[EnviroEngr]

SHEEP

Pink Floyd 1977 Lyrics/Music: Waters Vocals by: Waters
Albums: Animals; A Collection Of Great Dance Songs; Shine On; Echoes; Like You Gotta Be Crazy; also, Raving And Drooling was actually an older Pink Floyd song which had been performed live several times. Pink Floyd retitled/rewrote the songs and put them on 'Animals'.

Harmlessly passing your time in the grassland away
Only dimly aware of a certain unease in the air
You better watch out
There may be dogs about
I've looked over Jordan, and I have seen
Things are not what they seem
What do you get for pretending the danger's not real
Meek and obedient you follow the leader
Down well trodden corridors, into the valley of steel
What a surprise!
A look of terminal shock in your eyes
Now things are really what they seem
No, this is no bad dream
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want
He makes me down to lie
Through pastures green he leadeth me the silent waters by
With bright knifes he releaseth my soul
He maketh me to hang on hooks in high places
He converteth me to lamb cutlets
For lo, he hath great power, and great hunger
When cometh the day we lowly ones
Though quiet reflection, and great dedication
master the art of karate
Lo, we shall rise up
And then we'll make the buggers eyes water
Bleating and babbling I fell on his neck with a scream
Wave upon wave of demented avangers
March cheerfully out of obscurity into the dream
Have you heard the news?
The dogs are dead!
You better stay home
And do as you're told
Get out of the road
If you want to grow old


Lyrics Copyright: Roger Waters - Pink Floyd Music Publishers Ltd., 1977

[EnviroEngr]

For some strange reason, I always think of energy depletion when I hear this one:

TalkingHeads

SAND IN THE VASELINE

(Nothing But) Flowers

Here we stand
Like an Adam and an Eve
Waterfalls
The Garden of Eden
Two fools in love
So beautiful and strong
The birds in the trees
Are smiling upon them
From the age of the dinosaurs
Cars have run on gasoline
Where, where have they gone?
Now, it's nothing but flowers

There was a factory
Now there are mountains and rivers
you got it, you got it

We caught a rattlesnake
Now we got something for dinner
we got it, we got it

There was a shopping mall
Now it's all covered with flowers
you've got it, you've got it

If this is paradise
I wish I had a lawnmower
you've got it, you've got it

Years ago
I was an angry young man
I'd pretend
That I was a billboard
Standing tall
By the side of the road
I fell in love
With a beautiful highway
This used to be real estate
Now it's only fields and trees
Where, where is the town
Now, it's nothing but flowers
The highways and cars
Were sacrificed for agriculture
I thought that we'd start over
But I guess I was wrong

Once there were parking lots
Now it's a peaceful oasis
you got it, you got it

This was a Pizza Hut
Now it's all covered with daisies
you got it, you got it

I miss the honky tonks,
Dairy Queens, and 7-Elevens
you got it, you got it

And as things fell apart
Nobody paid much attention
you got it, you got it

I dream of cherry pies,
Candy bars, and chocolate chip cookies
you got it, you got it

We used to microwave
Now we just eat nuts and berries
you got it, you got it

This was a discount store,
Now it's turned into a cornfield
you got it, you got it

Don't leave me stranded here
I can't get used to this lifestyle

[EnviroEngr]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Robert Espy', 'M')y favorite quote is:

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', '[')b]There's a sucker born every minute.

[Skeletor]

The Prophet's Song
Queen, 1976
Words and Music by Brian May

Oh oh people of the earth
Listen to the warning the seer he said
Beware the storm that gathers here
Listen to the wise man

I dreamed I saw on a moonlit stair
Spreading his hand to the multitude there
A man who cried for a love gone stale
And ice cold hearts of charity bare
I watched as fear took the old man's gaze
Hopes of the young in troubled graves
'I see no day' I heard him say
So grey is the face of every mortal

Oh oh people of the earth!
'Listen to the warning' the prophet he said
For soon the cold of night will fall
Summoned by your own hand

Ah ah children of the land
Quicken to the new life take my hand
Fly and find the new green bough
Return like the white dove

