 1:21 PM on March 18, 2005
Has anyone mentioned mosh? I never knew I could like an Eminem ditty.
Me either. But the first time I heard it/saw the video, just before the election, I got chills and goosebumps-- first thing to affect me like that for a long time.
And, for a moment, I also felt a flickering sense of hope. Ah well.
posted by jokeefe at 1:23 PM on March 18, 2005
Me either. But the first time I heard it/saw the video, just before the election, I got chills and goosebumps-- first thing to affect me like that for a long time.
And, for a moment, I also felt a flickering sense of hope. Ah well.
posted by jokeefe at 1:23 PM on March 18, 2005
President Gas by the Pyschedelic Furs pre-dates the current hell by almost two decades, but it fits. I wish Interpol or Bloc Party would cover this.
posted by mds35 at 2:11 PM on March 18, 2005
posted by mds35 at 2:11 PM on March 18, 2005
Presidents' Day by Loudon Wainwright
Bush Must Be Defeated- Dan Berg
Eric Idle's FCC Song has verses about Bush and Cheney
While it doesn't mention Bush's name, Billy Bragg's Price of Oil has a line about the oil men in the White House not giving a damn .
If you go through the archives of Salon's Wednesday Morning Download, there was one about the twenty five best protest songs- all the above except for the FCC Song are linked to there, as well as a few of the other songs listed in this thread.
posted by Ruki at 9:34 PM on March 18, 2005
Bush Must Be Defeated- Dan Berg
Eric Idle's FCC Song has verses about Bush and Cheney
While it doesn't mention Bush's name, Billy Bragg's Price of Oil has a line about the oil men in the White House not giving a damn .
If you go through the archives of Salon's Wednesday Morning Download, there was one about the twenty five best protest songs- all the above except for the FCC Song are linked to there, as well as a few of the other songs listed in this thread.
posted by Ruki at 9:34 PM on March 18, 2005
Immortal Technique: Cause of Death
the hook is "Father forgive them for they don't know right from wrong"...
verse 3
the hook is "Father forgive them for they don't know right from wrong"...
verse 3
And just so Conservatives don't take it to heartAnother song on Revolutionary Vol. 2 entitled "The 4th Branch" deals a conscience to Bush's apparat: posted by edverb at 10:18 PM on March 18, 2005
I don't think Bush did it, 'cuz he isn't that smart
He's just a stupid puppet taking orders on his cell phone
From the same people that sabotaged Senator Wellstone
The military industry got it poppin' and lockin'
Looking for a way to justify the Wolfowitz Doctrine
And as a matter of fact, Rumsfeld, now that I think back
Without 9/11, you couldn't have a war in Iraq
Or a Defense budget of world conquest proportions
Kill freedom of speech and revoke the right to abortions
Tax cut extortion, a blessing to the wealthy and wicked
But you still have to answer to the Armageddon you scripted
And Dick Cheney, you fuckin leech, tell them your plans
About building your pipelines through Afghanistan
And how Israeli troops trained the Taliban in Pakistan
You might have some house niggaz fooled, but I understand
Colonialism is sponsored by corporations
That's why Halliburton gets paid to rebuild nations
Tell me the truth, I don't scare into paralysis
I know the CIA saw Bin Laden on dialysis
In '98 when he was Top Ten for the FBI
Government ties is really why the Government lies
Read it yourself instead of asking the Government why
'Cuz then the Cause of Death will cause the propaganda to die.
(sorry for the error, here's the end of that post:)
It's like MK-Ultra controlling your brainposted by edverb at 10:22 PM on March 18, 2005
Suggestive thinking causing your perspective to change
They want to rearrange the whole point of view of the ghetto
The fourth branch of the government want us to settle
A bandana full of glittering generalities
Fighting for freedom and fighting terror but what's reality
Read about the history of the place that we're living
and stop letting corporate news tell lies to your children
KXCI in Tucson released a politically-flavored compilation CD last year, One Song at a Time , which featured "That's What the President Said", by Duncan Stitt. The song set to music actual Bushisms lifted from the headlines.
posted by Tufa at 2:40 PM on March 19, 2005
posted by Tufa at 2:40 PM on March 19, 2005
R.E.M.'s I Wanted To Be Wrong and Final Straw from their latest album. Not explicit, but that's the underlying theme.
posted by corvine at 9:19 AM on March 21, 2005
posted by corvine at 9:19 AM on March 21, 2005
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by amberglow at 9:13 AM on March 18, 2005