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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region Forums"I'm Dreaming (of a White President)"
Could anyone except Randy Newman write "I'm Dreaming (of a White President)?" Brilliant!
Randy Newman Tackles Politics And Race On Im Dreaming
By Evan Schlansky September 18th, 2012 at 9:44 am
Im dreaming of a white President/Just like the ones weve always had sings sardonic master songwriter Randy Newman in Im Dreaming, a searing look at racial tension and national politics, released today as a free download.
The controversy-bating new track is available at Nonesuch.com, but Newman encourages listeners to donate to the United Negro College Fund at uncf.org.
In a statement, Newman explains his reason for writing Im Dreaming.
No other Western industrialized nation wouldve elected a black president. Im proud of this country for having elected Obama in 2008. But from the beginning of his term, I noticed a particular heat to conversations that wouldnt ordinarily generate that kind of passion: The budget, appointments, health care. He continues, I think there are a lot of people who find it jarring to have a black man in the White House and they want him out. They just cant believe that theres not a more qualified white man. You wont get anyone, and I do mean anyone, to admit it.
More: http://www.americansongwriter.com/2012/09/randy-newman-tackles-politics-and-race-on-new-song/
Im Dreaming
George Washington was a white man
Adams and Jefferson too
Abe Lincoln was a white man, probably
And William McKinley the whitest of them all
Was shot down by an immigrant in Buffalo
And a star fell out of heaven
Im dreaming of a white President
Just like the ones weve always had
A real live white man
Who knows the score
How to handle money or start a war
Wouldnt even have to tell me what we were fighting for
Hed be the right man
If he were a
Im dreaming of a white President
Someone whom we can understand
Someone who knows where were coming from
And that the law of the jungle is not the law of this land
In deepest darkest Africa nineteen three
A little boy says, Daddy, I just discovered relativity.
A big eclipse is coming
And Ill prove it. Wait and see!
You better eclipse yourself outta here, son
And find yourself a tree
Theres a lion in the front yard
And he knows he wont catch me.
How many little Albert Einsteins
Cut down in their prime?
How many little Ronald Reagans
Gobbled up before their time?
I dont believe in evolution
But it does occur to me,
What if little William Howard Taft had to face a lion
Or God forbid, climb a tree?
Where would this country be?
Im dreaming of a white President
Buh buh buh buh
Cause things have never been this bad
So he wont run the hundred in ten seconds flat
So he wont have a pretty jump shot
Or be an Olympic acrobat
So he wont know much about global warming
Is that really where youre at?
He wont be the brightest, perhaps
But hell be the whitest
And Ill vote for that
Whiter than this?
Yes
Whiter than this?
Yes
Whiter than this?
Yes
Whiter than this?
Oh yeah
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"I'm Dreaming (of a White President)" (Original Post)
MelissaB
Sep 2012
OP
NightWatcher
(39,343 posts)1. not the brightest, but the whitest...isnt that Mitt's new slogan?
nolabear
(41,987 posts)2. Whoooeeee! Randy Newman knows how to skewer. Even I'm a little uncomfortable!
Not his best songwriting but the satire is pretty good. And I'm glad he took it to them. And I wonder how many people won't get it and thinnk he's serious.
He wont be the brightest, perhaps
But hell be the whitest
And Ill vote for that
Fantastic!
Btw, that's Randy Newman from Monk's theme song.
It's a jungle out there
Disorder and confusion everywhere
No one seems to care.
Well I do. Hey, who's in charge here?
It's a jungle out there
Poison in the very air we breathe
Do you know what's in the water that you drink?
Well I do, and it's amazing
People think I'm crazy, 'cause I worry all the time
If you paid attention, you'd be worried too Y
ou better pay attention
Or this world we love so much might just kill you
I could be wrong now, but I don't think so.
It's a jungle out there
BattyDem
(11,075 posts)4. This is brilliant!!
Bravo, Randy!
skeewee08
(1,983 posts)5. Love Randy Newman's music...
It's a Jungle out there from Monk is one of my favorties......
Poll_Blind
(23,864 posts)6. K&R! Randy Newman is the greatest political satarist alive. To wit:
PB
Laelth
(32,017 posts)7. Excellent. k&r n/t
-Laelth
treestar
(82,383 posts)8. He's right about one thing
Having to fight over routine things - the debt ceiling, filibustering every single damn thing - I won't be convinced race does not have something to do with that. Joe Wilson, Rmoney after Libya - things there are certain unofficial rules about, suddenly it's OK to break them.