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| michaelgmitchell (Stirling, ON) | Posted: Feb 16, 2013 - 13:21  That is all. |
| Boy_Wonder (Bath, back in the UK) | Posted: Nov 12, 2012 - 08:42 wow, a real blast from the past.... first play since 2003. Nice one Bill, now lets see the sparks fly! |
| Last_DJ (Columbus, OH) | Posted: Mar 24, 2003 - 11:30 I really used to be a fan of this guy, but his left wing politics, accompanied by his lack of songwriting skills and his voice getting worse, has made me give up on him. This song should have never been written. |
| Revel (NY city, NY) | Posted: Mar 12, 2003 - 22:53 :) |
| devildog (Cuyahoga Falls, OH) | Posted: Feb 20, 2003 - 14:30 Thanks for the heads up on this, -great article. Trying to merge domestic law enforcement with counter terrorism scares the hell out of me. Not are they entirely seperate issues, they have two entirely different solutions. Taking the fight to the Middle East is the best way to handle this. Stablize that region and we won't need much of a Patriot Act, let aone a sequel. Originally Posted by Eulogy:
On a side note, every american who feels that the american government has nothing but our best interests in mind, please, for the love of all that should be free, take a look at this: Justice Dept. Drafts Sweeping Expansion of Anti-Terrorism Act This is far more insulting to "the people that fight and die for our freedom" than any bad song ever could be. |
| devildog (Cuyahoga Falls, OH) | Posted: Feb 20, 2003 - 14:09 Unimpressive song. The controversy was a red hearing to mask how stupid this song is. I'd imagine his publicist was the one that sent the lyrics to all the conservative talk show hosts, after all it is free publicity. "This song might get me deported" - hardley, the Berkley, CA city council is in more danger of that than he is, and that will never happen. What is clearly self evident, that John Walker was a mixed up kid, does not require a song this bad to reveal such an idea to us. I can't say I hate this song, but if I never hear it again I won't complain either. |
| rgrace (Berkeley, CA) | Posted: Feb 20, 2003 - 13:54 Originally Posted by JC:
A big thumbs down. Poor song. Poor lyrics. Insulting to those who fight and die for our freedom. OK. Why is it insulting to them? I don't see a hint of that anywhere in this song. It is clearly an attempt (though definitely not his best work) to mine the perspective of Lindh ("to climb inside his head"). Not a word about anything else that I can see. It's not an espousal of Lindh's monstrous beliefs. And by the way, I do appreciate our military (despite living in Berkeley). Just not blindly. I feel sorry for the poor guys in the reserves who NEVER expected to have to go to Iraq (and face the real possibility of toxins and poison attacks on the battlefield). Isn't that what we have a standing Army for? For the record, I loathe John Walker Lindh. I do like Steve Earle. He has guts. Go listen to Clear Channel radio stations (they're not hard to find) if you just want to hear happy talk or right-wing jingoism. I guarantee you won't ever hear Steve Earle on mainstream radio again. He just immolated his career because he decided to take a clear stand, like a real American should. Not too many have followed him. the New York Times published this on that topic: nytimes Signed, a moderate democrat  |
| Eulogy (Dumfries, VA) | Posted: Feb 20, 2003 - 13:42 so far, several songs from this album have been played, and all seem to be over politicized crap, going more for shock value than actual music. while i do thank Steve Earle for being one of the few people with enough courage to look at the last few years with something other than blind patriotic fervor, things like this belong on a website as an essay, not on a album as mediocre music. On a side note, every american who feels that the american government has nothing but our best interests in mind, please, for the love of all that should be free, take a look at this: Justice Dept. Drafts Sweeping Expansion of Anti-Terrorism Act This is far more insulting to "the people that fight and die for our freedom" than any bad song ever could be. |
| Blarg (Attleboro [RPT+3], MA) | Posted: Oct 05, 2002 - 22:34 Lyrics are on this page, and an article by Steve Earle can be seen here. Note the URLs. :) |
| JC (Modesto, CA) | Posted: Sep 25, 2002 - 16:30 A big thumbs down. Poor song. Poor lyrics. Insulting to those who fight and die for our freedom. |
| wyatt39 (Meriden, CT) | Posted: Sep 25, 2002 - 16:27 Just plain sucks in its own right. Dump it. |
| Gromit (UK) | Posted: Sep 16, 2002 - 02:57 Originally Posted by Lil_Chickadee:
While I certainly applaud Steve Earle's attempt to look at things from a different perspective, which I feel is probably the single most important thing we can teach ourselves and our children, I find this very hard to listen to. It has no lyrical or musical quality that is appealing to my ear. Quite agree. I assume he's trying for an unpleasant sound because it's probably unpleasant to be in the head of this guy and others like him, but it doesn't quite work as music, even "meaningful" music. |
| Lee (Seattle (moist), WA) | Posted: Sep 15, 2002 - 11:47 Originally Posted by andzzzzz:
...If this is deemed un-american, you live in a fascist state! Au contraire, mon frer. That artists can freely stir up controversy shows just how un-fascist the state is. Earle's critics are also free to make asses of themselves by jumping to false conclusions. |
