"One should either write ruthlessly what one believes to be the truth, or else shut up." — Arthur Koestler
OK, it’s not quite up there with “Under My Thumb” as a sexist anthem, but the Beatles’ “You Can’t Do That” is still great rock-and-roll, so you know Amanda Marcotte hates it.
I’ve got somethin’ to say that might cause you pain.
If I catch you talkin’ to that boy again
I’m gonna let you down
And leave you flat,
Because I told you before,
Oh, You can’t do that.
Because I am now currently on a plane flying to Iowa, I had to schedule some posts ahead of time. Yesterday I heard this classic Rolling Stones hit on the radio. For some reason, it made me think of Amanda Marcotte.
It’s down to me,
The way she talks when she’s spoken to.
Down to me, the change has come,
She’s under my thumb.
You should send that YouTube link to her on Twitter (@AmandaMarcotte) and ask her why she hates rock-and-roll.
The radical punk-rock anthem of our age:
Via Powerline — anybody want to transcribe the lyrics in the comments?
UPDATE: Thanks to the commenter who transcribed the first verse:
Old people grumblin’ ’bout funded medications
Subsidized housing in the capital of the nation
3 trillion dollar deficit on top of 15 trillion dollar debt
Bullet trains, windmills, and monkeys on cocaine
Monkeys on cocaine
You’re gonna pay
You’re gonna pay
You’re gonna pay
Someone’s got to pay
Welcome, Instapundit readers! The professor rounds up a slew of positive reviews from Mark Tapscott, Jim Hoft and Jonah Goldberg.
UPDATE II: The composer himself is now among our commenters and provides the complete lyrics:
Old people, government funded medication
Subsidized housing in the capital of the nation
3 trillion dollar deficit on top of 15 trillion dollar debt
bullet trains, windmills and monkeys on cocaine
you’re gonna pay, cuz someone’s got to pay
for federally funded cowboy poetry
federally funded condoms for preteens
federally funded books and magazines
I need federally funded air to breathe
chorus
for the 21st century entitlement state
where there are crickets in the coffers and pensions to pay
we need less military presence throughout continental Europe
and more fiscally responsible punk rock music now
chorus
for 70 million baby boomers’ social security
chorus
You can follow Wilson Getchell on Twitter.
“. . . that has caused many a good girl to go wrong.”
There’s a story behind that 1952 country classic. Earlier that year, Hank Thompson had released his No. 1 hit, “The Wild Side of Life,” the chorus of which begins, “I never knew God made honky tonk angels.” In reply, and using the same melody, J.D. Miller wrote “It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels,” which was recorded by the immortal Kitty Wells and also became a No. 1 hit:
As I sit here tonight the jukebox playin’
The tune about the wild side of life.
As I listen to the words you are sayin’
It brings memories when I was a trusting wife.
It wasn’t God who made honky tonk angels,
As you said in the words of your song.
Too many times, married men think they’re still single.
That has caused many a good girl to go wrong.
It’s a shame that all the blame is on us women.
It’s not true that only you men feel the same.
From the start most every heart that’s ever broken.
Was because there always was a man to blame.
It wasn’t God who made honky tonk angels,
As you said in the words of your song.
Too many times, married men think they’re still single.
That has caused many a good girl to go wrong.
I’d like to dedicate that song to Anthony Weiner. Everything worth saying has been said at least once in a country song.
(Hat-tip: Ladd Ehlinger Jr.)
by Smitty
. . .but I do sympathize with his plight. Minor language alert. Loose f-bomb early on.
by Smitty
On Easter, one envisions God crying tears of joy at the completed redemption of creation. Suffering bites. When it produces something as joyous as the victory over sin and death we celebrate at Easter, well, that is the centerpiece of human history, no? Even the Common Era folks confess this, however grudgingly.
A joyous Easter to all.
It doesn’t take much of scan of Satriani’s catalogue to glom onto the fact that he’s a man of deep faith:
by Smitty
We might even have to steal the name, too. I thought these guys had had a Wikipedia page, telling you that they’re a bunch of Aussie surf bums who drag in to play from time to time. Now they’ve dwindled to a mere mention here. Saw them about 13 years ago at a wine tasting in Albany, Australia, or thereabouts. Ageless men playing timeless music.