He told of death as a bone white haze
Taking the lost and the unloved babes
Late too late all the wretches run
These kings of beasts now counting their days
From mother's love is the son estranged
Married his own his precious gain
The earth will shake in two will break
And death all round will be your dowry

Oh oh people of the earth
Listen to the warning the seer he said
For those who hear and mark my words
Listen to the good plan

Oh oh oh oh and two by two my human zoo
They'll be running for to come
Running for to come out of the rain

Oh flee for your lives who heed me not
Let all your treasures make you fear for your life
Deceive you not the fires of hell will take you
Should death await you

Ah people can you hear me?
And now I know and now I know
And now I know and now I know
That you can hear me
And now I know and now I know
And now I know now I know
Now I know now I know
Now I know now I know
Now I know
The earth will shake in two will break
Death all around around around around
Around around around around
Now I know now I know
Now I know now I know
Now I know now I know
Now I know now I know
Now I know now I know
Now I know
Wo wo wo wo wo wo wo wo wo
Listen to the wise listen to the wise listen to the wise
Listen to the wise listen to the wise man
La la
La la la la la la
La la la la la la
La la la la la la
La la la la la la
La la la la la la
La la la la la la
La la
La la
La la
Come here I hear you
Come here I hear you
Come here I hear you
Ah ah ah ah ah
Listen to the man listen to the man listen to the man listen
to the mad man

God gave you grace to purge this place
And peace all around may be your fortune
Oh oh children of the land
Love is still the answer take my hand
The vision fades a voice I hear
Listen to the madman!
But still I fear and still I dare not
Laugh at the madman!

-------

To me a lot of the symbolism in this song can be pretty much directly correlated to current and upcoming situations.

The Seer/Prophet represents everyone currently trying to warn people about peak oil.

'The storm that gathers here' is Peak Oil, obviously .

'A man who cried for a love gone stale' will be everyone, since their love of Petroleum will....go stale.

'Ice cold hearts of charity bare' symbolizes the plutocrats and former mega-rich philanthropists who will now only care for themselves.

'I watched as fear took the old man's gaze' represents the older generation, with the fear setting in.

'Hopes of the young in troubled graves' the ambitions of all the young people will be stamped out.

'I see no day! I heard him say' represents the fact that scientists have no solution.

'For soon the cold of night will fall, summoned by your own hand' Need I elaborate on this one?

'Late too late all the wretches run' represents that people will recognize the danger too late, and all there will be left to do is run.

'These kings of beasts now counting their days' While this could be a general allusion to humanity (kings of beasts) I interpret it as the self-interested politicians who are now 'counting their days.'

'From mother's love is the son estranged. Married his own his precious gain.' The 'mother' is the world, or nature, while it is saying that mankind has forsaken nature for personal gain (Capitalism).

'And death all around will be your dowry' states that this is all the present and next generation will inherit from our parents and grandparents.

'Let all your treasures make you fear for your life' Consumerism.
'God gave you grace to purge this place' Purge=Die-off?

'And peace all around will be your fortune' perhaps after all of this the meek really will inherit the Earth?

'But still I fear and still I dare not laugh at the mad man' maybe he wasn't so mad after all?

I am simply amazed at the parallels I see in this song and Peak Oil. I encourage everyone to listen to it themselves and see.

[EnviroEngr]

Changed REF in Skeletor's post to reflect new location.

[EnviroEngr]

How Fortunate The Man With None

You saw sagacious Solomon
You know what came of him,
To him complexities seemed plain.
He cursed the hour that gave birth to him
And saw that everything was vain.
How great and wise was Solomon.
The world however did not wait
But soon observed what followed on.
It's wisdom that had brought him to this state.
How fortunate the man with none.

You saw courageous Caesar next
You know what he became.
They deified him in his life
Then had him murdered just the same.
And as they raised the fatal knife
How loud he cried: you too my son!
The world however did not wait
But soon observed what followed on.
It's courage that had brought him to that state.
How fortunate the man with none.

You heard of honest Socrates
The man who never lied:
They weren't so grateful as you'd think
Instead the rulers fixed to have him tried
And handed him the poisoned drink.
How honest was the people's noble son.
The world however did not wait
But soon observed what followed on.
It's honesty that brought him to that state.
How fortunate the man with none.

