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Top Ten Conservative Rock and Roll songs
02/16/08
A couple of years ago, John J. Miller from National Review compiled what he thought were the "50 greatest conservative rock songs." It's a thoughtful list, but, quite expectedly, incomplete. Below is my contribution to Miller's fine effort, a conrock addendum, as it were. I'll just second his introduction and dive right in:
1. This Land is Your Land, Peter, Paul, and Mary.
An ode to manifest destiny, Biblically-based dominion over the earth, property rights, and Intelligent Design.
Relevant lyrics:
As I went walking that ribbon of highway
I saw above me that endless skyway
I saw below me those golden valleys
This land was made for you and me!
This land is your land, this land is my land,
From California, to the New York island,
From the redwood forest, to the gulf stream waters,
This land was made for you and me.
The Very Best of Peter, Paul & Mary
2. Two Kinds of Seagulls, Tom Chapin.
Another folk-rockish ballad. Not quite Aquinas, but, still, a rather eloquent case for Natural Law.
Relevant lyrics:
There's two kinds of llamas: papas and mamas.
They wear different pajamas and that's why there's llamas.
Most creatures come in pairs. That's the way they mingle.
One kind only would be lonely. It takes two to tingle.
There's two kinds of peoples: he-puls and she-puls.
He-puls like she-puls. She-puls like he-puls.
And that's why there's me-puls, and you-puls,
And peoples.
3. Jungle, B.B. King
A musical expression of the phenomenon known as "business flight" ("race to the bottom" for liberals) wherein business and people move from high tax states to more business-friendly ones.
Relevant lyrics:
I work hard everyday
From Monday to Friday night
The wages that they pay me
I swear that they're very light
The take out a little for the state
A little more for Uncle Sam
How can I ever catch up
And get myself out of this jam
Yes, I think I'll move to the jungle
Move way out in the woods
Yes, because the way things are here now
Well, I ain't doin' myself no good
Follow up:
4. People Got to be Free, Young Rascalls
An apology for Neoconservatism. As Bush has repeatedly stated, freedom is the natural state of man, that for which oppressed people all over the world (even Arabs) yearn, and America's gift, sometimes, unfortunately, given through force, to the world. The "train" at the end of the song is the 3rd infantry division, liberators of Iraq.
Relevant lyrics:
All the world over, so easy to see
People everywhere just wanna be free (wanna be free)
I can't understand it, so simple to me (it is)
People everywhere just got to be free...
...See that train over there
Now that's the train of freedom
It's about to arrive any minute, now
You know, it's been long, long overdue
Look out 'cause it's comin' right on through.
5. I Don't Want Nobody to Give Me Nothin' Open up the Door, I'll get it Myself, James Brown.
An excellent, un-Hillaryesque, exhortation to personal independence and individual effort.
6. Cadillac Jack, Andre Willims
A proviso for #5 above. Just like our founding fathers warned that freedom is only beneficial if the people themselves are good, Andre Williams warns that ambition untempered by morality leads to miscreantism-and, likely, a beating.
7. Fortunate Son, Credence Clearwater Revival
With another case against excessive taxation, Fortunate Son reminds us that some senators' sons, like two of presumptive Republican nominee, John McCain's, have served their nation in times of war.
Chronicle, Vol. 1: The 20 Greatest Hits
8. U.S. Male, Elvis Presley
Self explanatory.
9. Coal Miner's Daughter, Loretta Lynn
True dignity and earned pride. The noble way to deal with poverty: through family loyalty, hard work, and a focus on the eternally important.
10. Beauty is Only Skin Deep, The Temptations.
A mature man ready for commitment. Focused on what's important.
"The Temptations - Greatest Hits, Vol. 1"
Bonus Song:
11. My Baby Takes the Morning Train, Sheena Easton.
The woman, having secured the man above, content with the traditional, complementary, non-antagonistic arrangement.
Tags: best conservative rock bands, best conservative rock songs, best conservative songs, best political songs, most square bands
1 comment
Just like the first list...if you ignore what they are saying you could possibly make a case that they are conservative songs. Peter, Paul and Mary? Really? Fortunate Son? That was almost an socialist anthem. I hope this is a sarcastic post. 
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