and now for something completely different!

So my nerdiness not only manifests itself through my political interests, but also my obsession with music. Thus, I have decided, in my infinite boredom here at home, to merge the two into one post. This is what you have been waiting for:

Alex's Top 5 Political Songs of Our Time
(so far...)

Since I have not figured out how to upload music onto this thing, or if it even possible, I am going to resort to quoting lyrics. With no further ado, in no particular order:

1.Belief- John Mayer
A more mainstream song, that was overshadowed by Waiting on the World to Change (another good one, but not quite list-worthy). Best lyrics:

We're never gonna win the world
We're never gonna stop the war
We're never gonna beat this
If belief is what we're fighting for
What puts a hundred thousand children in the sand
Belief can
Belief can
What puts the folded flag inside his mother's hand
Belief can
Belief can

2.Sons and Daughters- The Decemberists
This one is a little more subtle, but in their live performances they make a point of clarifying that this is a song about hoping that the war will end. Protest lyrics, when they go crazy musically:

Hear all the bombs fade away
Hear all the bombs fade away

3.Little Bombs- Dashboard Confessional
Say what you want about emo music, but you can't deny the lyrics in this one:

How do you deal with the consequence,
Now that we bear the weight of your arrogance?
I know you and your cons,
Your petty little bombs,
But who will you blame your troubles on now?
We all pay in time,
So how will you clear your conscience when your lies unwind?

4.Heaven Runs On Oil- Nightmare of You
This came out about 3 years ago, and is one of my long time favorites. Best part:

And it's like a good book reads:
Always question your country
There's knives in their blue eyes
So read up and turn off the telly
And say you do!
Say you love us like I know you will
And that our deaths won't be in vain
Or in the name of gasoline

5.Shake The Sheets- Ted Leo and the Pharmacists
This one is definitely Ryan's favorite and it's a very direct criticism of the administration in general. The whole song is pretty scathing, but a good part:

I want to take it to the president, him and all the cabinet, with a broom.
I want to sweep the Halls of Arrogance, sweep the walls of the excrement of these baboons.
But I respect and prize the covenant -- I respect the process, I respect the rules.
When will we find a chord as resonant as to shake the sheets and make us move?

There you have it. Feel free to buy (illegally download) the songs, or just look up the videos on YouTube. I promise they won't disappoint, and that my next post will be more directly related to recent news.