Rocker John Mellencamp is speaking out in a new song titled "Jena". A note on his website indicates that he is not indicting the people of Jena, but is condemning racism in America. He states that he is not trying to antagonize, but to "catalyze thought" - which is something we should all be doing in an effort to reduce hate based on artificial differences.
While he repeats the word "Jena" many times in the song, he DOES broaden the focus with the rest of the lyrics. It is a pretty good little song that would have received airplay back when Mellencamp's popularity was at its peak and back when radio actually played a wider range of music. As it stands today, the only attention it might get over-the-air is on college radio and talk shows.
The song is scheduled to be released on his new album early next year. However, there is a video with lyrics and his message up on his site at www.mellencamp.com , and he is also performing it in his concerts.
The song is produced by T Bone Burnett, who we here on Gather were talking about last month with the Allison Krause/Robert Plant album.
(This article is part of "GATHER Discusses Tolerance", a new group at nohate.gather.com.)
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Jena
Written by John Mellencamp
An all white jury hides the executioner's face
See how we are, me and you?
Everyone here needs to know their place
Let's keep this blackbird hidden in the flue
Oh oh oh Jena
Oh oh oh Jena
Oh oh oh Jena
Take your nooses down
So what becomes of boys that cannot think straight
Particularly those with paper bag skin
Yes sir, no sir we'll wipe that smile right off your face
We've got our rules here and you must fit in
Oh oh oh Jena
Oh oh oh Jena
Oh oh oh Jena
Take your nooses down
Some day some way sanity will prevail
But who knows when that day might come
A shot in the dark, well it just might find its way
To the hearts of those that hold the keys to kingdom come
Oh oh oh Jena
Oh oh oh Jena
Oh oh oh Jena
Take those nooses down
Oh oh hey Jena
Oh oh oh Jena
Oh oh oh Jena
Take your nooses down
Take those nooses all down
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Maybe you need it because you want to keep racism alive. Speak for yourself.
I agree with Paul.