Work, Work, Work But That’s The Way It Is….
A bit late to wish you all a good holiday since MayDay is now relegated to yesterday, but hey, a happy holiday anyway! Two things I need to share with you:
1. MayDay used to be a day of protest for workers all around the world. A day when they put their work tools down and go on a march, a strike, grinding the “system” to a halt, at least for one day, a day of action, where grievances highlighted, injustices challenged and workers rights and pride celebrated.
But what we see nowadays is a MayDay hijacked, de-fanged and neutralised. It’s now a holiday. where the workers pacified, enjoying a day off at the malls, buying up what they don’t really need or get stupefied with the latest Hollywood blockbusters and fattened popcorns.
I don’t expect that info will change anything for any of us, but the next time MayDay comes, I hope you’ll feel be as miserable as I did.
2. Now, here’s a song I’ve enjoyed for most parts of this decade, a rare punk rock ditty which rings so true, day in and day out, as we negotiate the bends trying keep our heads above the noxious fumes and dirt.
ZERO DOWN – The Way It Is
THE WAY IT IS
written & sung by Jim Cherry with Zero Down
My father told me “Son, it’s OK to have ideals,
but beliefs against your government well that won’t pay your bills.
You can raise your fists and publicly resist
but in the end corruption still exists
And no protest song will ever change the world
When everybody does exactly as they’re told
In the end every man works for what is his
You can fight the world, but that’s just how it is”
Your words are not meaningless to me,
And I feel their honesty but it’s my life I gotta figure out for me
It’s what I’ve always done not what I have become
and I know the consequences that’ll come
And if I never reach the world or speak to people’s souls
it’s a passion that won’t die as I grow old.
It’s what I choose to do
it may not work for you but to myself I know I must be true
“And no protest song will ever change the world
When everybody does exactly as they’re told
In the end every man works for what is his
You can fight the world, but that’s just how it is”
And I am not ashamed to stand right where I’ve stood.
My beliefs they are unchanged because I believe they should.
And I’ll measure my success one word at a time.
If the truth is spoken will I stand the test of time.
note: I wish Jim Cherry is still around to serenade us his wisdom, but the good die young as always. If you’re so inclined, do hunt down ZERO DOWN’s one and only album, With a Lifetime to Pay (2001, Fat Wreck).
7 Comments, Comment or Ping
ssp
Dude, it’s strange but admit it, there are not many working class songs available these days..U might hate it but Green Day is the last punk rock who make sense by singing working class hero (John lennon’s rip off).
Others are too chicken shit to quote engel in their lyrics.. so MTV punks rock big time baby!!
U forg0t 1 song, ‘Payday’ hahahaaa
May 2nd, 2009
Nox
Maybe punks nowadays are no longer working class…
Or they don’t get what the fuck Marx and Engels were saying…
‘And no protest song will ever change the world
When everybody does exactly as they’re told’…indeed!
May 3rd, 2009
xumb
good one boss!
oh and i’ve just sent in my resignation letter yesterday haha!
May 3rd, 2009
shahrizal
awesome post joe!
Jim Cherry also used to play in Strung Out and Pulley. He died from a congenital heart condition back in 2002. all of his bands are good bands. NOFX wrote a song in tribute to Jim Cherry (Strung Out/Zero Down/Pulley), Derrik Plourde (Lagwagon/RKL/Jaws/Bad Astronaut), Jason, Andy and Bomer (RKL) and some other fallen punk friends of theirs.
here:
These two shots are for Derrick
For rifle not the handgun
For coffee and cigarettes
Give it back
You know suicide isn’t painless
When you leave everyone in pain
The two shots will never go down the same
This beating’s for Jimmy
For ultimate devotion
For your mind of my own
Bring out your dead
Sedated, flagellated
You were the one most
Loved and hated
Thanks for all that carpet
And your songs
This Petron’s for Jason
This lager’s for Andy
And these doses are for Bomer
And this fix is for Bradley
This ritalin’s for Lumpy
And this speedball’s for Friday
This nitrous hit is for Lynn
And best friend Dobbs
This bowl is for my mom
For drinking more than I did
For posting bail for me
In New York
And in Hollywood that first time
And that joint we smoked was the worst time
Cause doing drugs with parents is just wrong
This petron’s for Jason
This lager’s for Andy
And these doses are for Bomer
And this fix is for Bradley
This song is for winning losers
It’s for unlucky substance abusers
The ones who left their black marks
On us all
May 3rd, 2009
Joe
thanks guys. I heard Jim Cherry was quite an asshole, but that would never dismiss the fact that the songs are mostly awesome in terms of their substance.
As for the “punks” nowadays, I can’t say much since I’m way too old to know what the kids are thinking nowadays (!) but I do believe the hugely, if not trendy, popular affiliation (posed or real) with “anarchism” rendered any alignment with “socialist” ideals “uncool”. Hmmm.
Dum Dum Tak’s version of The Internationale is cool tho!
May 4th, 2009
Nox
OK some commie music for you :
http://seeingredradio.readingcapital.org/2009/05/04/may-day-2009-special-part-one/
May 6th, 2009
ssp
Nice ref nox.. lets put some black roses on Adam Smit grave
May 6th, 2009
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