Here you can see respectable folk
Keeping to God's own laws.
So far he hasn't taken heed.
You who sit safe and warm indoors
Help to relieve our bitter need.
How virtuously we had begun.
The world however did not wait
But soon observed what followed on.
It's fear of god that brought us to that state.
How fortunate the man with none.

Brendan Perry with Lisa Gerrard
From "Into The Labyrinth"
http://www.deadcandance.com/

Lyrics at the bottom of the page:
http://www.dcdwithin.com/discography.pl ... elabyrinth

This appeals to my existentialist, dark side. In the world of matter, the animal will win.

[EnviroEngr]

Dream Of The Blue Turtles

Sting (1987)


We Work the Black Seam

This place has changed for good
Your economic theory said it would
It's hard for us to understand
We can't give up our jobs the way we should
Our blood has stained the coal
We tunneled deep inside the nation's soul
We matter more than pounds and pence
Your economic theory makes no sense

One day in a nuclear age
They may understand our rage
They build machines that they can't control
And bury the waste in a great big hole
Power was to become cheap and clean
Grimy faces were never seen
But deadly for twelve thousand years is carbon fourteen
We work the black seam together

The seam lies underground
Three million years of pressure packed it down
We walk through ancient forest lands
And light a thousand cities with our hands
Your dark satanic mills
Have made redundant all our mining skills
You can't exchange a six inch band
For all the poisoned streams in Cumberland

One day in a nuclear age
They may understand our rage
They build machines that they can't control
And bury the waste in a great big hole
Power was to become cheap and clean
Grimy faces were never seen
But deadly for twelve thousand years is carbon fourteen
We work the black seam together

Our conscious lives run deep
You cling onto your mountain while we sleep
This way of life is part of me
The is no price so only let me be
And should the children weep
The turning world will sing their souls to sleep
When you have sunk without a trace
The universe will suck me into place

One day in a nuclear age
They may understand our rage
They build machines that they can't control
And bury the waste in a great big hole
Power was to become cheap and clean
Grimy faces were never seen
But deadly for twelve thousand years is carbon fourteen
We work the black seam together

[EnviroEngr]

Brain Damage

Pink Floyd 1973

Dark Side Of The Moon

The lunatic is on the grass.
The lunatic is on the grass.
Remembering games and daisy chains and laughs.
Got to keep the loonies on the path.

The lunatic is in the hall.
The lunatics are in my hall.
The paper holds their folded faces to the floor
And every day the paper boy brings more.

And if the dam breaks open many years too soon
And if there is no room upon the hill
And if your head explodes with dark forebodings too
I'll see you on the dark side of the moon.

The lunatic is in my head.
The lunatic is in my head
You raise the blade, you make the change
You re-arrange me 'til I'm sane.
You lock the door
And throw away the key
There's someone in my head but it's not me.

And if the cloud bursts, thunder in your ear
You shout and no one seems to hear.
And if the band you're in starts playing different tunes
I'll see you on the dark side of the moon.


"I can't think of anything to say except...
I think it's marvelous! HaHaHa!"

[BudDwyer]

Pink Floyd. From "amused to death" don't know the name of song.

The monkey sat on a pile of stone.
Stared at the broken bone in his hand.
String veinise cortet played on the land.
And he looked up at the stars...

And he thought to himself, "memory is a stranger,
history's for fools."
And he cleaned his hands in a pool of holy writing.
Turned his back on the garden and sent out for the nearest town.

Hold on, hold on soldier.

If you add it all up- the tears and the marrow of bone.
Theres an ounce of gold and an ounce of pride in each leger.
And the Germans killed the Jews and the Jews killed the Arabs and the Arabs killed the hostages and that is the news.
And is it any wonder that the monkey's confused. He said,
"Momma, momma, the president's a fool.
Why do we have to keep reading these technical manuels."
And the joint chiefs of staff and the brokers on Wall street said,
"Don't make us laugh your a smart kid. Time is a linear, memory's a stranger, history's for fools, man is jewel in the hands of the great God almighty."
And he gave him command of a nuclear submarine.
Sent him back in the search of the garden of Eden.

