Is This America?

Our democracy is in peril

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What are you going to do about it?

"My music and lyrics are an attempt to define what is wrong and what is right"

No one asked Robert Zimmerman of Duluth, Minn., in the 1960s to become the voice of his moment and era. But as Bob Dylan, that’s exactly what he was and what he did. 

            No one asked Duncan Christy of New York, New York, to try to become the voice and conscience of his moment. But that is exactly what I am trying to do and be. Like Bob, like Phil Ochs, like Joan Baez, like Richie Havens and a fine slew of caring and committed others did, to use music to define what is wrong and what is right. 

            In one of the most famous songs from that period, “For What It’s Worth” by Buffalo Springfield, Stephen Stills wrote: “There’s something happenin’ here/ What is is ain’t exactly clear. . .” This time ‘round it’s different: It is exactly clear. A gang of corrupt Republicans want to replace the Constitution of all Americans with an amended one of their own. Want to guarantee that the racism which has defined our nation since its national beginning remains the unwritten law of the land. Want to guarantee that, as in Georgia, if you now hand someone waiting in an hours-long line to vote any food or drink, you can be arrested and prosecuted. Want to ensure that, no matter what the actual count, Donald Trump might again become the President. And like his buddy and mentor Vladimir Putin, this time for life. 

            “Our democracy is in peril,” said Joe Biden. It is.

            So here is an answer. My answer.

King Trump

I am Donald J. Trump, and I would be the King,

Donald J. Trump: Of thee I sing!

I’m here to satisfy my appetite

For a U.S. that’s always white day and night. . .

  • Show Lyrics

    I am Donald J. Trump, and I would be the King,

    Donald J. Trump: Of thee I sing!

    I’m here to satisfy my appetite

    For a U.S. that’s always white day and night,


    Surprise! I will not concede,

    Open your eyes! I am the one to lead!


    King Trump, I am your royalty, 

    And I will always punish disloyalty.


    And while the Democrats sit on their hands,

    And while they talk themselves blue,

    I am the one who is giving commands

    To run them through. . .



    Addicted to power, that’s what my generals are,

    Shiver and cower when I speak like a czar,

    Others have told me that I must rule by fear,

    According to Kim, according to Vladimir!


    Surprise! I will not concede,

    No way! I am a different breed,


    King Trump! I am your royalty,

    And I will always punish disloyalty,


    And while the Democrats sit on their hands,

    And while they talk themselves blue,

    I am the one who is giving commands

    To run them through


    Make America white again,

    That is what I mean by great,

    Make America right again

    Before it’s too late. . .



    Let them play golf/ In their wildest dreams,

    While I enjoy/ All of their wildest screams,

    Watching them march/ Into the People’s House,

    Burning with flames/ That no law can douse. . . 


    Surprise! I will not concede,

    No way! Let the Congress bleed!


    [Time to] march on, all of you savages,

    In my name all of your ravages, 


    King Trump, I am your royalty, 

    And I will always punish disloyalty.


    And while the Democrats sit on their hands,

    And while they talk themselves blue,

    I am the one who is giving commands

    To run them through


    Make America white again,

    That is what I mean by great,

    Make America right again

    Before it’s too late. . .


Freedom Ain't Free

Hey, all you people, it’s not fake news

That there’s a challenge we can’t refuse:

Everyone needs to apply

With stakes so high,

When our democracy’s got the blues. . .

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    “Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.” (Attributed to Thomas Jefferson)


    Hey, all you people, it’s not fake news

    That there’s a challenge we can’t refuse:

    Everyone needs to apply

    With stakes so high,

    When our democracy’s got the blues. . .


    Hey, all you people, you’ve got to care

    When all the voting laws go unfair,

    When all the agents of hate

    Discriminate

    Against the right to elect fresh air. . . 


    CHORUS: Freedom ain’t free!

    Comes with a fee!

    Like Mister Jefferson said:

    There is a price to liberty. . .


    No one can see when their eyes are closed

    What they can see with their eyes exposed,

    Isn’t it time that you took

    A good, hard look

    At all the shit that is being proposed?


