Willie comes through for peace

DALLAS – Texas peace activists are celebrating because our national hero, singer Willie Nelson, has released a new single that asks, “What Ever Happened to Peace on Earth?”

Americans have noticed that the war in Iraq has not been protested in song the way that earlier conflicts, especially the Vietnam war, were. The reason is that the record industry, radio, movies, and television are controlled by fewer and fewer big corporations. At the same time, a number of bellicose pro-war songs have been given access to the airwaves since Sept. 11, 2001.

Only a recording star with the amazing following of Willie Nelson could hope to get an antiwar message through the blockade of corporations like Clear Channel who own so many radio station playlists that they can effectively control what will be said or sung on the airwaves.

Fortunately, Willie has come through. At a fundraiser for Democratic presidential hopeful Dennis Kucinich on Jan. 3 in Austin, Texas, Willie debuted the song and, according to reports, brought down the house. Willie Nelson has strongly endorsed Kucinich, who many say articulates the clearest progressive message among the Democratic contenders.

Many of Willie’s enthusiastic supporters could not wait until Jan. 3 for the lyrics, which have been widely circulated on the Internet:

The author can be reached at flittle7@yahoo.com.

Willie Nelson’s ‘What Ever Happened To Peace On Earth’

There’s so many things going
on in the world
Babies dying
Mothers crying
How much oil is one human life worth
And what ever happened
to peace on earth

We believe everything that
they tell us
They’re gonna’ kill us
So we gotta’ kill them first
But I remember a
commandment
Thou shall not kill
How much is that
soldier’s life worth
And whatever happened to
peace on earth

(Bridge)

And the bewildered herd
is still believing
Everything we’ve been told
from our birth
Hell they won’t lie to me
Not on my own damn TV
But how much is a liars
word worth
And whatever happened to
peace on earth

So I guess it’s just
Do unto others before they
do it to you
Let’s just kill em’ all and let
God sort em’ out
Is this what God wants
us to do

(Repeat Bridge)

Now you probably won’t hear this on your radio
Probably not on your local TV
But if there’s a time, and if
you’re ever so inclined
You can always hear it
from me
How much is one picker’s
word worth
And whatever happened to
peace on earth

But don’t confuse caring
for weakness
You can’t put that
label on me
The truth is my weapon of mass protection
And I believe truth sets
you free