Word Lyrics

Wave the Flag and Give 'em God

by Rob Roper © 2006


You've gotta trust me, son
I know what I'm doing
There's a reason I was chosen to be your campaign manager
I've run the campaigns of 23 Congressmen, 14 Senators, and 2 Presidents.
My record is 37 wins and only two losses.
And the 2 losses were because they didn't listen to me.
You listen to me, son, and you'll win. Guaranteed.
Here's how we're going to get you elected.

Yeah I know your opponent is a smart guy.
And let's face it, you're not the sharpest knife in the drawer.
But that's exactly why we picked you to be our candidate.
You're an aristocrat, but you don't talk like one.
You've got that folksy way of talking that the common people like.
They think you're one of them, ha-ha.
As for your opponent, we'll use the fact that he's smart against him.
Talk about how rich he is.
How he's out of touch with the common people.
As if you weren't from the same class as him.

See, the media is key.
It's your access to the people.
It's important to manipulate them.
Not very hard to do, since our people own and control most of the media.
And I'm going to plant reporters at every press conference.
I'll let you know who they are.
Always call on them first, because they'll ask the softball questions that I've already prepared you for.
But every once in awhile, despite all our preparations, you're going to get hit with a tough question.
One you're not ready for.
One you don't know how to answer.
So here's what you do:

Wave the flag, and give 'em God.
Wave the flag, and give 'em God.

You see, here's the basic problem--for us, that is.
My family. Your family.
The richest 1% of the American people who own over half of all the wealth in the United States.
The common folk think this is a democracy.
Majority rule, and all that.
So how can we control the government, if we only add up to 1% of the population?
The trick is to get the rest of the people--or at least half--to vote for us.
But that ain't easy, son.
How are you going to get the people who you're screwing to vote for you?
That's where I come in.

You've got to get them to think that you're working for them.
You've got to get them to think that you care about them, ha-ha!
I know, try not to laugh.
I know it sounds dirty, it sounds corrupt.
But think about it:
We've got 1% of the people running the country, mostly without the use of force.
I mean, we don't have soliders on every street corner.
We've got the common folk believing that they elected the government.
But they're just voting for people we control.
90% of all campaign contributions come from the richest 1% of the population.
It's a beautiful thing.

You know what would happen if the common people knew our real agenda?
Which is, in a nutshell, making the rich richer, and screwing them?
You wouldn't get elected, that's for sure, but it would be far worse that that.
If the common people knew what we were doing to them, hell,
they'd be breaking into our Country Clubs and gated communities and dragging us out and beating us to death.
It would be like the Storming of the Bastille, only worse.
The Storming of the Bastille. You know, the French Revolution?
Nevermind... Just remember:

Wave the flag, and give 'em God.
Wave the flag, and give 'em God.

Now, what do I mean by that?
Wave the flag, and give 'em God.
Let's take the first part first--wave the flag.
It's been said that patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.
Well, what is politics but a competition between scoundrels?
And you're a scoundrel.
Not don't get offended.
That's not an insult, it's compliment.
Politics is a dirty business.
If you don't want to get your hands dirty, then you better get out.

The common people are patriotic.
They like to take pride in their country.
Hell they ain't got much else, so that's about all they can take pride in.
But we can use that.
We can manipulate that-- for our benefit.
I want you to end every speech by saying, "God Bless America".
Those 3 words are so powerful.
Those 3 words alone will get you millions of votes.
Those 3 words combine the two things--patriotism and religion--that allow you to manipulate the common people.
So that's why I say:

Wave the flag, and give 'em God.
Wave the flag, and give 'em God.

Now for the second part-- "give 'em God"
What do I mean by that?
First of all, you need to start going to church.
I know, I know... but it's important for your image.
Most of the common people are religious.
It's important to them.
We're going to portray you as a "deeply religious man".
We're going to have our reporters photograph you "in a moment of prayer and reflection" ha-ha.
It's all about the marketing. All about the presentation.

I mean, how do you think those kings back in the Middle Ages got the peasants to fight for them?
Remember the Crusades? Taking back the Holy Land?
Patriotism and Religion.
God and Country.
That's how you get people to do things that are not in their self-interest.
That's how you get them to vote for you, and to fight and even die for you.
It's worked for thousands of years.
And it still works today.
So remember: when all else fails,

Wave the flag, and give 'em God.
Wave the flag, and give 'em God.

