No Folk Songs FOR Capitalism, But There Is At Least ONE That is Anti-Communist!

I have wondered aloud why there are no folk songs for capitalism.  And no Steve, Rush doesn't count!  But I recently was listening to an X-M radio station show hosted by Bob Dylan (my favorite 'folk singer') and he talked about a song by Hank Williams entitled "No No Joe", which was a song directed at Joseph Stalin.

Here are the lyrics:

Now look her Joe quit acting smart
Stop being that old brazen sort
Don’t you go sellin’ this country short?
No, no, Joe

Just because you think you’ve found
The system that we know ain’t sound
Don’t you go throwin’ your weight around?
No, no Joe

Coz the Kaiser tried and Hitler tried it
Mussolini tried it too
Now they’re all sittin’ around a fire and did you know
They’re saving place for you

Now Joe you ought to get it clear
You can’t push folks around with fear
Coz we don’t scare easy over here
No, no Joe

 What makes you do the things you do?
You gettin’ folks mad at you
Don’t bite off more than you can chew?
No, no Joe

Coz you want a scrap that you can’t win
You don’t know what you’re getting in
Don’t you go around leading with your chin?
No, no Joe

Now you got tanks some fair size tanks
But you’re acting like a clown
Cause man we got Yanks don’t mess with Yanks
And you might get caught with your tanks down

Don’t go throwin’ out your chest
You’ll pop the buttons off you vest
You’re playing with a hornet’s nest
No, no Joe

You know you think you’re somebody we should dread
Just because you’re seeing red
You better get that foolishness out of your head
No, no Joe

And you might be itching for a fight
Quit braggin’ about how your bear can bite
Coz you’re sitting on a keg of dynamite
No, no Joe   

I love the line "Just because you think you've found the system that we know ain't sound".

The song has a somewhat fascinating history, as Hank Williams didn't record it under his name, but instead under the name "Luke the Drifter" for fear of a counter-reaction against it that would impact his popularity.  His more religious, moral and political songs were recorded under this name.  What does this tell us about the biases in popular culture circa 1950s?

You can hear the song here: http://www.lulu.tv/?p=14420. Click on "No, No Joe".

What are your nominees for the best anti-state song?

Comments

[Bogdan Enache]

Hymn of the Golans/Imnul golanilor : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkKs81wdAak

It starts like this :

I'd rather be a tramp than a traitor,
I'd rather be a hooligan than a dictator,
I'd rather be a hoodlum than an activist,
I'd rather be dead than communist

[Daniel J. D'Amico]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0IOaef83VQ

Oingo Boingo:

There's nothing wrong with Capitalism
There's nothing wrong with free enterprise
Don't try to make me feel guilty
I'm so tired of hearing you cry

There's nothing wrong with making some profit
If you ask me I'll say it's just fine
There's nothing wrong with wanting to live nice
I'm so tired of hearing you whine
About the revolution
Bringin' down the rich
When was the last time you dug a ditch, baby!

If it ain't one thing
Then it's the other
Any cause that crosses your path
Your heart bleeds for anyone's brother
I've got to tell you you're a pain in the ass

You criticize with plenty of vigor
You rationalize everything that you do

With catchy phrases and heavy quotations
And everybody is crazy but you

You're just a middle class, socialist brat
From a suburban family and you never really had to work
And you tell me that we've got to get back
To the struggling masses (whoever they are)
You talk, talk, talk about suffering and pain
Your mouth is bigger than your entire brain
What the hell do you know about suffering and pain . . .

(Repeat first verse)

(Repeat chorus)

There's nothing wrong with Capitalism
There's nothing wrong with Capitalism
There's nothing wrong with Capitalism
There's nothing wrong with Capitalism

[Daniel J. D'Amico]

Just for Horowitz:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GXjcE4gy7g

[Steve Horwitz]

HEH. :) Love it, Dan, thanks!

[Steve Horwitz]

Well Pete, no Rush, eh? Here come three.

First, "Murder by Numbers" by The Police. (Especially for Lynne K if she's reading.)

