January 30, 2014

Middle Class Liberal Well Intentioned Blue

Written over 30 years ago, but there's nothing quite as timeless as liberal guilt. From Gold Turkey: National Lampoon Radio Hour/Greatest Hits:

I wish I was a Negro
With lots of Negro songs
So I could stay true to my ethnic roots
And still play rock 'n' roll

If I was a funky Negro
Eating soul food barbeques
I wouldn't have to sing
The middle-class liberal well-intentioned blues

Intentioned blues
Intentioned blues . . .

I wish I was an Indian
A grown-up Sioux papoose
So when I get drunk on a beer and a half
I'd have a good excuse

I'd be a noble savage
Wouldn't ever wear no shoes
And I wouldn't have to sing
The middle-class liberal well-intentioned blues

Intentioned blues
Intentioned blues . . .

I wish I was a Wetback
On strike in a lettuce patch
Or a slant-eyed peasant with Viet Cong
Stashed underneath my thatch

I only ever cross a picket line
To pay my union dues
To keep on singing
The middle-class liberal well-intentioned blues

Intentioned blues
Intentioned blues . . .

But I am not a Negro (c'mon!)
Not a Red Man nor a Mex (join me kids!)
I'm a member of the oppressing color
Language, age, and sex

I sympathize with the Arab cause
I feel for the put-upon Jews
And I keep singing
The middle-class liberal
Humanitarian
Meaningful dialogue
We are all responsible
Well-intentioned blues

Intentioned blues
Intentioned blues . . .

Posted by gerardvanderleun at January 30, 2014 9:39 AM
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Comments:

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"It is impossible to speak in such a way that you cannot be misunderstood." -- Karl Popper N.B.: Comments are moderated and may not appear immediately. Comments that exceed the obscenity or stupidity limits will be either edited or expunged.

Proof for the younger kids that National Lampoon at one time had a true satirical viewpoint. That sounds like the work of Christopher Guest, et al - also most memorably responsible for the show Lemmings, the most vicious send-up of Woodstock and hippies and self-righteous Boomy Baber musicfests ever seen.

Just as a sample, the original stage presentation had a pitch-perfect parody of Joan Baez singing Pull Those Triggers, Niggers (we're with you all the way; We're fighting for your freedom just across the bay.) Baez, in the tradition of Pete Seeger and speaking Truth to Power, sued 'em and got the number removed from the show and all subsequent recordings.

Posted by: Rob De Witt at January 30, 2014 11:22 AM

Never saw this back in my Nat-Lamp reading days. Genius and just as appropriate now as it was then.

Posted by: Jack at January 30, 2014 11:27 AM

That's Guest on guitar and vocals, all right. A long and productive career for the Baron.

Posted by: Velociman at January 30, 2014 2:10 PM

Makes me think of Lou Reed's I Wanna be Black. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kUVk2Otrnw

Posted by: Harry at January 30, 2014 4:14 PM

Here ya go.

Alice Playten (I think), but you'd never know it....

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

The NatLamp gang nailing the limousine libs, circa 1973.

Posted by: Rob De Witt at January 30, 2014 5:25 PM

That is, Diana Reed.

http://illfolks.blogspot.com/2007/06/sacrilege-6-joan-baez-pull-triggers.html

Posted by: Rob De Witt at January 30, 2014 5:30 PM

It's a Mighty Wind

Posted by: Cletus Socrates at January 31, 2014 5:53 PM

So whenever I see one of those, I always want to know, "Who's Judas Iscariot?"

Posted by: John A. Fleming at January 31, 2014 9:09 PM

The Folk Song Army

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yygMhtNQJ9M

Posted by: Assistant Village Idiot at February 1, 2014 6:09 PM