    Jim Crow in a suit and a tie

    Lookin’ for some rights to deny,

    Hear this! This prejudice

    We are always going to defy . .


    CHORUS: Freedom ain’t free!

    Comes with a fee!

    Like Mister Jefferson said:

    There is a price to liberty. . .


We Love You, You’re Very Special

We love you, you’re very special, you do just what we say,

My loyal soldiers forever and a day,

I need an army to do what we must do,

I know you will come through. . .

  • Show Lyrics

    We love you, you’re very special, you do just what we say,

    My loyal soldiers forever and a day,

    I need an army to do what we must do,

    I know you will come through. . .


    Adore you, implore you, the time to fight is here,

    If you want our country not to disappear,

    Not to be stolen by thieves who aren’t pure,

    Our rebellion is the cure. . .


    I built the greatest economy of time!

    And made my best and biggest supporters so very rich,

    I built a wall no Mexicans can climb

    And called McConnell a son of a bitch!


    It’s simple, a pimple is something that you pop, 

    Likewise bad voters are voters that you stop, 

    Stop them from voting for things you know are wrong,

    ‘Cause bad voters don’t belong. . .


    I am the greatest President since Abe! 

    Put me on Rushmore right along side of the other greats,

    And I will always be married to a babe,

    Always on top of my United States. . . 


    We love you, you’re very special, you do just what we say,

    My loyal soldiers forever and a day,

    I need an army to do what we must do,

    I know you will come through. . .


    We love you, you’re very special,

    We love you, you’re very special. . . 

My Name is Stacey Abrams

Be brave, my children, war has begun,

All those Republicans, see what they’ve done!

We need to fell them, traitors begone!

Need to repel them

With the armor of the Goddess of the Dawn. . .

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    Be strong, my children, for I am near,

    Just when you needed me, I will appear,

    I am the uterus, you are the spawn,

    No way to neuter us,

    Wear the armor of the Goddess of the Dawn. . . 


    Be brave, my children, war has begun,

    All those Republicans, see what they’ve done!

    We need to fell them, traitors begone!

    Need to repel them

    With the armor of the Goddess of the Dawn. . . 


    Got a right to breathe, got a right to sing,

    A right to repair a broken wing,

    Got a right to be, to be the antidote

    To racism’s cruelty, got a right to vote!

    Got a right to put my ballot in the box,

    To say “No, thanks!” to the red state of hard knocks, 

    Got a right to work until I’m seein’ double,

    A right to get into what John Lewis called good trouble. . .


    There was once a girl who really made her mark,

    Leading the hopeful to the light from the dark,

    Who persevered when the choices were stark,

    They called her a savior, called her Joan of Arc,

    My name is Stacey Abrams and I will be your guide

    When the mountains are tall and the river is wide,

    On my back and shoulders, a powerful stride,

    All across this nation healing the divide. . . 


    Be strong, my children, for I am near,

    Just when you needed me, I will appear,

    I am the uterus, you are the spawn,

    No way to neuter us,

    Wear the armor of the Goddess of the Dawn. . . 


    Be brave, my children, war has begun,

    All those Republicans, see what they’ve done!

    We need to fell them, traitors begone!

    Need to repel them

    With the armor of the Goddess of the Dawn. . . 


Misinformation Disinformation

20,000 lies, feel them hypnotize

The unwary eyes of fools,

Lies so like a blight, (Misinformation)

Turning day to night, (Disinformation)

Helping us to smite the rules. . .

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    20,000 lies,

    Feel them hypnotize

    The unwary eyes 

    Of fools,

    Lies so like a blight

    [Background:] (Misinformation)

    Turning day to night, (Disinformation)

    Helping us to smite (This information)

    The rules. . .


    When there’s a din, then lies win

    With their spin. . .


    Call me Stephen Miller,

    And tho’ I am no thriller,

    I am still a killer

    Of life,

    Filling him with filler, (Misinformation)

    My hand is on the tiller, (Disinformation)

    Of Donald Trump, the pillar (This information)

    Of strife. . .


