Steve Earle — Conspiracy Theory
Album: JerusalemAvg rating:
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Total ratings: 107
Length: 4:08
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What if I told you it was done with mirrors
What if I showed you it was all a lie
Better be careful someone might hear ya
The walls have ears and the sky has eyes.
What if I said you were only dreamin'
What you wanna bet that all you gotta do
Is open up your eyes and you will wake up screamin'
When you realize that it's all come true.
Hush, now don't you believe it
Cover your head and close your eyes
Now take it or leave it
Go back to bed now don't you cry.
Half a million soldiers fly across the water
One in ten are never comin' back again
Fifty thousand sons who never grew to fathers
Don't you ever wonder who they might have been
What if you could have been there on that day in Dallas
What if you could wrestle back the hands of time
Maybe somethin' could've been done in Memphis
We wouldn't be livin' in a dream that's died.
Go on and tell yourself again there are no secrets
Go on and tell yourself that you don't want to know
It's best that you believe that you don't hear the footsteps
That follow you around no matter where you go
Maybe you were thinkin' that it didn't matter
Maybe you believed that nobody else would care
But once you've added every little lie together
You finally find the truth was always waiting there.
What if I showed you it was all a lie
Better be careful someone might hear ya
The walls have ears and the sky has eyes.
What if I said you were only dreamin'
What you wanna bet that all you gotta do
Is open up your eyes and you will wake up screamin'
When you realize that it's all come true.
Hush, now don't you believe it
Cover your head and close your eyes
Now take it or leave it
Go back to bed now don't you cry.
Half a million soldiers fly across the water
One in ten are never comin' back again
Fifty thousand sons who never grew to fathers
Don't you ever wonder who they might have been
What if you could have been there on that day in Dallas
What if you could wrestle back the hands of time
Maybe somethin' could've been done in Memphis
We wouldn't be livin' in a dream that's died.
Go on and tell yourself again there are no secrets
Go on and tell yourself that you don't want to know
It's best that you believe that you don't hear the footsteps
That follow you around no matter where you go
Maybe you were thinkin' that it didn't matter
Maybe you believed that nobody else would care
But once you've added every little lie together
You finally find the truth was always waiting there.
Comments (28)add comment
missjanuary wrote:
Oh you funny amerikkkans, I wish you could be so steeped in patriotism that you would see the only true 'patriotism' is to humankind. But we love you nonetheless. 
Hard to love, support, and defend one's country to humankind, but there's a point in there somewhere.
Also think there are as many ways to show patriotism as there are people, but those who ask the tough questions of our country when they need to be asked are no less patriotic than those who trust in our leaders to do the right thing. To have the comfy middle ground most of enjoy we need both.
Friend wrote:
That bass line is a straight rip from the tune Pretty Woman.
Yeah. I was wondering who was going to do the Roy Orbison part. I guess it is like Paint by Numbers. Just steal parts from different songs and put them together. John Mellencamp's drumbeat, George Michael's chorus, Beck's vocals. Presto, a house payment. Meh.
What if you could've been there on that day in Dallas? What if you could turn back the hands of time?
That bass line is a straight rip from the tune Pretty Woman.
mellotron wrote:
Nope, at first I thought the beat was "Natural One" by Folk Implosion!
Ditto.
I'd rather have that than this.
Perfect followup to midge ure - answers to nothing. Rock on RP! 
Originally Posted by missjanuary:
Oh you funny amerikkkans, I wish you could be so steeped in patriotism that you would see the only true 'patriotism' is to humankind. But we love you nonetheless.
You love us 'Amerikkkans' huh? Oh what a relief.
Originally Posted by Friend:
Did anyone catch the quasi "pretty woman" bassline? I almost thought it was a dance remix of Pretty Woman. Yeah, that would be awesome.
Nope, at first I thought the beat was "Natural One" by Folk Implosion!
Wow, this one definitely polarizes. All the more reason to keep playing it!
Isn\'t it time we stopped talking about WMD\'s and started calling them what they really are? WVD\'s - Weapons of Vast Deception.
Originally Posted by AuralSects:
It's always been the true patriots that ask the hard questions of our government and our society. That's what makes it America.
Oh you funny amerikkkans, I wish you could be so steeped in patriotism that you would see the only true 'patriotism' is to humankind. But we love you nonetheless.
Originally Posted by TreborG2:
I don't want war, but I'd rather not have a proven homicidal lunatic ready to launch chemical and biological weapons my way, nor live in fear that every day might be the day I find out what its like to be a casualty of what someone else thinks is god's way!
And no, I don't believe in the same god, nor in the same blinded religion YOU do, so go be a cow on someone else's time!
i think i may be in love
p.s. i'm a male, what are you?
Oh, I thought we already established this song is God awful.
This ain\'t yer dad\'s country song. Yeeeh Haw!
Did anyone catch the quasi \"pretty woman\" bassline? I almost thought it was a dance remix of Pretty Woman. Yeah, that would be awesome.
Originally Posted by TreborG2:
Perhaps its not the message.. perhaps its the context... this song is marginal in and of itself, nothing really catchy, nothing really new... it's boring.
...And no, I don't believe in the same god, nor in the same blinded religion YOU do, so go be a cow on someone else's time!
Yeah, see what you mean.
"This Land Is Your Land" is pretty simple too, isn't it?
hmm is that a \'pretty woman\' bassline I hear?
It\'s always been the true patriots that ask the hard questions of our government and our society. That\'s what makes it America.
Perhaps its not the message.. perhaps its the context... this song is marginal in and of itself, nothing really catchy, nothing really new... now... take it in the context of the rest of the album, the music might flow very well from one song to the next.. but here.. it's boring.
Now for the message you're alluding to, in 12 years has the truth been told by either side? No.. who has proven they are vindictively destructive? Saddam, he's the one that lit wells on fire which did little to the *oil* situation that everyone believes is the utmost reason for war, *BUT* IT DID have a major impact on nature!
So you wanna spout anti war, or pro peace, go live in a REALLY oppressive environment, where you're forced to grow a beard, have *your woman* clothed head to toe and if that isn't enough for you, you can always kill her and say it was gods law.
I don't want war, but I'd rather not have a proven homicidal lunatic ready to launch chemical and biological weapons my way, nor live in fear that every day might be the day I find out what its like to be a casualty of what someone else thinks is god's way!
And no, I don't believe in the same god, nor in the same blinded religion YOU do, so go be a cow on someone else's time!
What a wonderful piece of songwriting. Great stuff. And it has a 'beat', too!
(Sounded excellent coming out of "God's Monkey".)
Good "ears", Bill. Thanks for playing.
It\'s political. The whole album is political, and those who are following Junior lock-step to war might find it offensive. Tough shit. It\'s about time someone had the guts to speak up. If you don\'t like the message, tune in Rush.
one of the worst songs i have heard on RP.
Originally Posted by Bat_Man:
"Hush now, don't you believe it, cover your head, & close your eyes" Look now, the world is bleeding, it's being covered by Dubbya's lies. :(
get a grip
This is very interesting. I can definitely understand how it could be offputting at first, but I am finding myself turning this up a bit. Will be good to hear again. 
Mundialmente conocido. En su casa a la hora de comer.
Wellknown all around the world. At home at lunch time.
Interesting. Definitely a far cry from Copperhead Road. Got to hear Earle read from his book a few weeks ago. Seems like a real nice guy who\'s been through some rough times. This isn\'t what I would have expected from him. His little sister is turning out some good stuff, though.