General Discussion

Tom Ripley

(4,945 posts)

77. Like "Sweet Home Alabama", Zevon's "Play It All Night Long" is often misinterpreted

Thu Jun 14, 2012, 08:39 PM

Jun 2012

Many people like to think it's a condescending "yuk yuk...let's laugh at the ignorant redneck crackers" spoof, but it's actually a sardonic examination of how the poor working class give up hope and grasp onto trivial and meaningless things in order to give themselves some measure of worth.

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Mediaite's "The Top 10 Songs Guaranteed To Annoy Liberals" [View all] Amerigo Vespucci Jun 2012 OP

That Greenwood song is so awful hifiguy Jun 2012 #1

It's not a bad song-lyrically and melodically Proud Liberal Dem Jun 2012 #9

Even the melody is maudlin...perfect jerk off material for faux patriotism everywhere... Taverner Jun 2012 #46

and the GOP trots him out every time they start a war Adenoid_Hynkel Jun 2012 #92

I worked for a large Federal government agency all my life. Silver Swan Jun 2012 #94

Most of those songs are liable to annoy anybody with musical taste alcibiades_mystery Jun 2012 #2

Very, very true. Amerigo Vespucci Jun 2012 #4

Here's one; Tyr's "Rainbow Warrior" Scootaloo Jun 2012 #21

"God Bless America"...Berlin could certainly write a tune, but the lyrics are obnoxious Tom Ripley Jun 2012 #62

"Don't Tread on Me" by Metallica is a pretty rockin' tune, Codeine Jun 2012 #95

I really like Sweet Home Alabama... cynatnite Jun 2012 #3

That's the only good song on the list. n/t Cali_Democrat Jun 2012 #10

Agreed. freshwest Jun 2012 #30

I like it too. nt TBF Jun 2012 #41

word XemaSab Jun 2012 #89

Sweet Home Alabama was written as a response to Neil Young's Sothern Man and Alabama...... wandy Jun 2012 #47

Southern Man is one of the greastest songs of all time Son of Gob Jun 2012 #73

Maybe if Neil had changed the lyrics to "swear by God I'm gonna have Bruce or some... Tom Ripley Jun 2012 #78

Thanks for the laugh Son of Gob Jun 2012 #81

That's cool Tom Ripley Jun 2012 #85

Thanks for a great post. senseandsensibility Jun 2012 #75

Me too. It is great driving music. n/t RebelOne Jun 2012 #72

Yeah, the author apparently needs to listen to that song again ikri Jun 2012 #103

I'll vote for "Tax Man" Warpy Jun 2012 #5

Tax Man was written at a time when the top rate was something like 90% or more in the UK bigbrother05 Jun 2012 #15

95% according to the lyrics Retrograde Jun 2012 #28

I think every liberal on DU would agree that 95% is too high of a tax Taverner Jun 2012 #48

The thing is, the real effect of those high rates isn't really the direct levy... JHB Jun 2012 #65

Not me, I think it should be confiscatory Warpy Jun 2012 #93

I wouldn't have taxed George 95% malthaussen Jun 2012 #104

Even the Koch Brothers...they have to pay their staff with SOMETHING Taverner Jun 2012 #106

To add... rufus dog Jun 2012 #109

Man, even I wouldn't tax Paul that much.:) malthaussen Jun 2012 #110

O.K., maybe a bit over the top rufus dog Jun 2012 #111

If I recall correctly, McCartney was the only one of The Fabs who did not become a tax exile Tom Ripley Jun 2012 #116

Taxman is a George Harrison composition. n/t KatyMan Jun 2012 #18

Thanks. I suppose his enlightenment came after. Warpy Jun 2012 #23

It rocks. emulatorloo Jun 2012 #59

No it doesn't. Warpy Jun 2012 #91

Wrong! Wind Dancer Jun 2012 #100

In England, the taxes support the monarchy and the Anglican church. RadiationTherapy Jun 2012 #35

No, as I recall, it was a tax whine, nothing more. Warpy Jun 2012 #45

Yeah, I must concede and agree. You pretty much nailed it. RadiationTherapy Jun 2012 #50

So why isn't "Sunny Afternoon" by the Kinks on the list? Art_from_Ark Jun 2012 #54

Awww, I always liked this song. Pool Hall Ace Jun 2012 #66

Because it wasn't on the list. Warpy Jun 2012 #90

But "Sunny Afternoon" is actually "worse" than "Taxman" Art_from_Ark Jun 2012 #96

No, that was written by "spiritual" George Tom Ripley Jun 2012 #60

Tax Man can appeal to anyone Silver Swan Jun 2012 #97

oops Wind Dancer Jun 2012 #99

The Piña Colada song tops my list. lpbk2713 Jun 2012 #6

I read this list Proud Liberal Dem Jun 2012 #7

yes Lynrd Skynrd veganlush Jun 2012 #13

No, it's not anti-abortion... cynatnite Jun 2012 #19

An anthem for the Bristol Palin "teen mom" generation. Erose999 Jun 2012 #105

The Ronnie Van Zandt Skynyrd was not a conservative band... Amerigo Vespucci Jun 2012 #22

i could be wrong about this, veganlush Jun 2012 #31

wtf? zappaman Jun 2012 #83

Who you gonna believe? Someone's assumptions or your own lying ears? Tom Ripley Jun 2012 #86