    Truth is the commonplace common man stuck on the ground,

    Lies are the shimmering carousel spinning ‘round,

    Truth is the plainclothes policeman out on the beat,

    Lies are the dazzling criminals of deceit. . . 


    When there’s a din, then lies win

    With their spin. . .


    Wake up, all you woke,

    You are just a joke,

    Blowing all your smoke

    My way,

    Rolling off my tongue, (Misinformation)

    My favorite brand of dung: (Disinformation)

    All my falsehoods sprung (This information)

    Your way. . .


    Misinformation can be used with deadly force,

    Disinformation gives virtue a charley horse,

    Misinformation is just like the reddest tide,

    Leaving all in its wake, even the truth that died. . .


Melania’s Coat: I Really Don’t Care, Do U?

(background: Traveling without her husband on an alleged fact-finding trip to McAllen, Texas, Melania Trump wore a designer cape that in large, flowing script read “I Really Don’t Care, Do U?”)

I’m really Donald’s strumpet, I blow his little trumpet,

And give his tiny manhood such a toot,

Romantically striving but I’m really just conniving

To take him to the cleaners in a suit!

I Really Don’t Care, Do U?

  • Show Lyrics

    (background: Traveling without her husband on an alleged fact-finding trip to McAllen, Texas, Melania Trump wore a designer coat – or perhaps cape is more accurate – that in large, flowing script read “I Really Don’t Care, Do U?”)


    What’s a girl to do here in old Slovenia?

    There’s really not much to entertain ya,

    How can I use my most attractive shape

    To liberate myself and ESCAPE!?


    I’m really Donald’s strumpet, I blow his little trumpet,

    And give his tiny manhood such a toot,

    Romantically striving but I’m really just conniving

    To take him to the cleaners in a suit!

    I Really Don’t Care, Do U?

    I Really Don’t Care, Do U?


    He’s so very, very pudgy, I can’t find his little budgie!

    And the image of him naked makes me weep,

    The Lincoln bedroom is really just a dead room

    Where I go to pretend that I’m asleep,

    I Really Don’t Care, Do U?

    I Really Don’t Care, Do U?


    I really do not care, I really do not care,

    As long as my hair looks good,

    When I give the lower classes tips on my designer glasses,

    It’s everything a First Lady should! 

    No, I’m not so brainy

    But I survived Sloveni-y

    And never down the drain-y will I go, ‘cause

    There’s no business like show business,

    Like the rolling in dough business,

    Mink from head to toe-o business

    And it’s my place just to go with the flow. . .


    I Really Don’t Care, Do U?

    I Really Don’t Care, Do U?


    Has it ever struck you that I’m saying, “Fuck you!”

    Every time I button up this coat?

    Take it from the haute me

    And you can even quote me

    That I think the White House needs a moat,

    I Really Don’t Care, Do U?

    I Really Don’t Care, Do U?

A Woman’s Work Is Never Done

Got lots to do, got lots to do!

Gotta be savin’ the red, white and blue!

Got lots to be, got lots to be,

Gotta be shelt’rin’ the land of the free!

And, no, there’s not even a moment to catch our breath,

And not when it comes to our country, it’s life or death. . .

  • Show Lyrics

    Got lots to do, got lots to do!

    Gotta be savin’ the red, white and blue!

    Got lots to be, got lots to be,

    Gotta be shelt’rin’ the land of the free!

    And, no, there’s not even a moment to catch our breath,

    And not when it comes to our country, it’s life or death. . .


    Support Tammy Duckworth, support what’s the buck worth,

    Support equal pay,

    New minimum wages, no babies in cages,

    It’s all in a day,

    The Violence Against Women Act needs our full support,

    And parity for boys and girls when it comes to sport,  

    We hold the fort,

    Long story short. . .

     

    (BRIDGE): The days start so early and end so late,

    There’s no time to dicker or bloviate

    With so much to heal,

    To stop the Stop the Steal,

    And there’s the Green New Deal. . .


