Resistance Song for Day 51 - "America" by Steppenwolf

Day 51 - "America" by Steppenwolf

Steppenwolf in 1971.

      After forming in Toronto around lead singer John Kay, keyboardist Goldy McJohn, and drummer Jerry Edmonton, Steppenwolf (named after Hermann Hesse's novel) added American musicians, beginning with guitarist Michael Monarch and bassist Rushton Moreve, with advertisements in Los Angeles music stores.  They remained a force between 1968 and 1972 with hits like "Sookie, Sookie", "Magic Carpet Ride",  "Born to be Wild" (one of Al Bundy's two favorites, along with George Thorogood's "Bad to the Bone")  and Hoyt Axton's "The Pusher".

     In the words of one music critic, "Steppenwolf weren't Pink FLoyd but, then again, they weren't the Beatles either."  Their songs were largely langorous 3-chord rock experiences.  They were a nastier version of Creedence Clearwater Revival.  T-Rex on Harleys.  Many might dismiss their lyrics until they hear this plaintive, paranoid, prophetic chorus:

America where are you now?
Don't you care about your sons and daughters?
Don't you know we need you now
We can't fight alone against the monster.

Lyrics:

Once the religious, the hunted and weary
Chasing the promise of freedom and hope
Came to this country to build a new vision
Far from the reaches of kingdom and pope
Like good Christians, some would burn the witches
Later some got slaves to gather riches

But still from near and far to seek America
They came by thousands to court the wild
And she just patiently smiled and bore a child
To be their spirit and guiding light

And once the ties with the crown had been broken
Westward in saddle and wagon it went
And 'til the railroad linked ocean to ocean
Many the lives which had come to an end
While we bullied, stole and bought our a homeland
We began the slaughter of the red man

But still from near and far to seek America
They came by thousands to court the wild
And she just patiently smiled and bore a child
To be their spirit and guiding light

The blue and grey they stomped it
They kicked it just like a dog
And when the war over
They stuffed it just like a hog

And though the past has it's share of injustice
Kind was the spirit in many a way
But it's protectors and friends have been sleeping
Now it's a monster and will not obey

The spirit was freedom and justice
And it's keepers seem generous and kind
It's leaders were supposed to serve the country
But now they won't pay it no mind
'Cause the people grew fat and got lazy
And now their vote is a meaningless joke
They babble about law and order
But it's all just an echo of what they've been told
Yeah, there's a monster on the loose
It's got our heads into a noose
And it just sits there watchin'

Our cities have turned into jungles
And corruption is stranglin' the land
The police force is watching the people
And the people just can't understand
We don't know how to mind our own business
'Cause the whole worlds got to be just like us
Now we are fighting a war over there
No matter who's the winner
We can't pay the cost
'Cause there's a monster on the loose
It's got our heads into a noose
And it just sits there watching

America where are you now?
Don't you care about your sons and daughters?
Don't you know we need you now
We can't fight alone against the monster