Doesn't Katy Perry annoy pretty much everybody? KamaAina Jun 2012 #8

Skynyrd? the band named after a public school teacher and a song focusing on MisterP Jun 2012 #11

If I hear Free Bird one more time maxrandb Jun 2012 #20

Yep, and I feel the same about Sweet Home Alabama, too. GoCubsGo Jun 2012 #57

The new GOP songs Zalatix Jun 2012 #12

hahahaha Cali_Democrat Jun 2012 #17

I vote for "Call me Maybe" maxrandb Jun 2012 #14

OMG!!!!! That's awesome!!! all american girl Jun 2012 #87

Gotta go with Lee Greenwood Scootaloo Jun 2012 #16

A LITTLE off topic, but... Amerigo Vespucci Jun 2012 #27

I might look into it Scootaloo Jun 2012 #36

Don't think of it as "a Rush album." Amerigo Vespucci Jun 2012 #39

From a HUGE Rush fan that is good news. U4ikLefty Jun 2012 #76

I like hot dogs and patriotic rallies NoPasaran Jun 2012 #24

Some songs on this list makes no list. Like Sweet Home Alabama lookingfortruth Jun 2012 #25

In Papa Don't Preach, the girl was already pregnant... cynatnite Jun 2012 #29

Well, that part too, but its basically a girl who is too young to realize is good for her. lookingfortruth Jun 2012 #34

the songs calls out young veganlush Jun 2012 #32

ah, and they are basically telling Young not all "Southern Men" are racist? Thank you for that lookingfortruth Jun 2012 #33

right, but there never was a real feud with Neil.. it was all kinda of tongue in cheek dionysus Jun 2012 #37

Also 'Alabama' on Harvest RZM Jun 2012 #40

"Southern Man" On the Road Jun 2012 #52

+1 treestar Jun 2012 #121

Agree, there is no reason for a liberal to be offended treestar Jun 2012 #120

They left out the most egregious one of all - God Bless America GoneOffShore Jun 2012 #26

Worst song ever. GoCubsGo Jun 2012 #56

I thought I was alone in my dislike of that piece of schlock. GoneOffShore Jun 2012 #98

Who could forget John Ashcroft? Loryn Jun 2012 #38

This has to be satire Aerows Jun 2012 #42

Rush are well known Ayn Rand nuts. nt sufrommich Jun 2012 #43

Not for years. hifiguy Jun 2012 #63

When asked about it in a recent Rolling Stone interview, KatyMan Jun 2012 #102

Greenwood song came up the other day, when a Brooklyn principal yanked it from graduation ceremony RZM Jun 2012 #44

Even back when I was a stupid Republican that song made me gag Populist_Prole Jun 2012 #49

The major reason those songs annoy liberals is they are crappy songs jmowreader Jun 2012 #51

Here's a song that should annoy ALL human beings... zappaman Jun 2012 #84

About 5 years ago, I and my then 16 year old nephew.......... mrmpa Jun 2012 #53

why do rightwingers think they own the flag, patriotism, red, white and blue and all things American Liberal_in_LA Jun 2012 #55

Because in the face of the Left's rightful claim to things like Logic and Reason,... Volaris Jun 2012 #114

+1 Liberal_in_LA Jun 2012 #115

An I voting for best song or worst song? Skinner Jun 2012 #58

Worst Amerigo Vespucci Jun 2012 #61

Many here would have a problem with these lyrics by You Know Who... Tom Ripley Jun 2012 #64

The fact is, right wingers tend to make shitty music. Warren DeMontague Jun 2012 #67

I'm not sure "Sweet Home Alabama" is a XanaDUer Jun 2012 #68

I prefer the Warren Zevon version quaker bill Jun 2012 #70

Like "Sweet Home Alabama", Zevon's "Play It All Night Long" is often misinterpreted Tom Ripley Jun 2012 #77

And thus closer to the truth quaker bill Jun 2012 #123

Do you think this one might annoy Republicans? DFW Jun 2012 #69

Music does not annoy me as much as the assumption quaker bill Jun 2012 #71

Can we add another one to the list? Greywing Jun 2012 #74

Oh hell yes. Amerigo Vespucci Jun 2012 #79

Pretty Sure Only 3 Artists Would Allow otohara Jun 2012 #80

Taxman is awesome jp11 Jun 2012 #82

Bruce Springsteen-"Born in the USA" sarisataka Jun 2012 #88

From my understanding Lilyeye Jun 2012 #101

LEE GREENWOOD IS CANADIAN.... FOR SERIOUS.... Erose999 Jun 2012 #107

"Ballad of the Green Berets" should be on this list malthaussen Jun 2012 #108

Greenwood is just schlock. Bake Jun 2012 #112

I like how they have a token Bob Dylan song....as if it erases the hundreds of liberal cbdo2007 Jun 2012 #113

Piffle Solly Mack Jun 2012 #117

No fair, 1 & 2 deserve a vote. I picked Keith, just for that stupid Red Solo Cup POS "song". bluesbassman Jun 2012 #118

No liberals are not irritated by patriotism treestar Jun 2012 #119

IIRC, Danny Elfman admitted that "Capitalism" was pure tongue in cheek satire. Tommy_Carcetti Jun 2012 #122

I saw a similar article on Mediaite the other day- WhoIsNumberNone Jun 2012 #124