    If the gestation of a healthy nation is yet to survive,

    We have our choices, our votes and voices and our overdrive,

    Devoted to all of a lifetime of giving birth,

    To all of a lifetime of nurturing Mother Earth

    For all she’s worth,

    Our Mother Earth. . .


    (BRIDGE): A woman’s work, they say, is never done,

    Not when there’s so much that’s so very un-

    American to defeat

    For each Congressional seat,

    Now repeat:


    Got lots to do, got lots to do!

    Gotta be savin’ the red, white and blue!

    Got lots to be, got lots to be,

    Gotta be shelt’rin’ the land of the free!

    And, no, there’s not even a moment to catch our breath,

    And not when it comes to our country, it’s life or death. . .

My Heart Belongs to Vladdy

My heart belongs to Vladdy, as a bear he’s big and he’s bad,

Yes, my heart belongs to Vladdy, Vla-vla-vla-vla-vla-vla-vla-vla-vlad,

Yes, my heart belongs to Vladdy, he’s really my kind o’ prez,

Yes, my heart belongs to Vladdy, and I’ll do just whatever he says. . .

  • Show Lyrics

    (Original song by Cole Porter/adapted lyric by Christy) 


    INTRO: I used to fall in love with all,

    And then I’d maul the young cuties,

    But now I find I’m more inclined 

    To keep my mind on my duties,

    And since I’ve come to adore

    A short, sweet dictator. . .


    VERSE: “When tearing off a game of golf

    I might make a play for the caddy,

    But when I do, I don’t follow through

    ‘Cause my heart belongs to Vladdy. . .”


    Her shapely tits, her naughty bits,

    I like my Melania unclad-y,

    But I am def ‘bout my BFF,

    [‘Cause] my heart belongs to Vladdy. . .


    My heart belongs to Vladdy, 

    As a bear he’s big and he’s bad,

    Yes, my heart belongs to Vladdy,

    Vla-vla-vla-vla-vla-vla-vla-vla-vlad,

    Yes, my heart belongs to Vladdy,

    He’s really my kind o’ prez,

    Yes, my heart belongs to Vladdy,

    And I’ll do just whatever he says. . .


    So here’s the score, if I start a war

    My generals will all go “Egad-y!”

    So I’m just sayin’, let’s dump Ukraine

    ‘Cause my heart belongs to Vladdy. . .


    Here’s my best guess, my next address:

    A Trump Tower in Leningrad-y,

    Where I’ll co-star as the co-czar

    ‘Cause my heart belongs to Vladdy. . .

An Average Joe

You can call me just an average Joe, I don’t do anything just for show,

Life is too brief for pantomime when a people do bleed,

Life is too brief to waste our time on the things that we don’t need. . .

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    You can call me just an average Joe,

    I don’t do anything just for show,

    Life is too brief for pantomime

    When a people do bleed,

    Life is too brief to waste our time

    On the things that we don’t need. . .


    Each day brings new opportunities

    To heal a nation brought to its knees,

    To do whatever life asks of us,

    Each in our healing role,

    Do whatever life tasks of us

    To revive our nation’s soul,

    To Americans, let us pray

    By the dawn’s early light,

    We must try to begin each day

    With the courage to unite. . .


    Finding the path to a fresh start

    Takes every ounce of a bold heart,

    This I will promise you,

    In conclusion, please let me say

    Though not always right,

    What I know is that in each day

    There is always light. . .


    And in the end I am just a man

    Trying to make the most of life’s span.,

    And yet, despite all the things I’ve lost,

    I have come back for more, 

    More of life that despite the cost

    Is an always open door,

    And yes, despite all the things I’ve lost

    I will come back for more, 

    More of life that despite the cost

    Is an always open door. . .


    Finding the path to a fresh start

    Takes every ounce of a bold heart,

    In conclusion, please let me say,

    Though not always right,

    What I know is that in each day

    There is always light. . .

