Leonard Cohen Song parody - Pile of Shit

lightning · Post by **lightning** » Mon Dec 30, 2002 4:31 am

Pile of Shit
(to the Tune of "Avalanche") by Polly Skata for publication in the 5th edition of "Listen to the Mockingbird--Satiric songs to tunes you know, Tuli Kupferberg, ed."

Well I stepped into a pile of shit
it covered up my sole.
When I am not this moron that you see
I run the U.S. government.
You who wish to rule the world
You must learn, learn to serve us well.
We strike your fields no accident
As we go down for our gold.
The pigs you pay your taxes to
Are neither starved nor cold.
We do not ask for your protest songs
When we intend, intend to bomb Iraq.

You who wish to crush Hussein
You must learn what makes you blind.
The nukes and bugs we went searching for
Are the ones we left behind.
They may bring down our towers
But they will never, never stop our nerve.

We may begin a Third World War,
We who have such greed.
We have ignored your poverty
We who have no need.
We want your oil, you towel-heads.
It is your flesh that we tear.

Vesuvius · Post by **Vesuvius** » Tue Dec 31, 2002 7:53 am

What have you personally done about poverty in the Third World?

Which pigs do you pay taxes to?

Why do you hate the United States of America?

lightning · Post by **lightning** » Tue Dec 31, 2002 4:35 pm

I guess like other Americans I've done nothing to end poverty in the third world but at least I wrote this parody showing I am aware of it. I pay my taxes to the wealthy and powerful U.S. government or face jail for not doing so. I do not really hate the US or I would move out but I would encourage it in non-violence a more just distribution of the wealth if anybody would listen to me.

peter danielsen · Post by **peter danielsen** » Tue Dec 31, 2002 4:52 pm

I think you both have a point, the poem pretty well reflects that violence is often an excuse for not looking at oneself. On the other hand the judgment on others not doing so is in itself violence. And....showing the violence of the two sides is ....also violence. So we end up in either libertinism or nihilism.

"a mighty judment comming
but I may be wrong,
I he these funny voices
in the tower of song"

Peter

lizzytysh · Post by **lizzytysh** » Tue Dec 31, 2002 6:07 pm

Lightning!

YOU wrote this with a pen name? Or you "wrote" [transcribed] it here to show your awareness? If the former, I certainly had no idea! I have launched plenty into my feelings elsewhere on the Americana issues, and have chosen not to do so here.

However, I'm feeling a bit confused by Peter's assertions re: what constitutes violence. It seems to suggest that the only non-violent [i.e. peaceful] path would be blissful unawareness, or at minimum leaving any/all thoughts unexpressed. Awareness and communication are the logical predecessors of action.

~Lizzytysh

Linda · Post by **Linda** » Wed Jan 01, 2003 5:26 am

Lightning, Quit whinning and get out there and do something! There is plenty you can do that will help relieve poverty in third world countries, speak for yourself not all Americans.

Byron · Post by **Byron** » Wed Jan 01, 2003 8:31 pm

Lightning, and others, I have no desire to encourage political discussion in this particular forum. My only contribution to this topic is a quote from Lord Alfred Milner in a speech he made in 1909. "If we believe a thing to be bad, and if we have a right to prevent it, it is our duty to try to prevent it and to damn the consequences." My own view is that we all have consciences and minds and thoughts and the ability to use them. So it's up to each of us to express how we feel, as long as it's constructively thought out. Please can we now get back to poetry and prose?

Paula · Post by **Paula** » Thu Jan 02, 2003 1:48 am

I am not sure why your fellow Americans reacted so strongly to your parody. Perhaps because it was critising your motherland. The sentiments in the parody seemed quite sound to me. Did you write this yourself? I am going to be controversial here. I liked it. I think I ought to qualify my comments by saying I am not anti American but would rather try other methods before committing both America and Britain to war.

lizzytysh · Post by **lizzytysh** » Thu Jan 02, 2003 3:43 am

Hi Polly,

I've always seen parodies as healthy skepticism. This particular one makes some excellent points.

With regard to the poetry-section confines, poetry/prose/parody about one's personal thoughts and feelings, whatever they may be.

~Lizzytysh

Vesuvius · Post by **Vesuvius** » Thu Jan 02, 2003 4:40 am

Lightning,

You are aware of poverty in the Third World. Did you know that you can give MONEY to alleviate this poverty. There are any number of legitimate Third World Agencies that will be happy to accept your contributions. You do not have to wait for the United States Government to redistribute your wealth. You can redistribute it yourself.

lizzytysh · Post by **lizzytysh** » Thu Jan 02, 2003 5:54 am

Hmm. Let me make sure I've got this right. Before an opinion is to be expressed or to be considered for its merit, one must first write a check, so that the MONEY can be doing its job in gaining one entry into the world of freedom-of-expression and consideration-of-ideas? It seems to me that the "money is power" concept couldn't be any better demonstrated than to suggest that one first buy the right to complain about how the mega-dollar spenders allocate funds worldwide. That one should be spending their own dollars [be they in a financial position to do so or not] or keep their mouths shut. Money is power.....and a very scarey application of the concept this is. Guess we needn't bother asking those in the Third World countries what they think. They really can't afford to speak.

lightning · Post by **lightning** » Thu Jan 02, 2003 6:05 am

Vesuvius, Before you explode consider that I am a marginal artist working by hand in the age of the machine. I have a hungry New York landlord to feed . That means I can't subsidize a third world country. But the money the U.S. spends for defense and destruction, i.e. war,( was it 40 to 60% of the tax dollar, I think I heard) certainly could be put to better use. Don't you agree?

Linda · Post by **Linda** » Thu Jan 02, 2003 6:51 am

The point is, before one complains too much about another or our government, what is one doing themselves to alleviate a problem. You do not even have to write out a check. Get involved with different organizations to raise money, and it does not have to be only money. Lizzy if you read the previous posts you will see you are missing the point completely.
Besides how can you say our government does nothing? What fact are you basing this on? I would really like to know.
Where are you getting your facts Lightning?
What is the point of bashing your own country on this board?
I know just as well as you do what should and shouldn't be done by this govenment and past governments we all have opinions but I don't think this is the time or the place.
I love the country, but sure don't care for this scene.

lightning · Post by **lightning** » Thu Jan 02, 2003 4:53 pm

Linda, someone sent me this link to an article by an Indian journalist containing the some of facts that may help you understand. Please visit
<http:www.guardian.co.uk/Archive/Article/0,42 ... 89,00.html> If you can get WBAI Pacifica radio on the Internet tune into "Democracy Now" with Amy Goodman. Or visit her website <www.democracynow.org> . It will open the gate to a nightmare of knowledge, to paraphrase Phil Ochs, topical singer extraordinaire.

Linda · Post by **Linda** » Fri Jan 03, 2003 4:04 am

Lightning, I shall and thank you

Leonard Cohen Song parody - Pile of Shit

Leonard Cohen Song parody - Pile of Shit

Sinners

Pile of Shit