[EnviroEngr]

It's the Title Track on Roger Waters' 1992 solo album.

http://www.ingsoc.com/waters/albums/amused/amused.html

[BudDwyer]

Here's one I wrote.

"Mother nature,
took away my fur,
gave me back,
pants and a shirt,

took my claws,
gave me a gun,
took away my cause,
and made me blind, deaf, and dumb,

stole my wisdom,
sold me religion,
traded my instinct,
for a strangers desicion,

Listen.

She took away my sack of medicine,
and when I got it back had a negative stigmatism
called drugs and now you push,
for fines and convictions,

confining me to live an un-natural condition,
what the fuk is this, you don't own shhit,
it's just there,
popular opinion ain't what everybody cares.

(rugged mashup ragga beats)

Even the leaders are following "the system"
but where did it come from, some say begun one-
day but it came over time realize,
what I say I contrive while I abstain from the lies,

can't deny... we need aid from the rest of us,
for we lie in the age of the specialist,
and with more specialties than chiefs got recipes,
diversity keeps us only to see-

what we're the dopest at- where hyper focused at-
what we're asked, we can't do much tasks,
as we lapse to the past and go back in time,
we'll see the world was less of an "assembly line"

(corus)
Try to vision less division for divided precision made the system we liven.
Try to vision less division for divided precision made the system we liven.
Try to vision less division for divided precision made the system we liven. I said-
Try to vision less division... for divided precision made the system we liven.

Now go back further, when mankind was younger,
unconfined, we were wiser in the days of the hunter,
survived on more labor, unrelide on each other,
then contrived was a way... to rise way above her,

who- mother nature, who stood in her stature,
and to this day mankind constantly rapes her,
sone the hunter hunted for all and then later,
when done he was catered by division of labor,

this behavior caught on and soon was born-
a system lacking wisdom as our wise eyes are torn,
we should have been warned about a system full of flaws,
for now we are scorned by a system full of laws, and who applauds,

only the public at large, who applauds,
only the public at large,
but popular opinion ain't what everybody cares,
cause half of us aren't even aware that we're aware.

(deadly hard mashup ragga beats)

[RIPSmithianEconomics]

They flutter behind you your possible pasts
Some bright eyed and crazed
Some frightened and lost
A warning to anyone still in command
Of their possible future, to take care
In derelict sidings, the poppies entwine
With cattle trucks laying in wait, for the next time

Do you remember me? How we used to be? Do you think we should be closer?

She stood in the doorway, with the ghost of a smile
Haunting her face like some cheap hotel sign
Her cold eyes imploring the men in their macs
For the gold in their bags or the knives in their backs
Stepping up boldy one put out his hand
He said "I was just a child then
Now I'm only a man"

Do you remember me? How we used to be? Do you think we should be closer?

By the cold and religious we were taken in hand
Taught how to feel good and told to feel bad
Strung out behind us, the banners and flags
Of our possible pasts lie in tatters, and rags

Roger Waters- "Your Possible Pasts" 1983.

[dmtu]

Maybe a little dismal but I broke out Rocks today, had forgotten all about this song.

Aerosmith

Nobody's Fault Lyrics



Lord I must be dreamin'
What else could this be
Everybody's screamin'
Running' for the sea

Holy lands are sinkin'
Birds take to the sky
The prophets are all stinking drunk
I know the reason why

Eyes are full of desire
Mind is so ill at ease
Everything is on fire
Shit piled up to the knees
Out of rhyme or reason
Everyone's to blame
Children of the season
Don't be lame

Sorry, you're so sorry
Don't be sorry
Man has known
And now he's blown it
Upside down and hell's the only sound
We did an awful job
And now they say it's nobody's fault

Old St. Andres
Seven years ago
Shove it up their richters
Red lines stop and go
Noblemen of courage
Listen with their ears
Spoke but how discouragin'
When no one really hears

One of these day's you'll be sorry
Too many houses on the stilt
Three million years or just a story
Four on the floor up to the hilt