Tommy Raskin

(The background: Days before Representative Jamie Raskin was to lead the House impeachment proceedings against Donald Trump, his troubled son Tommy committed suicide.)

I named my boy for Thomas Paine, and it was pain he finally knew,

Before that fateful day when his life came to cease

And brought him relief, brought my Tommy peace. . .

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    I named my boy for Thomas Paine,

    And it was pain he finally knew,

    Before that fateful day when his life came to cease

    And brought him relief, brought my Tommy peace. . .


    Life marched on, it always does,

    And I remembered Thomas Paine,

    And the pride I took in giving my infant boy

    The name and the guide to lift tyranny’s stain. . .


    So if you’re going to speak truth to power,

    You must prepare to be assailed or worse,

    You must prepare to give up those whom you love

    When they’re taken by hearse. . .


    These are the times that try men’s souls,

    You once wrote bravely long ago,

    And you took the stage to put your words on view,

    And helped us to see and helped us to know. . .


    I know you will protect my boy

    Wherever now you both should be, 

    And when we meet again in life’s final sphere,

    We will rejoice for what we did here. . . 


    So if you’re going to speak truth to power,

    You must prepare to be assailed or worse,

    You must prepare to give up those whom you love

    When they’re taken by hearse. . .

Peaceful Protest Boogie

We packed the bear spray, we packed the bats,

We packed the finest in MAGA hats,

We packed the stun guns, we packed the mace,

Now we’re on our merry way to wave our flag today. . .

  • Show Lyrics

    We packed the bear spray, we packed the bats,

    We packed the finest in MAGA hats,

    We packed the stun guns, we packed the mace,

    Now we’re on our merry way

    To wave our flag today

    And show

    All the real Americans that Biden’s

    A no-go,

    Yes, we’re stoppin’ the steal, so here’s the deal:

    We’re goin’ to a peaceful protest boogie!

    (We’re givin’ all the Democrats a noogie. . .)


    We packed the shields, we packed a spear,

    We packed the latest in tactical gear.

    We packed accordin’ to the list

    Of all the things you need to bring

    To get together as a crew, 

    All the things you need to be prepared for

    A to-do,

    Yes, we’re stoppin’ the steal, so here’s the deal:

    We’re goin’ to a peaceful protest boogie!

    (We’re givin’ all the Democrats a noogie. . .)


    We packed a gallows for Mike Pence

    To help him front some common sense, 

    And if we have to, we’ll see Mike swing,

    “Hey, there, Mike! Of thee we sting!”


    An insurrection ain’t our thing,

    All we’re here for’s to clap and sing,

    We’ll all be playin’ “Kumbayah”

    Havin’ lots of healthy fun,

    No one even brought a gun!

    Here we are:

    Tourists with the purest of intentions

    To go far,

    Yes, we’re stoppin’ the steal, so here’s the deal:

    We’re goin’ to a peaceful protest boogie!

    (We’re givin’ all the Democrats a noogie. . .)


Don't Hire Someone Who's Not Qualified

If he has all the militias awed,

If he’s suspected of substantial fraud,

If he’s protecting Big Coal by the lump,

Don’t hire someone whose name is Donald Trump!

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    CHORUS: Don’t hire someone who’s not qualified,

    Don’t hire someone who’s never been inside,

    When you are choosing, it’s better to decide:

    Don’t hire someone who’s not qualified!


    When you are seeking a new President,

    Don’t hire someone who’s never heard of Lent, 

    Who’s only planning for his emolument, 

    Don’t hire someone as your President!


    If he has all the militias awed,

    If he’s suspected of substantial fraud,

    If he’s protecting Big Coal by the lump,

    Don’t hire someone whose name is Donald Trump!


    CHORUS:


    People thought that Donald Trump could be Presidential,

    Turns out that his expertise was mainly residential,

    He said, “I’m into building,” but not of coalitions, 

    He’s just into gilding his net worth positions.


    CHORUS:


    Here is Don Junior with his manly beard,

    But where are his brain cells? They’ve all disappeared!