You're gonna do just fine, son.


Accept Embrace Surrender

by Rob Roper and Nancy Farmer © 2012


INTRO:
Accept, Embrace, Surrender (2x)

VERSE 1:
Look at me, y'all, you see a beard on my face
But I'm here to tell you it wasn't always the case
It took a long time to get to this place
A lot of pain and shame I had to erase

I was born into this world a girl, you see
But it didn't feel right, it wasn't me
The inside and outside didn't agree
a mistaken biological identity

It was all so confusing, but not of my choosing
Everyone assuming I was just refusing
to conform, roll with the norm
and just accept how you're born

I was tortured by doubt and feeling torn
My mind was raging...I was living in a firestorm.

    CHORUS:
    I don't know who I am
    but I got my suspicions
    what you see isn't me
    and the signs point in both directions

VERSE 2:
It was music that saved me
From the pain and the rage that enslaved me
Like a revelation, predestination
I got a guitar and started playin’

One day on the sidewalk buskin’
I found a kindred soul I could trust in
Crazy circus girl with curly red hair
Played bass so good it just wasn’t fair

But still it seemed like I was always on a bender
‘Cause I hadn’t dealt with the matter of my gender
One day in the shower I felt a new power
I saw my dream in the steam on the mirror

And in a moment of grace, I drew a beard on my face
And right there and then it all fell into place

    CHORUS:
    I don't know who I am
    but I got my suspicions
    what you see isn't me
    and the signs point in both directions

VERSE 3:
Once I saw the vision then I knew my mission
Break with tradition and trust my intuition
One day in a book store
It hit me like a flash from a meteor

Body Alchemy screamed out to me
“Over here, my friend, can’t you see?
There’s something you can do to become the real you
You just never understood, now you do”

But could I find the courage?
To face the knife so the man could emerge?
No more holding the cards close to the vest
I went all in - the maximum bet

There’d be no going back if I took the next step
I took a deep breath … and said “YES”

NEW CHORUS:
Now I know who I am
though it flaunts tradition
What you see is the real me
And I'm moving in the right direction

VERSE 4:
So now you know I’m a guy named Joe
Playing music for folks, and givin' ‘em hope
Living my life as a self made man
If you need to change I’m proof that you can

It’s not a crime, you see
the world ain’t binary
Humanity is diversity!
And we all deserve our dignity

Sometimes I still struggle fitting pieces in the puzzle
I find myself in trouble, face down in a puddle
But I pick myself up, now I'm doing ok
Singing my songs, livin' day by day

So if you ever need me and my bearded face
You can find me onstage
… with Coyote Grace

    FINAL CHORUS and OUTRO:
    Accept, Embrace, Surrender
    Accept, Embrace, Surrender
    Accept, Embrace, Surrender
    Accept, Embrace, Surrender


Indigenous

by Rob Roper © 2009


When the Europeans first came to our land
They were fleeing religious persecution
At first it was just a few of them
so it wasn't so bad

But then more came, and more
And as their numbers grew
So did their arrogance, and violence
and their hunger for our lands.

They said we were backward people
and they, the chosen people
Armed with their holy book
and British guns
and the confidence they were doing God's will
They brought "civilization" to a "backward" land.

Some of them had the nerve to say
we were never here when they arrived
a virgin land
a land without people
for a people without land

But we were here.
We have walked these roads
and farmed these fields
for more generations than anyone can remember.
We know our history.

Eventually, there were enough of them
they felt strong enough to declare their independence from England
That's when things really got bad for us
They drove us off our land
destroyed our villages
and massacred our people--
men, women and children

Of course we fought back
as any proud people would
For that they called us savages
They said we used terror
And we did
But remember-- it was they
who first used terror on us

Whenever our struggle achieved some success
That's when they would ask to talk peace
They said they'd let us keep what was left of our land
if they could have most of it
Of course we agreed
We had no choice
They had superior weapons

But each time, the Europeans broke their treaties
Settlers moved in
settling on land forbidden by international law
and by their own government
but nothing was done to stop them

Now there is little left for us
We're confined to small remnants of what was once our land
Living like prisoners
in our own country
Like the Indians of America

No one will help us
we are poor and alone
Insulted and abused
victims of genocide.

Each year, the Europeans celebrate their independence
They talk about liberty
and freedom
and democracy.

But what about our independence?
the native people?
the indigenous people?
The Palestinians.