Out of rhyme or reason
Everyone's to blame
Children of the season
Don't be lame

Sorry, we're so sorry
Don't be sorry
Man has known
And now he's blown it
Upside down and hell's the only sound
We did an awful job
And now we're just a little too late

Eyes are full of desire
Mind is so ill at ease
Everything is on fire
Shit piled up in debris

California showtime
Five o'clock's the news
Everybody's concubine
Was prone to take a snooze

Sorry, we're so sorry
Don't be sorry
Man has known
And now he's blown it
Upside down and hell's the only sound
We did an aweful job
And now we're just a little too late

[smiley]

Here is two songs which I think that are extremely well suited for the situation. By the way enviro, does Bush also reminds you of "Mother" from PF?

Bad religion, "Modern man"

I’ve got nothing to say, I’ve got nothing to do,
All of my neurons are functioning smoothly,
Yet still I’m a cyborg just like you,

I am one big myoma that thinks, my planet supports only me,
I’ve got this one big problem: will I live forever?
I’ve got just a short time to see,

Modern man, evolutionary betrayer,
Modern man, ecosystem destroyer,
Modern man, destroy yourself in shame,
Modern man, pathetic example of earth’s organic heritage,

When I look back and think, when I ponder and ask myself ’why? ’,
I see my ancestor spend with careless abandon,
Assuming eternal supply,

Modern man, evolutionary betrayer,
Modern man, ecosystem destroyer,
Modern man, destroy yourself in shame,
Modern man, pathetic example of earth’s organic heritage,
Just a sample of carbon-based wastage,
Just a fucking tragic epic of you and i

Bad religion, "Faith Alone"

Heard a sermon from a creaky pul pit with no one in the nave
I paid a visit to the synagogue and I left there feeling blame
No one could tell me what to do, they had not the capacity to answer me

What the world needs now is some answers to our problems
We can't buy more time 'cause our tender isn't valid
If your soul needs love you can get consoled by pity
But it looks as though faith alone won't sustain us no more

Watched the scientists throw up their hands conceding, "progress will resolve it all"
Saw the manufacturers of earth's debris ignore another green peace call
No one could tell me what to do, no one had the ability to answer me

What the world needs now is some accountability
We can't buy more time 'cause time won't accept our money
If your soul needs love you can always have my pity
But it looks as though faith alone won't sustain us no more...

What the world needs now is some answers to our problems
We can't buy more time 'cause our tender isn't valid
What the world needs now is some accountability
If your soul needs love you can get consoled by pity
But faith alone won't sustain us anymore
faith alone won't sustain us anymore

[mgibbons19]

Hey, as long as there is a music thread, let me plug a little. I know some folks involved with this projec:

http://novemsongs.com/

There is free music there, and it is fun just for a look see.

Tell me if you like it and I will tell the folks.

[EnviroEngr]

Now that you mention it, Smiley, it really is an apt metaphor for the current situation.

"Mother should I trust the government?"

[Rembrandt]

I love this song by Godspeed! You Black Emperor ( the dead flag blues) it's 16 minute long:


the car's on fire and there's no driver at the wheel
and the sewers are all muddied with a thousand lonely suicides
and a dark wind blows

the government is corrupt
and we're on so many drugs
with the radio on and the curtains drawn

we're trapped in the belly of this horrible machine
and the machine is bleeding to death

the sun has fallen down
and the billboards are all leering
and the flags are all dead at the top of their poles

it went like this:

the buildings tumbled in on themselves
mothers clutching babies picked through the rubble
and pulled out their hair

the skyline was beautiful on fire
all twisted metal stretching upwards
everything washed in a thin orange haze

i said: "kiss me, you're beautiful -
these are truly the last days"

you grabbed my hand and we fell into it
like a daydream or a fever

we woke up one morning and fell a little further down -
for sure it's the valley of death

i open up my wallet
and it's full of blood

[smiley]

telegraph road - Dire straits

A long time ago came a man on a track
Walking thirty miles with a pack on his back
And he put down his load where he thought it was the best
Made a home in the wilderness
He built a cabin and a winter store
And he ploughed up the ground by the cold lake shore
And the other travellers came riding down the track
And they never went further, no, they never went back
Then came the churches then came the schools
Then came the lawyers then came the rules
Then came the trains and the trucks with their loads
And the dirty old track was the telegraph road

Then came the mines - then came the ore
Then there was the hard times then there was a war
Telegraph sang a song about the world outside
Telegraph road got so deep and so wide
Like a rolling river. . .