    Thinks shooting rhinos/RINOS will help him on the stump,

    No doubt about it – the last name is Trump!


    Here is Ivanka, a daughter’s sense of duty, 

    She stoops to conquer with her glitzy beauty, 

    Beware her makeup, her morals are a sump, 

    No doubt about it – the last name is Trump!


    Here is poor Eric, some compare to Fredo,

    His world view is clearly made of Play-Doh,

    Seems not to know his elbow from his rump, 

    No doubt about it – the last name is Trump!


    It’s the things you never do that don’t come back to haunt you,

    Some jerk with a Twigger finger won’t come back to taunt you,

    If you never choose to say, “Donald Trump, you’re hired,”

    Then you’ll never have to say, “Donald Trump, you’re fired!”


    CHORUS:


Joe Says

Joe says it’s all in the timing when you are trying to lead,

When it’s a pump you are priming to speak to a need,

When you are healing a nation, uou know you need to be so deft,

Making a Grand Central Station where right meets left. . .

  • Show Lyrics

    Joe says it’s all in the timing

    When you are trying to lead,

    When it’s a pump you are priming

    To speak to a need,

    When you are healing a nation,

    You know you need to be so deft,

    Making a Grand Central Station

    Where right meets left. . .


    Joe says it’s all about today

    And what tomorrow can bring,

    Joe says it’s all about hooray

    When “Of thee we sing!”

    Joe says that working together

    And giving our hearts to our goals, then

    It’s not a question of whether,

    But only of when. . .


    (BRIDGE) One step at a time, the best way

    To climb a flight of stairs or go up

    A mountain of resistance to

    All of your best-made, best-laid plans

    (Gay, straight or trans!). . .


    Joe says, “The top of the mornin’!”

    Offers some words to inspire,

    So let’s be lovin’, not scornin’

    And stoke freedom’s fire,

    Here is the key calculation,

    Always heedin’ what Joe says:

    If we’re to heal the nation,

    Do right by our Prez!


MEGA
Make Earth Green Again

(CHORUS): Make Earth Green again! 

Make the skies so blue!

Make a pledge and then

It’s the best thing that you’ll ever do. . .

  • Show Lyrics

    (CHORUS): Make Earth Green again! 

    Make the skies so blue!

    Make a pledge and then

    It’s the best thing that you’ll ever do. . .


    Dark days, dark clouds

    Dark words, dark crowds,

    All this darkness:

    Can’t you see the planet’s a mess!

    What’s wrong with this picture of distress?

    Grave is the risk to the life that we cherish, 

    Grave is the nature of our jeopardy,

    Grave is the truth that our planet will perish

    If we don’t do something ASAP!


    What can I do? I am so small,

    To make some change just like someone who’s standing tall,

    If I stand up, will you stand up, too?

    Working together’s a labor of virtue,

    Working together’s a labor so pure,

    Working together will not ever hurt you

    If what you’re seeking is something to cure. . .


    (CHORUS):


    [Optional verse:

    Each of us in our way is just a smidgeon

    Of all of life universally vast.

    But each of us can be a carrier pigeon

    Bearing the future away from the past. . .]


    Healing our planet’s a labor of virtue,

    Healing our planet’s a labor so pure,

    Healing our planet will not ever hurt you

    If what you’re seeking is something to cure. . .


    Make Earth Green again! 

    Make the skies so blue!

    Make a pledge and then

    It’s the best thing that you’ll ever do. . .


    © Duncan Christy

The Women of Kansas

The Women of Kansas are making their voices heard

With a message so loud it’s a roar,

Questing for justice, so here’s the word:

Get with the program or get with the door!...

  • Show Lyrics

    The Women of Kansas are making their voices heard

    With a message so loud it’s a roar,

    Questing for justice, so here’s the word:

    Get with the program or get with the door!


    The Women of Kansas are kicking some major ass,

    Unpersuaded that men should decide

    Who makes the call when a woman is pregnant,

    What is permitted and what is denied,


    The Women of Kansas! The Women of Kansas!


