Steve Earle

[Wikkit]

*Originally posted by belladonna *
**Wow, you learn something new every day. Thanks guys.

bella **

I concurr. Thanks for the links, folks.

[tavalla]

Well, on the link that ignatius_reilly posted, there’s a verse of the song in question, written indeed from Lindh’s point of view.

Earle doesn’t really have a history of spotlight-chasing; he just does what he does and makes some good music. The Hard Way is my favourite album of his, although El Corazon is great too.

[Revtim]

*Originally posted by BarBQSauce *
**I dunno folks, if Foxnews has the lyrics down accurately, I’m not sure how saying that Lindh will “rise into the sky like Jesus” could be written from Lindh’s perspective. **

Does anybody really believe that Earle thinks Lindh is going to ascend into heaven, or is the 2nd coming? Could it be that Earle is making something of a joke here? Seems fairly obvious to me that he is.

[Kantalooppi]

I dunno folks, if Foxnews has the lyrics down accurately, I’m not sure how saying that Lindh will “rise into the sky like Jesus” could be written from Lindh’s perspective.

If I remember correctly, Moslems believe Jesus was an important prophet, though not a son of God, and was brought to Heaven by him (alive).

[Larry_Mudd]

I like Steve Earle, his lyrics are humorous and thoughtful by turns.

Having heard the song, I can’t imagine how anyone listening to it critically could possibly think that it was meant to “honour” or “glorify” John Walker Lindh. It seems like CNN, the Post, et al, are reporting from the same third-hand account, and go to great lengths to quote from it in a misleading and inflammatory way.

From most of the articles I’ve seen, you can’t even tell that the lyrics are written from a first-person point of view.

One should be able to tell from the opening lines that what follows is not intended to be interpreted as gospel truth:

Just an American boy, raised on MTV
I’ve seen all them kids
In the soda pop ads-
None of them looked like me.
So I started looking around
For a light out of the dim.
And the first thing I heard
That made sense was the word
Muhammad peace be upon him.

The bit about JWL’s assumption is not an assertion of Earle’s, (duh.)

And if I should die
I’ll rise up in the sky
Just like Jesus peace be upon him.

For the love of God, it’s the blues. It’s freaking traditional to have the narrative voice describe bad decisions and behaviour that led to ruination. It’s not advocacy.

But Allah has some other plan
Some secret not revealed
Now they’re dragging me back
With my head in a sack
To the land of the infidels.

If there’s a lesson in the song, (and there certainly doesn’t have to be one,) it’s that shallow consumer culture isn’t enough to give your kids, and you’d better make some attempt to provide spiritual/intellectual nourishment, or who knows where they may turn to fill the void.

[redneck]
Hangin’s too good fer 'im!
[/redneck]

(Insert obligatory rolleyes smiley here.)

[Revtim]

*Originally posted by Larry Mudd ***
It’s freaking traditional to have the narrative voice describe bad decisions and behaviour that led to ruination. It’s not advocacy. **

Amen. There are vast amounts of ignorant people who think that simply mentioning something = advocacy.

[BarBQSauce]

Hi Larry,
Did you find those lyrics online anywhere, or is that your recollection? I searched many places for those. Ill concede; thoses lyrics are well within my range of good taste. Strike up another victory in the fight against ignorance.
Thanks to everyone who replied.

[Daowajan]

Here’s a link to the full lyrics.

I wish I could get a copy of this song, but unfortunately it doesn’t seem to be anywhere.