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Terrorist Punk Songs
I guess it was only a matter of time before this type of shit started happening:
LONDON (Reuters) - Anti-terrorism detectives escorted a man from a plane after a taxi driver had earlier become suspicious when he started singing along to a track by punk band The Clash, police said on Wednesday.
Detectives halted the London-bound flight at Durham Tees Valley Airport and Harraj Mann, 24, was taken off.
The taxi driver had become worried on the way to the airport because Mann had been singing along to The Clash’s 1979 anthem “London Calling,” which features the lyrics “Now war is declared — and battle come down” while other lines warn of a “meltdown expected”. […]
“The report was made with the best of intentions and we wouldn’t want to discourage people from contacting us with genuine concerns,” she said.
Speaking of which, what are your favorite would-be terrorist punk songs and why? Maybe we can start putting together mix CD’s that will get us all arrested. May as well.
April 5th, 2006 at 1:43 pm
GWAR is chock full of seditious lyrics… “America must be destroyed” “Hail Saddam A-Go-Go” plenty others.
April 5th, 2006 at 2:23 pm
Anything by Crass, Subhumans, Dead Kennedys… Sex Pistols dissed the Queen but that isn’t the same as political terrorism– perhaps cultural terrorism.
But then again any punk band that celebrates Anarchy– and that’s about 99.9.% of them –could be considered terrorist.
How about rappers? Public Enemy springs to mind. Wu Tang Clan used to use phrases like “PLO style” pre-9/11. And NWA was warned by the Feds to watch their step. Dead Prez is probably the only political rap group out today with any relevance.
April 5th, 2006 at 2:41 pm
Stiff Little Fingers, “Suspect Device”
“I’m a suspect device the Army can’t defuse
“You’re a suspect device they know they can’t refuse
“We’re gonna blow up in their face.”
April 5th, 2006 at 3:02 pm
Zeno, good call on GWAR.
How about good ole’ RATM?
..U know they murdered X, and blamed it on Islam..
Took the power from the have nots, then came the shots
How about Fishbone:
Who do you serve?
For whose Empire and for whose whim?
Is your honor judged by men?
Would you die, would you kill and continue to lie
Would you say, if we all just continue to pay,
All our problems will go away…
err…not sure if those lyrics are all exact. Singing it my head now isn’t helping
I like this idea - let’s get the most anti-whatever songs and make a mix.
April 5th, 2006 at 3:05 pm
I’m for it. I vote for anything by Nina Hagen. I saw her perform in Seattle last November and she was actively exhorting the crowd to forment revolution. Of course, a lot of her stuff is in german but even a non-speaker can understand most of the good bits. Another candidate I would add to the list is Michael Franti’s version of Dead Kennedy’s “California Uber Alles”. Sadly, that song makes even more sense twenty-odd years after it’s release. And I would certainly include the Clash tune, “Know Your Rights”. Indeed. I am looking forward to seeing the completed list here, might even find some good stuff I missed the first time around! Juno
April 5th, 2006 at 3:42 pm
Arrested at fuel station
In 2003, the Canadian instrumental band Godspeed You! Black Emperor were held for questioning as possible terrorists at an Oklahoma gas station on Saturday, while driving on a US tour. According to Tom Windish, a representative for the band, the band pulled their two white vans with trailers that had French slogans grafittied on the sides into a gas station to refuel. Upon seeing the crew of nine musicians, the station’s attendant passed a note to a female customer which said that the band were terrorists. It asked her to call the police.
Before even having a chance to leave the station, the group was reportedly approached by police. FBI agents arrived soon after. Some members of the band were held for questioning for roughly three hours before finally being released as innocents.
just another choice example, with a few more over here:
http://www.freemuse.org/sw12515.asp
April 5th, 2006 at 4:22 pm
Anything by KRS-One is good.
http://www.lyricsdownload.com/immortal-technique-bin-laden-lyrics.html
April 5th, 2006 at 4:49 pm
Mm, good call. I think “sound of da police” is a pretty awesome one by him. That whole officer/overseer thing is pretty wild.
April 5th, 2006 at 5:03 pm
my favorite is peaches by the stranglers………i don`t think its about terrorism though, but what a great bass line. the bass player went to jail for murder. does that count?
April 5th, 2006 at 6:58 pm
I gotta agree with the vote for Fishbone! The track Servitude (lyrics quoted above) is indeed amazing: rebellious and uplifting and heavy and in yer face all at once. The album its from, Give A Monkey A Brain And He’ll Swear He’s The Center Of The Universe, is solidly powerful as a whole. The rest of their catalog I don’t care for as much, but damn if they didn’t capture lightning in abottle with that release! They and Tool were the best thing about Lollapalooza…2, I think? Anyhow, I find it ironic that the album didn’t do so well; it was one of the best releases of the 90s that I bet ya never heard… seek it out!
April 5th, 2006 at 7:40 pm
Immortal Technique
http://www.last.fm/music/Immortal+Technique/+wiki
“In an era where most popular rappers talk about materialistic things such as diamonds, guns, drugs, and women, Immortal Technique openly questions the policies of the U.S. government, points out social inequalities, and promotes a high level of social activism and revolution. Immortal Technique makes many references to controversial events. Among them: U.S. nationalism and jingoism, the right-wing bias and censorship of the media, the death of Senator Paul Wellstone, the CIA’s mind control project MKULTRA, Jesus and Mary Magdelene having children and the use of depleted uranium by United States troops. He also suggests that the World Trade Center towers were brought down by explosives. For a complete understanding of where Immortal Technique stands, a perusal through his entire discography would likely be necessary.”
