Bob Dylan's "Talkin' John Birch Paranoid Blues" (1962/1963) seems infinitely sane and observant, but was apparently too "shocking" for the Ed Sullivan Show, or even original release on The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan (1963). Here's just a brief sample of the lyrics (how many songs mention BOOKS IN THE LIBRARY?):
Well, I investigated all the books in the library,
Ninety percent of 'em gotta be burned away.
I investigated all the people that I knowed,
Ninety-eight percent of them gotta go.
The other two percent are fellow Birchers . . . just like me.
Today's Birchers are more likely Tea Baggers and I'd have to guess they comprise more than two percent these days -- maybe more like 25%, the same zombified folks who think Palin and Huckabee are the bee's knees, that Rick Perry and W. Bush are or have been "just what America needs, a strong conservative man." To crib from Cracker, what we all need now is another "strong conservative" -- like we all need a hole in the head . . .
Tea Baggers and John Birchers don't want to go back to the 1950s. They want to go back to the 1850s.
Today's Rune: The Mystery Rune.
5 comments:
Dylan sums up the whole thing with a heady "Good God." And I couldn't agree more.
I think of them as a self correcting problem. They sow seeds of separation and discord and in the growing of divisions they too become divided. God help us if they ever read and understand a book not written by Glen Beck.
I like the satire of this. ONe song where I can appreciate the lyrics.
Erik, Tea cups and birch trees? Man, I am a dunce!
Thanks for the comments, y'all!
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