Jackson Browne: Drums of War + The Rebel Jesus (music videos)

Dandelion Salad

VeniceArtists

April 02, 2007

This is Jackson Brown’s Performance of Drums of War at the March 17, 2007 anti-Iraq war demonstration in Hollywood, California.
Recorded by Suzanne Thompson.

RattyRatman

Originally posted by WillianNed
(no longer on Youtube)

The Lyrics:

Roll out the drums of war
Roll up the cover of the killing floor
Roll out the drums of war
And let’s speak of things worth fighting for
Roll out the drums of war

Time comes when everything you ever thought you knew
Comes crashing down and flames rise up in front of you

Roll out the drums of war
Roll back the freedoms that we struggled for
What were those freedoms for?
Huh, let’s not talk about it anymore
Roll out the drums of war
Roll out the drums of war

Whatever you believe the necessary course to be
Depends on who you trust to identify the enemy
Who beats the drums for war
Even before the peace is lost?
Who are the profits for
And who are they who bear the cost
When a country takes a whole world to war?

Who gives the orders
Orders to torture?
Who gets the no bid contracts of the future?
Who lies then bombs and calls it an error?
Who makes a fortune from fighting terror?
Who is the enemy trying to crush us?
Who is the enemy of truth and justice?
Who is the enemy of peace and freedom?
Where are the courts, now when we need them?
Why is impeachment not on the table?
We better stop them while we are able

Roll out the drums of war
Roll out the drums of war
If you know what your freedom’s for
Roll out the drums of war

Whatever you believe the necessary course to be
Depends on who you trust to identify the enemy
Who took this country to war
Long before the peace was lost?
Who are the profits for
And who are they who bear the cost
When a country takes the low road?”
(unreleased Jackson Browne song, sung in concert March 2007)
“JB” performs “Drums of War” at an anti-war/impeachment rally in Hollywood, California, March 17 2007

***

Jackson Browne – The Rebel Jesus

Nescio K on Aug 9, 2012

All the streets are filled with laughter and light
And the music of the season
And the merchants’ windows are all bright
With the faces of the children
And the families hurrying to their homes
While the sky darkens and freezes
Will be gathering around the hearths and tables
Giving thanks for God’s graces
And the birth of the rebel Jesus

Well they call him by ‘the Prince of Peace’
And they call him by ‘the Savior’
And they pray to him upon the seas
And in every bold endeavor
And they fill his churches with their pride and gold
As their faith in him increases
But they’ve turned the nature that I worship in
From a temple to a robber’s den
In the words of the rebel Jesus

Well we guard our world with locks and guns
And we guard our fine possessions
And once a year when Christmas comes
We give to our relations
And perhaps we give a little to the poor
If the generosity should seize us
But if any one of us should interfere
In the business of why there are poor
They get the same as the rebel Jesus

Now pardon me if I have seemed
To take the tone of judgement
For I’ve no wish to come between
This day and your enjoyment
In a life of hardship and of earthly toil
There’s a need for anything that frees us
So I bid you pleasure
And I bid you cheer
From a heathen and a pagan
On the side of the rebel Jesus