April 5th, 2006 at 9:33 pm
In the “punk” vein…
“Let’s Have a War” - Fear
“Chemical Warfare” - Dead Kennedys
“Happy Bridge” into “Kill Everyone Now” - Nomeansno
April 5th, 2006 at 9:47 pm
Well, you could just adopt Kill The U.S. Government by the Black Rebel Motorcycle Club as a person anthem. Walk around sensitive areas with it looping on your ghetto blaster old-school style - If you’re really looking to get yourself arrested.
April 5th, 2006 at 10:41 pm
We’ll be fighting in the streets
With our children at our feet
And the morals that they worship will be gone
And the men who spurred us on
Sit in judgement of all wrong
They decide and the shotgun sings the song
I’ll tip my hat to the new constitution
Take a bow for the new revolution
Smile and grin at the change all around
Pick up my guitar and play
Just like yesterday
Then I’ll get on my knees and pray
We don’t get fooled again
The change, it had to come
We knew it all along
We were liberated from the fold, that’s all
And the world looks just the same
And history ain’t changed
‘Cause the banners, they are flown in the next war
I’ll tip my hat to the new constitution
Take a bow for the new revolution
Smile and grin at the change all around
Pick up my guitar and play
Just like yesterday
Then I’ll get on my knees and pray
We don’t get fooled again
No, no!
I’ll move myself and my family aside
If we happen to be left half alive
I’ll get all my papers and smile at the sky
Though I know that the hypnotized never lie
Do ya?
There’s nothing in the streets
Looks any different to me
And the slogans are replaced, by-the-bye
And the parting on the left
Are now parting on the right
And the beards have all grown longer overnight
I’ll tip my hat to the new constitution
Take a bow for the new revolution
Smile and grin at the change all around
Pick up my guitar and play
Just like yesterday
Then I’ll get on my knees and pray
We don’t get fooled again
Don’t get fooled again
No, no!
Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!
Meet the new boss
Same as the old boss
April 5th, 2006 at 10:59 pm
“Revolution” by Authority Zero
Look at the blueprints as they disappear
Gaze at the blank space filled with all our fears
To make a move could mean devastation
To take a chance is the way to face them
Making a choice to take a different road
You want a revolution?
You’ve got to make a difference on your own
You want a revolution?
Stand up, stand out and make it known
A new state, renovation
A new day, brings rejuvenation
These days, another way no replay
No replay, I think about it this way
Time’s up, how can I say that’s okay?
Too late, I should’ve, could’ve maybe
Why wait when in the end it could be my last big mistake?
You want a revolution?
You’ve got to make a difference on your own
You want a revolution?
Stand up, stand out and make it known
Face first, new days, choices we’ve made
Face first, new days, the choices we make
Face first our ability to choose
I make a change instead of saying that it’s just fine
Time to open up and time to realize
You can make a difference if you try
You want a revolution?
You’ve got to make a difference on your own
You want a revolution?
Stand up, stand out and make it known
You’ve got to stand up and make it known
You want a revolution?
April 6th, 2006 at 5:53 am
Op Ivy, “take warning,” Dead Kennedy’s, “police truck,” probably anything by Crass, “letter bomb” by Circle jerks, neurosis, bury what’s dead, MDC,and of course, blatz, “california”. BTW, Tim, you and Jello share a last name.
April 6th, 2006 at 8:48 am
Peace the fuck out and Re-Offender by - believe it or not - Travis.
April 6th, 2006 at 10:50 am
When it comes to subversive lyrics, no one beats THE FEEDERZ!
“Vandalism, as beautiful as a rock in a cops face, leaders and their lies a little violence should put them in their place.”
Check out their first album recorded in the early 80s “Ever feel like Killing your boss?” It’s an underappreciated masterpiece.
April 6th, 2006 at 2:53 pm
I forgot about The Coup– they had the album cover with the WTC blowing up, which they had to recall after the real WTC was attacked on you-know-when. The Coup is very political and intelligent, and I can’t believe I forgot to mention them.
Public Enemy’s “Black Steel In The Hour of Chaos” (later covered by Tricky) is the ultimate terrorist song, even though it’s about a prison breakout… Guantanamo Bay, anyone?
“I got a letter from the government/ the other day/ I opened and read it/ it said they were SUCKAS!”
April 6th, 2006 at 3:06 pm
Oh, good lord, the roadkill tossers- who could forget?
April 6th, 2006 at 6:51 pm
James - oh yeah I like what I’ve heard from the Coup.
My bro told me that WTC album cover story.
Been waitin for the time when I can get to Arizona…
April 6th, 2006 at 8:49 pm
[…] ll on the radio nowadays? I’m just askin’! Well, Tim’s solicitation of Terrorist Punk Songs really got me thinkin’, particularly when somebody […]
April 8th, 2006 at 3:40 pm
“Hey man, nice shot” Filter