A Protest Song for You
Dublin-based musician Mike Scott of the Waterboys delivers
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As someone who spent much of my career writing about music and interviewing artists, the lack of protest songs in this moment has been pretty devastating.
There are a smattering and I’m grateful for the artists who speak out, but in the ‘60s, there was no lack of powerful, iconic songs that helped embolden people to speak out against war and corruption.
So I am so glad I found this new single from the Waterboys.
The last time I interviewed the band’s founder, Scottish-born singer Mike Scott who now lives in Dublin, Ireland, was exactly 30 years ago — backstage at a UCLA venue. (I always know the year because I can visualize what I was wearing — silver creepers and my one green plaid men’s cut suit lol).
I’ve been listening to his music for a very long time.
I’m grateful for this song.
We need more of this.
I felt the need to share it with you immediately.
We have a lot of important guests coming up in the next few weeks — we need a soundtrack.
“Don’t Even Have To Say His Name”
The Waterboys — Lyrics
Who assembled this enterprise
To deny the evidence of our eyes?
Who presided over this offense
Against decency and common sense?
Whose dedication, whose labour
Turned neighbour against neighbour?
Who indeed should we blame?
I don’t even have to say the motherfucker’s name
Who put the dogwhistle back in style?
Who makes every white supremacist smile?
Who put violence in peoples’ heads?
The spider at the heart of the web
Who granted ICE immunity
To murder with impunity?
Who indeed should we blame?
I don’t even have to say the motherfucker’s name
Two trains are rolling across America tonight
I can hear their wheels, I can see their lights
Well I don’t know, but maybe you hear them too
One leads to Auschwitz, one leads to the new
Who took democracy and its sacred vote
And wrapped a noose around its throat?
Which insurrectionist and bogus King
Buried the White House under bling?
Who threatens like other people breathe?
Insults women every day on TV?
Who turned this country we hold dear
Into a land of fear?
Who indeed should we blame?
I don’t even have to
I don’t even have to say
I don’t even have to say the motherfucker’s name
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Begin each day with a grateful heart.
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