    For centuries women have sweated the details

    Of bearing the children, the hearth and the home,

    Of looking away while their arrogant males

    Voted themselves the right to roam,

    For centuries women have played second fiddle,

    Told to accept the short end of the stick,

    Well, those days are through, 

    So here is what’s new:

    We rule with the brain not the dick!


    “Bodily autonomy” is such a big phrase,

    But what it means is that I will come first,

    I will decide where and when to be with child,

    I will decide when to let my womb burst!


    The women of Kansas are showing what you can do

    If you commit both your mind and your heart,

    If your desire is to be gettin’ somewhere,

    Y’ain’t gonna get there unless you start!


    The women of Kansas are struttin’ their stuff,

    When we work together it’s really enough,

    Showing some good ole boys what’s what,

    Kicking some butts, 

    And yes their nuts!


    The Women of Kansas! The Women of Kansas!


    © Duncan Christy

Video

King Trump

Its title says it all. Be very afraid. I am.


Freedom Ain't Free

This song takes its cue from Thomas Jefferson: "Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty." 

            In 2006 and 2007 I was convinced we were living through the worst Presidency in American history. We were mired in two wars, in Afghanistan and Iraq, that never should have begun in the first place. The Great Recession had also begun, punishing tens of millions of Americans economically. Directly responsible for the wars and their casualties and cost was George W. Bush.

           I composed a cycle of songs called “The Blue State Blues” and performed it in venues in the Northeast United States during the campaign of 2008. Its 18 songs are divided into two parts, the Dark Side and the Bright Side. The Dark Side is always performed first, and ends – prophetically – with “The Proto-Fascist March.”

            I was wrong about the Presidency. Prior to Donald J. Trump, no President had ever actively tried to overthrow the results of a Presidential election. No President, therefore, had tried to overthrow his own government. To commit treason, that is. As Trump has and does.

           “The Blue State Blues” is a clear predecessor to “Is This America?” Much of it is still directly applicable to the current political and national situation. Because it is, I share some of it here that I hope you will review.

Listen to the Entire Recording

Listening is free, and I encourage it.


A number of songs were interpreted in video form and here are the links to a sampling:

Duncan Christy

Songwriter

I’ve written poems and plays, songs and sonnets and musicals. I was the editor of the inflight magazine of Delta Air Lines, Sky, for 14 years during a long career in magazine publishing and writing. But nothing I’ve ever done in life could match that of the man I will always admire most, my father, Arthur H. Christy.

           He was one of the youngest commissioned officers in the United States Navy during World War II, the skipper of the SC1038 at 21. He was the then-youngest United States Attorney, guiding the prestigious Southern District of New York at 34 in 1958 and 1959. He became the first Special Prosecutor in Government appointed under the Ethics in Government Act passed in 1978 in the wake of the Watergate scandal. He was also a lifelong Republican. Until, that is, he could no longer stomach the deviations of his own party from a commitment to the truth, and from a respect for the Constitution in particular and for the rights of all Americans in general. A party which now has no understanding nor acceptance of the guiding phrase “to put country above party.”

           He stands with me here in 1979. He’s visiting me on the West Coast from his home and legal practice in the East. He loves San Francisco, where I was then living, and has borrowed a pullover from me bought during a rather wild trip with my sister to Baja California. The two men you see here are happy, happy to be together, happy to be in San Francisco, happy to be Americans.

           Every son craves the respect of his father, craves to learn that his father is proud of him. Wherever you are, my sweet father who gave life so much, I hope what I’ve done here will make you proud of me.

Is This America?

The title of this work comes from the testimony of Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn before a House select committee investigating the events of the January 6th insurrection. Lashed by the harrowing events of the day and in particular the vile racist abuse heaped on him by insurrectionists, Officer Dunn recounted breaking down with fellow officers after the insurrection was quelled. He asked: “Is this America?”


Yes, it is – an America and our democracy in clear and present danger. Having opened with Bob Dylan, I close with a lyric of his, too: “Don’t say I never warned you when your train gets lost."

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