| Lil_Chickadee (Stuarts Draft, VA) | Posted: Sep 05, 2002 - 21:32 While I certainly applaud Steve Earle's attempt to look at things from a different perspective, which I feel is probably the single most important thing we can teach ourselves and our children, I find this very hard to listen to. It has no lyrical or musical quality that is appealing to my ear. |
| miamizsun (Miami Beach, FL) | Posted: Sep 05, 2002 - 21:27 I like Steve, but this is a so-so song. It's supposed to be controversial, but I don't see it, however everyone seems to be raising a stink. He is capable of better music. |
| andzzzzz (London) | Posted: Sep 05, 2002 - 05:24 Thank God, a country singer who takes risks! Play it more frequently. If this is deemed un-american, you live in a fascist state! |
| cortriga (Cambridge, MA) | Posted: Aug 20, 2002 - 15:44 Thanks for the clarification. Your original post consisted almost entirely of sarcasm and a general assault on the Muslim faith ("praise allah"). After reading it, I thought it did little to help listeners understand Earle's motives. Too many people had already painted Earle as unpatriotic (among other things) simply for writing a song that tried to get inside Walker's head. I was pretty sure you were headed that way as well and wanted to bring some reason to the table. Sorry if I offended you. Originally Posted by rolo:
Believe me ... I completely understood the context Earl's song and I have no problem AT ALL with him OR the song. My comment was strictly related to the discussions I've heard related to what might have caused Walker to join in with the Taliban. The link I posted is only a discussion of reality. Had you actually read the article that you linked to here you would have seen that Earl looks at the Taliban in the same light that I do .... here's a quote from your link .... "In the PR material for the new album, Earle says of the track, "I'm happy with the way the song came out, but I'm nervous, not for myself, but I have taken some serious liberties with Walker, speaking as him, in his voice. I'm trying to make clear that wherever he got to, he didn't arrive there in a vacuum....My son Justin is almost exactly Walker's age. Would I be upset if he suddenly turned up fighting for the Islamic Jihad? Sure, absolutely. Fundamentalism, as practiced by the Taliban, is the enemy of real thought, and religion too." and finally ... the definition of jingoism is "extreme chauvinism or nationalism marked esp. by a beligerent foreign policy". My post had nothing to do with political views .... rather was only referring to the inhuman (subhuman) actions of the religious fanatics that were running Afganistan. |
| rolo (New Orleans, LA) | Posted: Aug 16, 2002 - 14:32 Originally Posted by cortriga:
A less jingoistic view of Earle's composition can be found here: The Nation Believe me ... I completely understood the context Earl's song and I have no problem AT ALL with him OR the song. My comment was strictly related to the discussions I've heard related to what might have caused Walker to join in with the Taliban. The link I posted is only a discussion of reality. Had you actually read the article that you linked to here you would have seen that Earl looks at the Taliban in the same light that I do .... here's a quote from your link .... "In the PR material for the new album, Earle says of the track, "I'm happy with the way the song came out, but I'm nervous, not for myself, but I have taken some serious liberties with Walker, speaking as him, in his voice. I'm trying to make clear that wherever he got to, he didn't arrive there in a vacuum....My son Justin is almost exactly Walker's age. Would I be upset if he suddenly turned up fighting for the Islamic Jihad? Sure, absolutely. Fundamentalism, as practiced by the Taliban, is the enemy of real thought, and religion too." and finally ... the definition of jingoism is "extreme chauvinism or nationalism marked esp. by a beligerent foreign policy". My post had nothing to do with political views .... rather was only referring to the inhuman (subhuman) actions of the religious fanatics that were running Afganistan. |
| cortriga (Cambridge, MA) | Posted: Aug 16, 2002 - 12:09 A less jingoistic view of Earle's composition can be found here: The Nation |
| rolo (New Orleans, LA) | Posted: Aug 16, 2002 - 11:44 Yea ... poor John Walker ... I can see how growing up in this horrible country (especially that Hellhole know as Marin County) ... inspired him to go to Afganistan .... join the Taliban ... so that he could grab one of those clubs and go out into the streets and beat women, on the spot, for laughing outloud in public ... praise allah ... http://www.newlondoncountyguide.com/Taliban.htm ... |
| keyboard_monkey (oz, ga) | Posted: Aug 16, 2002 - 11:00 It reveals the role of superstition (religion to some) in the suffering of man and mankind. Not a bad thing, but not a good song. |
| JCJ (Rochester, NY) | Posted: Aug 16, 2002 - 10:58 I've read about this. I would protest it just for the piss-poor singing. I generally dont care WHAT you're singing about, as long as its a good tune. This ain't.  |
| stradaduro (Vancouver) | Posted: Aug 16, 2002 - 10:57 Originally Posted by Scott:
I've read a lot about the controversy surrounding this song; it's nice to finally hear it. Thanks Bill. I hope it stays on the playlist. Here's to freedom of expression. |
| Scott (Ottawa) | Posted: Aug 15, 2002 - 18:42 Bill, I've read a lot about the controversy surrounding this song; it's nice to finally hear it. Thanks Bill. I hope it stays on the playlist. |
| tonypf (Honolulu) | Posted: Aug 15, 2002 - 18:42 Bill: Given the heat this has generated, thanks for your willingness to play it. I think anyone who knows Steve's songs will know he's a hell of lot more complex in his approach to issues than are those who revile what he's done here. |