And my radio says tonight it’s gonna freeze
People driving home from the factories
There’s six lanes of traffic
Three lanes moving slow. . .

I used to like to go to work but they shut it down
I got a right to go to work but there’s no work here to be found
Yes and they say we’re gonna have to pay what’s owed
We’re gonna have to reap from some seed that’s been sowed
And the birds up on the wires and the telegraph poles
They can always fly away from this rain and this cold
You can hear them singing out their telegraph code
All the way down the telegraph road

You know I’d sooner forget but I remember those nights
When life was just a bet on a race between the lights
You had your head on my shoulder you had your hand in my hair
Now you act a little colder like you don’t seem to care
But believe in me baby and I’ll take you away
From out of this darkness and into the day
From these rivers of headlights these rivers of rain
From the anger that lives on the streets with these names
’cos I’ve run every red light on memory lane
I’ve seen desperation explode into flames
And I don’t want to see it again. . .

from all of these signs saying sorry but we’re closed
All the way down the telegraph road

[Guest]

Oops... almost forgot this classic,

Country Joe McDonald, I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-To-Die

Yeah, come on all of you, big strong men,
Uncle Sam needs your help again.
He's got himself in a terrible jam
Way down yonder in Vietnam
So put down your books and pick up a gun,
We're gonna have a whole lotta fun.

And it's one, two, three,
What are we fighting for ?
Don't ask me, I don't give a damn,
Next stop is Vietnam;
And it's five, six, seven,
Open up the pearly gates,
Well there ain't no time to wonder why,
Whoopee! we're all gonna die.

Well, come on generals, let's move fast;
Your big chance has come at last.
Gotta go out and get those reds —
The only good commie is the one who's dead
And you know that peace can only be won
When we've blown 'em all to kingdom come.

And it's one, two, three,
What are we fighting for ?
Don't ask me, I don't give a damn,
Next stop is Vietnam;
And it's five, six, seven,
Open up the pearly gates,
Well there ain't no time to wonder why
Whoopee! we're all gonna die.

Huh!

Well, come on Wall Street, don't move slow,
Why man, this is war au-go-go.
There's plenty good money to be made
By supplying the Army with the tools of the trade,
Just hope and pray that if they drop the bomb,
They drop it on the Viet Cong.

And it's one, two, three,
What are we fighting for ?
Don't ask me, I don't give a damn,
Next stop is Vietnam.
And it's five, six, seven,
Open up the pearly gates,
Well there ain't no time to wonder why
Whoopee! we're all gonna die.

Well, come on mothers throughout the land,
Pack your boys off to Vietnam.
Come on fathers, don't hesitate,
Send 'em off before it's too late.
Be the first one on your block
To have your boy come home in a box.

And it's one, two, three
What are we fighting for ?
Don't ask me, I don't give a damn,
Next stop is Vietnam.
And it's five, six, seven,
Open up the pearly gates,
Well there ain't no time to wonder why,
Whoopee! we're all gonna die.

[johnmarkos]

To the tune of "The Erie Canal"

I've got a car,
Her name is Liesl,
I run that car on biodiesel.
Got a good old motor
And a comfy ride,
50 mpg on the EROEI canal.
We've hauled some passengers in our day
Picked up groceries and went on our way
From Albany to Modesto.

Peak Oil, how do we get down?
For it's Peak Oil,
In the country, in the town.
You can always tell your neighbor,
You can always tell your pal,
We're gonna have to navigate
On the EROEI Canal.
Peak Oil, how do we get down?
For it's Peak Oil,
In the country, in the town.
You can always tell your neighbor,
You can always tell your pal,
We're gonna have to navigate
On the EROEI Canal.

Anyone care to contribute a verse?