Once that you've decided on a killing
First you make a stone of your heart
And if you find that your hands are still willing
Then you can turn a murder into art

There really isnt any need for bloodshed
You just do it with a little more finesse
If you can slip a tablet into someones coffee
Then it avoids an awful lot of mess

It's murder by numbers, one, two, three
It's as easy to learn as your abc
Murder by numbers, one, two, three
It's as easy to learn as your abc

Now if you have a taste for this experience
And you're flushed with your very first success
Then you must try a twosome or a threesome
And you'll find your conscience bothers you much less

Because murder is like anything you take to
It's a habit-forming need for more and more
You can bump off every member of your family
And anybody else you find a bore

Because it's murder by numbers, one, two, three
It's as easy to learn as your abc
Murder by numbers, one, two, three
It's as easy to learn as your abc

Now you can join the ranks of the illustrious
In history's great dark hall of fame
All our greatest killers were industrious
At least the ones that we all know by name

But you can reach the top of your profession
If you become the leader of the land
For murder is the sport of the elected
And you don't need to lift a finger of your hand

Because it's murder by numbers, one, two, three
It's as easy to learn as your abc
Murder by numbers, one, two, three
It's as easy to learn as your a, b, c, d, e

[Steve Horwitz]

Pink Floyd, "The Fletcher Memorial Home"

"The Fletcher Memorial Home"

take all your overgrown infants away somewhere
and build them a home a little place of their own
the fletcher memorial
home for incurable tyrants and kings
and they can appear to themselves every day
on closed circuit t.v.
to make sure they're still real
it's the only connection they feel
"ladies and gentlemen, please welcome reagan and haig
mr. begin and friend mrs. thatcher and paisley
mr. brezhnev and party
the ghost of mccarthy
the memories of nixon
and now adding colour a group of anonymous latin
american meat packing glitterati"
did they expect us to treat them with any respect
they can polish their medals and sharpen their
smiles, and amuse themselves playing games for a while
boom boom, bang bang, lie down you're dead
safe in the permanent gaze of a cold glass eye
with their favourite toys
they'll be good girls and boys
in the fletcher memorial home for colonial
wasters of life and limb
is everyone in?
are you having a nice time?
now the final solution can be applied

[Steve Horwitz]

And, of course, The Beatles:

Taxman

Let me tell you
How it will be.
There's one for you,
Nineteen for me,

'Cause I'm the taxman.
Yeah, I'm the taxman.

Should five percent
Appear too small,
Be thankful I don't
Take it all.

'Cause I'm the taxman.
Yeah, I'm the taxman.

If you drive a car,
I'll tax the street.
If you drive to city,
I'll tax your seat.
If you get too cold,
I'll tax the heat.
If you take a walk,
I'll tax your feet.

Taxman!

'Cause I'm the taxman.
Yeah, I'm the taxman.

Don't ask me what I want it for,
(Uh-uh, Mr. Wilson.)
If you don't want to pay some more.
(Uh-uh, Mr. Heath.)

'Cause I'm the taxman.
Yeah, I'm the taxman.

And my advice to
Those who die.
(Taxman!)
Declare the pennies
On your eyes.
(Taxman!)

'Cause I'm the taxman.
Yeah, I'm the taxman,
And you're working for no one but me.
(Taxman!)

[Steve Horwitz]

But those are amateurs. The best anti-state song remains Rush's "The Trees" (tough crap, Boettke):

There is unrest in the forest,
There is trouble with the trees,
For the maples want more sunlight
And the oaks ignore their pleas.

The trouble with the maples,
(And they're quite convinced they're right)
They say the oaks are just too lofty
And they grab up all the light.
But the oaks can't help their feelings
If they like the way they're made.
And they wonder why the maples
Can't be happy in their shade.

There is trouble in the forest,
And the creatures all have fled,
As the maples scream "Oppression!"
And the oaks just shake their heads

So the maples formed a union
And demanded equal rights.
"The oaks are just too greedy;
We will make them give us light."
Now there's no more oak oppression,
For they passed a noble law,
And the trees are all kept equal
By hatchet, axe, and saw.

[DPrychitko]

WAR PIGS

Generals gathered in their masses
Just like witches at black masses
Evil minds that plot destruction
Sorcerers of death's construction
In the fields the bodies burning
As the war machine keeps turning
Death and hatred to mankind
Poisoning their brainwashed minds
Oh lord yeah!

