Summary: We have become a new nation, and so need a new national Anthem. Just as the old anthem reflected the spirit and needs of the Republic, so should our new anthem. Here’s my nomination. Post yours in the comments!
The “Star Spangled Banner” fit The-America-That-Once-Was, a defiant song of a free people, often fighting to defend their Republic. It ill-suits a somnolent and obese people, whose armies fight to maintain a foreign empire that benefits only the 1%.
Here is a suggestion from the past about a national anthem for The New America. It has lyrics suitable for a plutocracy, reflecting the attitude of our ruling elites. The sing of their stark realism, which belies a popular delusion today that our ruling elites are fools. In fact they are, as they have always been, cool considerate men. Don’t count on them making large mistakes, or many of them.
.
.
Lyrics to the new nation anthem for The New America
Come ye cool cool conservative men
The likes of which may never be seen again
We have land, cash in hand
Self-command, future planned
Fortune flies, society survives
In neatly ordered lives with well-endowered wivesWe sing hosanna, hosanna
To our breeding and our banner
We are cool
.
Come ye cool cool considerate set
We’ll dance together to the same minuet
To the right, ever to the right
Never to the left, forever to the right
May our creed be never to exceed
Regulated speed, no matter what the needWe sing hosanna, hosanna
Enblazoned on our banner
Is keep coolTo the right, ever to the right
Never to the left, forever to the right
We have gold, a market that will hold
Tradition that is old, a reluctance to be bold.I sing hosanna, hosanna
In a sane and lucid manner
We are coolCome ye cool cool considerate men
The likes of which may never be seen again
With our land, cash in hand
Self-command, future planned
And we’ll hold to our gold
Tradition that is old, reluctant to be bold.We cool, cool, cool
Cool, cool, cool
Cool cool men.
This is an excerpt from the lyrics of “Cool Considerate Men” from the musical “1776”.
It need not be like this
See these posts for description of an alternative path for America:
- Now is the time for America to get angry, 24 March 2009
- They need not use force to take over, 16 July 2012
Advice from the Past
- From the 3rd century BC, Polybius warns us about demographic collapse, 11 June 2008
- President Grant warns us about the dangers of national hubris, 1 July 2008
- de Tocqueville warns us not to become weak and servile, 21 July 2008
- Dr. Gulliver explains why America has become so fearful of the future, 23 October 2008
- The King of Brobdingnag comments on America’s grand strategy, 18 November 2008
- About the state of economic science, and advice from a famous economist, 8 December 2008
- Napoleon’s advice to President Obama about the financial crisis, 29 April 2009
- A warning from Alexis De Tocqueville about our military, 7 August 2009
- Another note from our past, helping us see our future, 16 September 2009 — by Daniel Ellsberg
- A note from America’s diary: “My power proceeds from my reputation…” rel=”bookmark”, 22 September 2009
- A great philosopher and statesman comments on the Bush-Obama tweaks to the Constitution, 10 October 2010 — by Edmond Burke
- A top businessman and banker explains our political and economic challenges, 30 April 2011
- A warning from the past. Might the American Empire drag down America?, 4 August 2011
- Advice from one of the British Empire’s greatest Foreign Ministers, 18 November 2011 — by Lord Palmerston
- George Orwell sends us a note, giving some perspective on our situation, 22 January 2012
- Thomas Jefferson saw our present peril. We should heed his warning., 21 April 2012
- Rome speaks to us. Their example can inspire us to avoid their fate., 22 April 2012
The anthem of The-America-That-Once Was
.
.
Drat! We have become a nation of fat, dumb and happy people. What a disaster!
“Cool Cool Considerate Men” was cut from the original release of the film version of 1776 supposedly at the request of President Nixon. See Wikipedia.
That means all we need is a Ben Franklin to save us:
Or maybe it’s time to take up the turkey as the national bird, one of those will do the trick I’m sure.
Three suggests for our new national anthem:
[1] Nine Inch Nails “Head LIke A Hole” (1989)
.
http://youtu.be/ao-Sahfy7Hg
.
[2] Slayer “Seasons In the Abyss” (1990)
.
http://youtu.be/-lodCjSNaMI
.
[3] Megadeth “Peace Sells…But Who’s Buying?” (1986)
.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oa_Cz7_bPuI
.
Great suggestions! I added the videos. Thanks for posting.
Here is my nomination :)
.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcWgFeIcIno
.
“New Way to Bleed” by Evanescence
“To the Color” is a bugle call to render honors to the United States. It is used when no band is available to render honors. To the Color commands all the same courtesies as the National Anthem.
.
My suggestion: “Rain Dogs” by Tom Waits. I think this captures the times — the party’s over, and we’re now cold, drunken, delusional and utterly lost. Never going back home.
.
http://youtu.be/MsuQj0ZGE6c
Great! Thank yo for posting this!