Ska? Bigotry?

[Boroda]

Is it possible to say such things now in the West?.... Don't Google for it please, I need unbiased opinions. I especially appreciate posts rfom aged people who remember this song.

Thank you.

http://sky1.chph.ras.ru/~pavlov/1.mp3

Everybody got the right to speak their mind
So don't shoot me for saying mine
Everybody talking about racial equality
'Cos everybody's equal in the good Lord's eyes
But if I told you that God was black
What would you think of that
I bet you wouldn't believe it

There's a self made prophet living right next to me
He said the Black Messiah's gonna come and set the whole world free
He looked at me with his evil eye and prophesied
And he really believed it

He said a Black Messiah is gonna set the world on fire
And he no liar, 'cos he has truly heard the word
Everybody talk about racial equality
But I'm the only honky living on an all black street
They knock me down 'cos they brown and I white
Like you wouldn't believe it

They say a Black Messiah is gonna set the world on fire
A Black Messiah is gonna come and rule the world
Everybody talk about racial equality
Everybody talk about equal rights
But white's white, black's black and that's that
Everybody got the right to speak their mind
So don't shoot me for saying mine

Everybody talking about racial equality
You hear everybody talking about equal rights
But white's white, black's black and that's that
And that's the way you should leave it

Don't want no Black Messiah to come and set the world on fire
A Black Messiah is gonna come and rule the world
Everybody got to show a little give and take
Everybody got to live with a little less hate
Everybody gotta work it out, we gotta sort it out
Everybody got the right to speak their mind
So don't shoot me for saying mine

[Ripsnort]

[DiabloTX]

Boroda, they're lyrics to a song.  So what?  Look up The Mentors sometime if you wanna see some controversial lyrics.

[Black Sheep]

Well I certainly wouldn't want to be the only honky on that block - I think the lyrics are brilliant. The song... so so. Just another way to keep the minority white man down

[Masherbrum]

I was being called cracker, or honky as early as my Father was taking me down to Tiger Stadium in the Early 80's.    The day I give a damn of what racial slur is shouted my way, I'll turn and look at the pile of refuse.

[Dago]

Originally posted by Boroda
Is it possible to say such things now in the West?

 

That is the funniest, and saddest part of the whole thing.  I gather in Russia they don't get told much about the "free speech" thing.

[Boroda]

Discussing "freedom" with Soviet/Russian is funny.

Here's my rant from some other forum, about free speech:

This September in California I met Grunherz from AH board, my traditional opponent there, a Croatian immigrant in the US. He asked me why I still live in Russia while the US is soo nice and cool, I answered - it's because in Russia we have muuuch more personal freedom in everything. He was surprised and said: "It means - there is no law, no order, mob rule!"

I didn't know what to answer right then. Only after coming home I understood the difference. Example: smoking in Moscow metro (subway, underground) wasn't prohibited until late 60s. It was like this: noone smoked, and that's all. Just not to annoy the others. The ventilation is very good, but the smell annoys some people. People were allowed to do certain things, but they didn't. Maybe it's a big difference that Grunherz couldn't see, he simply never was here, even being so culturally close.

The same thing with free speech.

On-topic: What I really don't like in newcomers here in Moscow is that they don't dig it: you should refrain from doing some things that you are allowed to, and do some other things that you don't have to.

Anyway, the real freedom is inside you.

What I meant was: if Ray Davies released this song in 2007, not in 1978, could he face a lawsuit? Political correctness is IMHO an absolutely artificial thing, here it's better, if I'll call Azeris in a corner-shop "blacks", "churka" ("brick"), right in the face, I exepect to be severely punched, but - OMG, no lawsuits. I call them "abrek" (professional robbers from Caucasus, a term from XIX century, from Caucasian Wars), but I prefer to be polite with everyone, behave like a man should, with enough respect and self-respect, and this guys see it. They are true mother-Nature's sons, and we should learn the attitude we mostly forgot from them again, including man-hood and respect for the elders.

[Masherbrum]

Originally posted by Boroda
Is it possible to say such things now in the West?.... Don't Google for it please, I need unbiased opinions. I especially appreciate posts rfom aged people who remember this song.

Thank you.

http://sky1.chph.ras.ru/~pavlov/1.mp3

Everybody got the right to speak their mind
So don't shoot me for saying mine
Everybody talking about racial equality
'Cos everybody's equal in the good Lord's eyes
But if I told you that God was black
What would you think of that
I bet you wouldn't believe it

There's a self made prophet living right next to me
He said the Black Messiah's gonna come and set the whole world free
He looked at me with his evil eye and prophesied
And he really believed it

He said a Black Messiah is gonna set the world on fire
And he no liar, 'cos he has truly heard the word
Everybody talk about racial equality
But I'm the only honky living on an all black street
They knock me down 'cos they brown and I white
Like you wouldn't believe it

They say a Black Messiah is gonna set the world on fire
A Black Messiah is gonna come and rule the world
Everybody talk about racial equality
Everybody talk about equal rights
But white's white, black's black and that's that
Everybody got the right to speak their mind
So don't shoot me for saying mine

Everybody talking about racial equality
You hear everybody talking about equal rights
But white's white, black's black and that's that
And that's the way you should leave it

Don't want no Black Messiah to come and set the world on fire
A Black Messiah is gonna come and rule the world
Everybody got to show a little give and take
Everybody got to live with a little less hate
Everybody gotta work it out, we gotta sort it out
Everybody got the right to speak their mind
So don't shoot me for saying mine

I've always loved The Kinks and Ray Davies.    Misfists has always been up there in their catalog, for me.    I think that absolutely, this song would be scoffed at if released in 2007.    It is an excellent lyric that is to the point, and punches to the gut.  

I'm not "aged", but at 33, I've listened to a lot of music.    Boroda, you and I used to see differently, but the more I read your posts, I hope to be able to meet you one day.    It's a shame that "a few" will always use the same tired "not even remotely on the same topic" discussions on every thread.  

<>

[ReyPirin]

I think "God" lives in Valhalla Wields a Mighty Hammer  for which he smites all non believers. He Brings balance to his kingdom, destroying his enemies and settings man and beast asunder with his Thunder.  He is Odin . He is Powerful he is all Knowing.

BTW "They took um jeeobs"

[WMLute]

Originally posted by ReyPirin
I think "God" lives in Valhalla Wields a Mighty Hammer  for which he smites all non believers. He Brings balance to his kingdom, destroying his enemies and settings man and beast asunder with his Thunder.  He is Odin . He is Powerful he is all Knowing.

BTW "They took um jeeobs"

My god wields a hammer.  
Your god was nailed to a cross

[ReyPirin]

You're making stuff come where stuff isn't there Bible thumper.  

What I was trying to point out is that "God" or the concept of what God is who he is or whatever he,it they  represent lies within each person. Now, what good does it do to each his own .

But many use God as their lynch pin to  marginalize  or to make themselves look superior or use it to justify the abuse upon others.  I think the point of the song is that everyone preaches (at least in the Christian world)  that God is all love  and that we're created as equals, or that some type of behavior is un christian, but isn't it un christian to be judgmental and hateful toward others. Isn't it unchristian to kill people and wish harm upon others?


I'm no gosh darned hippie but I'm just saying that the concept of God differs from person to person. Nothing about your God is better than mine just the opposite. >sigh<