Politicians hide themselves away
They only started the war
Why should they go out to fight?
They leave that role to poor

Time will tell on their power minds
Making war just for fun
Treating people just like pawns in chess
Wait 'til their judgement day comes
Yeah!

Now in darkness world stops turning
Ashes where the bodies burning
No more war pigs have the power
Hand of God has struck the hour
Day of judgement, God is calling
On their knees the war pig's crawling
Begging mercy for their sins
Satan laughing spreads his wings
All right now!

[severin]

Sorry but this IS the most anti-state song by a well known group (there are some small no name groups that make pretty anti-state songs).

Jane's Addiction 1% Lyrics:

All the people I know wanna be left alone
Some people! I don't know?
They wont leave you alone
You gotta be just - be just like them

Biggest gang I know they call the government
Gang is a weapon
That you trade your mind in for
You gotta be just - be just like them

The gang
And the government
No different
The gang
And the government
No different
The gang
And the government
No different
That makes me 1%
That makes me 1%

Trouble comes down
Like a foot steppin heavy
Shake your fist
At the bitch
Or wave your money
You gotta be right
You gotta be right
Don't be no
Supper for a big fish
With the big lip
And the over -
Bite - bite

You gotta bite
Bite - bite - bite - dabita
Bite - bite - badadabita
Bite - bite - bite - bite
Bite - bite - bite - bite

Sll the people I know wanna be left alone
Some people I don't know?
They wont leave you alone!
You gotta be just - be just like them

The gang
And the government
No different
The gang
And the government
No different
The gang
And the government
No different
That makes me 1%

[Shane]

Ayn Rand did smack.

[John V]

here's a list from MR

http://www.marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2006/05/conservative_ro.html

My Life by Billy Joel should get a mention as well.

The whole song is very libertarian.

[Daniel J. D'Amico]

Steve,

On the matter of best anti-state song, Rush falls below par. I nominate anti-flag: "you gotta die for your government" (I'll leave you to look up the lyrics). And also check out "liberty" by agnostic front.

[liberty]

You can buy "No No Joe" and a bunch of other anti-communist songs, in this album.
http://www.amazon.com/Atomic-Platters-Cold-Music-Golden/dp/tracks/B000A5HJ86

Some overlap, but also check out this playlist (you can listen at the link).
http://www.wfmu.org/playlists/shows/23742

[liberty]

You can read the lyrics and background for the songs on that album at this site btw, you may particularly like this one:
http://www.atomicplatters.com/more.php?id=37_0_1_0_M

I'm No Communist: Carson Robison [1952]

We're living in a country that's the finest place of earth
But some folks don't appreciate this land that gave them birth
I hear that up in Washington they're having an awful fuss
'Cause Communists and spies are making monkeys out of us

The bureaus and departments have been busy night and day
They're figuring out just how we gave our secrets all away
And Congress has appointed a committee so they said
To find out who's American and who's a low-down Red.

They call them up to Washington to speak for Uncle Sam
But when they ask them what they are, they shut up like a clam
I wish they'd take and put me on the witness stand today
I'd yell so loud old Stalin could hear me all the way

Refrain: I'm no Communist, and I'll you that right now
I believe a man should own his own house and car and cow
I like this private ownership, and I want to be left alone
Let the government run its business and let me run my own

Our government is bigger than it ever was today
The more they hire to work for it, the more they have to pay
Our public servants should be proud and honest you would think
Instead of taking bribes and dressing up their wives in mink

The taxes keep on going up of that there is no doubt
But still they just can't take it in as fast as they dish it out
Our national debt is monster size and growin' every day
Our children's children, still unborn are gonna have to pay

Our dollar used be the soundest money on this earth
But now two bucks won't even buy a good old dollar's worth
Unless we stop inflation and take care of what we've got
The Communists may win the fight and never fire a shot

Refrain

[Vedran]

One of my favorites lyric-wise is "Where's My Slice" by NOFX

"So sick and tired of your bitching and complaining
So long you've been oppressed while others lives are gaining
Want reparations, you're needy and deserving
Can't understand why some are served while you're doing the serving
Anything but responsibility

Where's my slice?
I want more than equal rights
I want everything for free!

