Posted under Music
As a boy I had a gig with a travelin’ show
Way back in ’63
We did a little pickin’ for the soldier boys
Of General Bobby LeeBut when we got to Pennsylvania,
I knew there’d be a change
We caught up with some boys from Georgia
And I heard one of them sayDon’t tell the band
The Devil’s on his way
Don’t tell the band
Just let the music playLater on I had a job pouring gin and rum
On the grand queen of the sea
We set out on our first transatlantic voyage
Headed for New York CityBut when I felt that lady shudder
I knew there’d be a change
I saw the captain grab the first mate
And I thought I heard him sayDon’t tell the band
The Devil’s on his way
Don’t tell the band
Just let the music playIn the Restaurant at the End of the Universe
In the year 3010
I was listenin’ to the Good Old Interstellar Boys
Playin’ “Let It Be” againBut when I heard the trumpet sounding
I knew there’d be a change
A prophet wearin’ robes appeared before us
And he looked at me and saidDon’t tell the band
The Devil’s on his way
Don’t tell the band
Just let the music play
I especially like this for the idea there’ll still be “Good Old Interstellar Boys” in 3010, as well the reference to the General and the War of course.
Weaver on 16 Jul 2011 at 3:11 am #
This is a real classic – a song from my “youth”, somewhat (~9-10 years ago).
Weaver on 16 Jul 2011 at 3:15 am #
I believe a music tag is in order.
Brock Townsend on 16 Jul 2011 at 3:49 am #
Good find and posted.
The Last Conservative on 17 Jul 2011 at 9:10 pm #
This site is obviously turning into a liberal communist hellhole. Such satanic devilish new styles of music from the 20th century should not be on any website which espouses traditionalism. When the true conservative revival arrives, bringing civilization back to the feudalist age of the 12th century with absolute control by the monarchy and the Catholic church, all music will be banned except gregorian chant.
Weaver on 18 Jul 2011 at 8:23 am #
This style of music might be less than ideal, but the song competes with much worse music.
It starts out with a reference to Confederate soldiers, which identifies the listener with them – soldiers sacrifice themselves for God, country, and loved ones. As Lee said, “It is well that war is so terrible — lest we should grow too fond of it.” It can encourage the best in man, as well the worst I’m sure – but the Confederates were legendary in their virtue. That said, I’d rather they focused a bit more on winning (e.g. Francis Marion’s guerrilla warfare) and less on perfect valour. That’s not to say winning is everything, but the concepts of right action might have been off. Guerrilla warfare isn’t inherently immoral I think.
Back to the song: it then moves on to the Titanic. Its a famous tale how musicians there continued to play until the end – they didn’t panic in fear of death. This encourages a sense of faith, belief in an afterlife. These men continued what they ought until the end. One might quibble, saying they continued what they enjoyed; but we might say fallen man continuing what he “enjoys” would in many cases be intoxication and rape. I realise this song is about enjoying a moment more before a storm, a storm the band members presumably aren’t aware, but it’s also about so much more.
Finally, it concludes saying Good Ole Boys are still around, encouraging us to strive to see this end and offering hope that this will be so.
A conservative remembers where he came from and watches where he’s going (as I heard on the Bluegrass station you condemned in the other post…). A liberal lives for the now and for himself alone. This song encourages the more conservative outlook.
I’m not for monarchy, and I’m no Catholic. I suspect you’d be worth hearing out, you seem to know something about real politics, but I’m a different sort of Trad than you. I’m for aristocracy (what might wrongly be called meritocracy) and decentralised nationalism, and I’m High Church Presbyterian. Curse that as you will, but all Trads aren’t the same.
The greatest threat is genetic engineering. I dunno if that’s even on your radar, but it could potentially obliterate everything traditional. We’d be less inclined to give thanks for a peach if the tree were man-made. And even the everyday pet dog wouldn’t be as magnificent a wonder if man-made (breeding is not GE) – an existence which would undermine our very belief in the soul. Recently on the radio I heard of work towards designing bacteria to be radically different from the DNA of life so as to become resistant to viruses. How long before we mistake ourselves for soulless computers and the glory of God for our own?
If you want to play one up, I might be a step ahead of you with GE. If not, good on you, mate. Anyway, I don’t think I could dislike someone over a disagreement of principle.
RedPhillips on 18 Jul 2011 at 3:22 pm #
Weaver, The Last Conservative is messing with us. Maybe just for fun, or maybe because he is ridiculing the desire to conserve in particular.
The Last Conservative on 20 Jul 2011 at 2:22 am #
Red Phillips insultingly declares that I am a satirist, when I am entirely serious. If we were in his beloved 19th century south, I would challenge him to a duel. As a matter of fact, Red’s name itself declares that he is a communist, because red is the color of communism.
As for Weaver, you are a much more honorable person; I appreciate your detailed defense and analysis of the song.
I too am primarily for aristocracy; though with a monarch at the head and the church involved in government as well, as a balance to the monarch. Monarchists need to support aristocracy because we neeed the aristocrats to administer our domains, protecting them from invaders and peasant rebellions. When aristocrats rebel against the monarchs, that’s where we may differ.
I don’t have a website yet, but will hopefully set one up soon. Looking forward to future discussions.