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The Lyrics of Terry Hubbard |
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Dead White and Blue |
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written 1986 © 1986 -2006 by Terry Hubbard & Todd "Tongo" Clarke In memory of one of the finest musicians I have ever known. Tongo, this one's for you. We miss you.
This is a rather lengthy piece. It may take a moment for your browser to get enough to begin streaming. This is a collaboration done 20 years ago on two fostex 4-track cassette recorders. The entire arrangement and most of the instrumentation is done by Tongo, who was about 24 at the time. This is an example of his finesse, not only as a musician, and in particular a guitarist, but also as an engineer, and producer. I composed the lyrics, and the base chord structure, but I let Tongo go for it, and here is the results. I sing and play strange keyboard sounds but nothing else.
You were young like a family at play. Who was it taught you war that way? It was just for a picnic, a summer matinee, and neither of the brothers and friends had evil of the other to say.
Yet their ideas were worth more than their lives could be paid for many friendly foes were slain in the field in which you played, Afterwards I watched my country die, buried in blood and slaughtered for a lie. Though it was only a play, I still had to cry
In dreaming of America did you plan for these mistakes. In dreaming of America did you give your children what it takes? In dreaming of America did you calculate freedoms worth? How money buys the fools and tools of war with no care for love on the earth.
Gods chosen of all the nations, come to the promised land. But like Israel and the calf of gold came some who did not understand. They saw the fruit was ripe upon the tree, and that they could sell for profit what they could get for free.
Yet honorable men gave all in the hope to save the sanctity of freedom for the home of the brave. I saw their faces and I heard their names, they're history now, nothing has changed. Just words and meanings rearranged.
In dreaming of America did you plan for these mistakes? In dreaming of America did you give your children what it takes? In dreaming of America did you see the children of the sky who lived in reverence to the earth, and could find no reason to lie.
It's twilight in the desert, silence on the sand waiting for man to give to man what the fear in man demands. An instant blossom of total light shattered forever the peace of the night. I can still hear the echoes of the "dawns early light'" "equal representation," and "guarantee of right." I hear it now on the TV set.... same old line same bad bet, I don't believe "democracy" has happened yet.
In dreaming of America did you see yourself today? In dreaming of America had you thought that you might stay? In dreaming of America, did you see your city streets? Survival in cardboard boxes, and other human feats. In your dream of America, did you see a dollar sign? Like a snake with a sword waiting for you to co-entwine.
Well the price is paid, the wages earned. Left with the waste still enough haven't learned. No one here can give back the time, and how it's all been given...therein is the crime; Money for your life, money for mine. In the end you just pass it along to the next one in line. I wonder who made, and was paid the first tax? Who changed the plan, who distorted the facts? They're never up front, someone else does their acts.
In dreaming of America, did you think your justice was for all? In dreaming of America, did you happen to see her fall? In dreaming of America did you remember Babylon, or Rome, Gomorrah, other nations mighty and gone?
This is your dream America...WAKE UP!
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