You waste your time concerned with what others are earning
You want a revolution to start the tables turning
A demonstration to make a better nation
We'll spend the day protesting all the problems that we're facing
Anything but face reality

Where's my slice?
I want more than equal rights
I want everything for free!

Your brilliant theory
How the world owes you a living
You'll take away from others
The things they should be giving
They own the pie and you want your share
Whoever told you life was fair?
You were dealt your hand - now play it

Where's my slice?
I want more than equal rights
I want everything for free!"

[liberty]

I stuck "socialist" and "communist" into Napster and found a bunch of great songs. Have you heard Communist Coddlers by Shoanna Z? Definitely worth a listen!

[Vedran]

liberty,

I think what has been shown by your additional search and the many songs posted here points out a refinement of Boettke's original statement. The question should not be "why are there no songs for capitalism?" but instead "Knowing there are songs for capitalism, why are they all generally unpopular or underground?"

Listing unpopular bands and songs is easy. Listing popular ones with mainstream listeners is a much much much shorter list. And there is the true essence of the issue.

[Steve Horwitz]

At least I found 4 bands who people have actually heard of. ;)

[liberty]

Vedran,

Agreed. I was simply posting them for the enjoyment of those searching, not to suggest that there are many or many popular ones. It is indeed lamentable that there are so few. Although, if one is looking for a popular anti-communist and pro-freedom or pro-individualism genre, I suggest country music.

Although they are usually seen as just pro-America, many popular country songs have the old Liberal values: work, responsibility, freedom. For example:

God Bless The USA - Lee Greenwood
Only in America - Brooks and Dunn
Where the Stars and Stripes and the Eagle Flies - Aaron Tippin
You've Got to Stand for Something - Aaron Tippin

There are lots more.

[Vedran]

Liberty,

Yes you're most certainly right about country! This is one of the main reasons that it's my favorite genre by far. Have you heard Merle Haggard's "Are the Good times Really over For Good"?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FK3dDBGhImU&feature=related

Side note:

Can we really consider Rush mainstream? It seems that they have a large strong cult following but the average person doesn't really care too much for them.

[Michael Sutcliffe]

In the same vein as pro-capitalist, a good anti-union song (at least with regards to the unionisation of farm workers) is 'King Harvest (Has Surely Come)' by The Band. Not a bad song either!

Corn in the fields.
Listen to the rice when the wind blows 'cross the water,
King Harvest has surely come.

I work for the union 'cause she's so good to me,
And I'm bound to come out on top,
that's where I should be.
I will hear ev'ry word the boss may say,
For he's the one who hands me down my pay.
Looks like this time I'm gonna get to stay,
I'm a union man, now, all the way.

The smell of the leaves,
from the magnolia trees in the meadow,
King Harvest has surely come.

Dry summer, then comes fall,
Which I depend on most of all.
Hey, rainmaker, can't you hear my call?
Please let these crops grow tall.
Long enough I've been up on Skid Row
And it's plain to see, I've nothin to show.
I'm glad to pay those union dues,
Just don't judge me by my shoes.

Scarecrow and a yellow moon,
and pretty soon a carnival on the edge of town,
King Harvest has surely come.

Last year, this time, wasn't no joke,
My whole barn went up in smoke.
My horse Jethro, well he went mad
And I can't remember things bein' so bad.
Then there comes a man with a paper and a pen
Tellin' us our hard times are about to end.
And then, if they don't give us what we like
He said, "Men, that's when you gotta go on strike."

Corn in the fields.
Listen to the rice when the wind blows 'cross the water,
King Harvest has surely come.

[Mr.Beachbums]

The Conservatives Sins are:
1. insensitive to politics,
2. did bad research
3. poor on methods
4. unsophisticated and naïve
5. too dogmatic or lacked sufficient preparation for the positioning.
No matter that the applicant was highly published, and loved by their students. If they were conservative, that was ipso facto evidence of their lack or preparation and understanding of politics.

That why Milli Vanili more saleable than your's GOLD STANDARD American Idols Ron Paul, althought booth of them have "bad research, poor on methods".
Your Golds Standards Man, is good rhetoric like Milli, but his used "Wrong Horse on The Wrong Times".
He is as good as Paul McCartney but he is not Paul Samuelson :), stop talk economics, talk like milli vanilli and closed tight to Hollywoods speechwriter.

You'rs kids all sing goods but sounds anarcho-capitalist than libertarian so:
Don't Singging Start Swingging.
(*Malcolm-XXX absolut hardcore.*)

FOR MORE READINGS:
The Ivory Tower Leans Left, but Why?
http://tinyurl.com/ywdawn

Me personaly only know the rocker from my school times, like Van Hallen and Eddy he made the most crazy song Ballot Or The Bullet its very dangerous song on our times:

Give me liberty or give me death
No truer words, have ever been said
Are you prepared
For your very last breath?
Don't you dare start
Wht you cannot finish?
So when we face, face the adversary
No longer are we the minority...
And when history repeats her hour
The pendulum will swing
Swing into power
Though not in vain like our forefathers
Freedom, never had no room for cowards
For in the end, there will be equality
Be any means necessary
The ballot or the bullet
The choice is up to you
The ballot or the bullet
Tell me what you gonna do
The sword and the pen
Can be held, by the same hand
What's it gonna take to liberate
An emancipation, a false proclamation
All these token words that you legislate
Sound a little bit absurd, and a litte too late
When a house is divided
It just will not stand
Once it's decided
A line drawn in the sand

[Steven Horwitz]

Vedran,

Yeah Rush has a cult following (I'm one of 'em), but only three groups have more gold records in the history of rock (Beatles, Stones, Kiss), and Pollstar has their upcoming summer tour as the 18th most popular ticket in the country.

Someone outside the cult is paying attention.

[David McGee]

Derek Webb's Mockingbird (2005) album is his most politically charged, and has some anti-state lines throughout the larger theme of his attack on the middle-class-white-republican-christian-culture. Though not as well known as Rush, I thought it worthy of mention. My name links to the album page on the artist's website and a sample is below:

Derek Webb
Mockingbird

In God We Trust
Lyrics-
In God we trust
and the government is on His shoulders
in God we trust
through democracy and tyranny alike
in God we trust
He uses both good and evil men

in God we trust
so we fight for peace and He fights for us
in God we trust
even when He fights us for someone else
in God we trust
even when He looks like the enemy

in God we trust
even though our hearts are bankrupt
in God we trust
for more than just the value of our dollar bills
in God we trust
but there’s no gold behind these notes of reserve

in God we trust
even through our great presumption
in God we trust
even though He favors no nation-state
in God we trust
even when the blessing is a curse

[amortiser]

Here's one I wrote many years ago when a certain Australian treasurer introduced retrospective legislation to curb the loss of extortionate tax revenues. It's to the tune of Banjo Patterson's "Waltzing Matilda"

The Capitalist's Lament

Once a budding capitalist started up a business
Under the impression that initiative was the key
And he sang as he worked and toiled till his profits flowed
You'll be amazed at what's possible when your're free.

Chorus:

You'll be amazed, you'll be amazed you'll be amazed at what's possible when you're free.

And he sang as the dollars flowed into his bank account
You'll be amazed at what's possible when your free.

He hired a gang of workers who shared in his prosperity
Each was dependent on the other you see
And they sang as their pay increased with more production
You'll be amazed at what's possible when you're free.

Chorus:

Along came the treasurer armed with the Assessment Act
Down came the social workers one, two, three
Give us the dollars you've got in your bank account.
You're now working for us, don't you see?

And they sang as they looted the profits of the capitalist
You're now working for us, don't you see?

The harder he worked, the more they all demanded
The burden became intolerable to bear
He tried tax avoidance but they milked him in retrospect
This is the age of social justice they cheered
And they sang as they struck the fatal blow against him
This is the age of social justice they cheered.

Up got the capitalist and shut down his business
You will never make me a slave said he
And his records may be found at the bottom of the harbour
Initiative is destroyed when man is not free

You'll be amazed, you'll be amazed you'll be amazed at what's possible when you're free.

[Michael Sutcliffe]

Amortiser, that's brilliant. I'm going to quote that elsewhere and link to this site (if you have no objection).

[Renato Drumond]

"20th Century Man" by The Kinks

This is the age of machinery,
A mechanical nightmare,
The wonderful world of technology,
Napalm hydrogen bombs biological warfare,

This is the twentieth century,
But too much aggravation
It's the age of insanity,
What has become of the green pleasant fields of Jerusalem.

Ain't got no ambition, I'm just disillusioned
I'm a twentieth century man but I don't wanna be here.
My mama said she can't understand me
She can't see my motivation
Just give me some security,
I'm a paranoid schizoid product of the twentieth century.

You keep all your smart modern writers
Give me William Shakespeare
You keep all your smart modern painters
I'll take Rembrandt, Titian, Da Vinci and Gainsborough,

Girl we gotta get out of here
We gotta find a solution
I'm a twentieth century man but I don't want to die here.

I was born in a welfare state
Ruled by bureaucracy
Controlled by civil servants
And people dressed in grey
Got no privacy got no liberty
Cos the twentieth century people
Took it all away from me.

Don't wanna get myself shot down
By some trigger happy policeman,
Gotta keep a hold on my sanity
I'm a twentieth century man but I don't wanna die here.

My mama says she can't understand me
She can't see my motivation
Ain't got no security,
I'm a twentieth century man but I don't wanna be here.

This is the twentieth century
But too much aggravation
This is the edge of insanity
I'm a twentieth century man but I don't wanna be here.

[Renato Drumond]

"Here Come the People In Grey" by The Kinks

I got a letter this morning with serious news that's gone and ruined my day,
The borough surveyor's used compulsory purchase to acquire my domaine,
They're gonna pull up the floors, they're gonna knock down the walls,
They're gonna dig up the drains.

Here come the people in grey they're gonna take me away to Lord knows where,
But I'm so unprepared I got no time to pack and I got nothing to wear,
Here come the people in grey,
To take me away.

Me and my baby's gonna get on a train that's gonna take us away,
I'm gonna live in a tent, we're gonna pay no more rent we're gonna pay no more rates,
We're gonna live in a field, we're gonna buy me gun, to keep the policemen away.

I'm gonna pass me a brand new resolution,
I'm gonna fight me a one man revolution, someway,
Gonna beat those people in grey,
But here come the people in grey,
To take me away.

The people in grey have gone and taken away my right to voice my complaint,
Her Majesty's Government have sent me a form I must complete it today.
But it's making me blue, don't wanna tell all my secrets to
The people in grey.

I'm gonna pass me a brand new resolution,
I'm gonna fight me a one man revolution, someway,
Gonna start my rebellion today.
But here come the people in grey,
To take me away.

Oh, Lord, those people in grey,
I gotta get back at those people in grey,
Here come the people in grey,
To take me away.

[Renato Drumond]

"Uncle Son" by The Kinks

He was just a workin' man,
Simple rules and simple plans,
Fancy words he didn't understand,
He loved with his heart,
He worked with his hands.

Liberals dream of equal rights,
Conservatives live in a world gone by,
Socialists preach of a promised land,
But old Uncle Son was an ordinary man.

Bless you Uncle Son,
They won't forget you when the revolution comes.

Unionists tell you when to strike,
Generals tell you when to fight,
Preachers teach you wrong from right,
They'll feed you when you're born,
And use you all your life.

Bless you Uncle Son,
They won't forget you when the revolution comes.

[CT]

Don't think I saw this listed yet: Anarchy Burger by The Vandals. Chorus goes "Anarchy burger, hold the government."

Best Youtube I could find, which happens to be a skate vid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGoEfglTsIg&feature=related

[dg lesvic]

Prof Horwitz,

And it is for this that you don't have time for redistribution?

[Nick]

While not anti-state per se, quite a few of Frank Zappa's songs contain comments on industrial organization and individual freedom. He's particularly good when union bashing - check out Flakes and Stick Together.

[PRODOS]

I've written a few songs in praise of Capitalism.

For instance ...

(I feel so) Capitalissimo!
http://adventureandromance.com/capitalissimo.html

Billionaire Cha-Cha
http://adventureandromance.com/billionairechacha.html

We Invite the World
http://adventureandromance.com/weinvitetheworld.html

[John Steinsvold]

An Alternative to Capitalism (which we need here in the USA)

The following link takes you to an essay titled: "Home of the Brave?" which was published by the Athenaeum Library of Philosophy:

http://evans-experientialism.freewebspace.com/steinsvold.htm

John Steinsvold