Hold Your Nose And Vote
Democracy Now! played this album’s election day song as part of one of their shows about the presidential debates between George W. Bush and Al Gore in 2000. In Amy Goodman’s coverage she drew attention to how much Gore and Bush agreed onstage while Ralph Nader, whose progressive campaign was gathering massive crowds, filling stadiums, and inspiring millions, was kept out of the debate (and the corporate media coverage). As was any mention of climate change, the upward transfer of wealth and influence, the constant war economy, or any kind of vision for a future that might be hospitable to human life. Yet another area of agreement between the two parties and their candidates.
That my song, written during Bill Clinton’s 1996 campaign, would be called upon to express the electoral frustration of this moment on a show I counted on to provide a precious alternative to corporate news media, is something I still consider to be one of my greatest musical successes.
The track itself is really something special. I love the disorienting opening and the understated Who-ishness of the arrangement. OK, maybe not so understated that someone who knows the song “Don’t Let Go The Coat” wouldn’t get it but that’s pretty obscure, right?
Lyrics
Hold Your Nose And Vote
What if I made a list
of everything I thought was wrong?
It wouldn’t fit in my fist
and I’m afraid it wouldn’t fit in this song
And what would you do
if I sent my long list of gripes to you?
Would you throw ’em away
or would you save ’em up
for that special day when
every couple of years
we get the chance
to participate
in this pacifyin’ dance
Hold your nose and vote
Now what if you got to choose
which one of your hands you were gonna lose?
And what if you had a say
in which one of your eyes you were gonna have to give away?
Then you might start to see
the level of hypocrisy
in what they keep sellin’ me
as a two party democracy
where every couple of years
they give us the chance
to participate
in this pacifyin’ dance
Hold your nose and vote yeah
Hold your nose and vote yeah
Keep that bile down in your throat
as you hold your nose and vote
Well if you want parades
we got parades
We’ve got parades all day
And if you want TV
we’ve got more shows
than you could ever bear to see but
if you want what’s right
Yeah, if you’re appetite
is for what is just
then I’m afraid tonight
you’re going hungry with the rest of us
until
every couple of years
they give you the chance
to participate
in this pacifyin’ dance
Hold your nose and vote yeah
Hold your nose and vote yeah
Keep that bile down in your throat
as you hold your nose and cast your vote
as you hold your nose and vote
Credits
Written by Andras Jones
Andras Jones – Electric Guitar & Vocals
Tom Johnson – Hammond Organ
Brian Schey – Bass Guitar
Colin Mahoney – Drums
Produced with Brian Schey & Colin Mahoney
at z’gwon,th studio in Lawrence, Kansas – September & October 1999
with engineering help from Tom Johnson,
Dan Balsinger & Anne Stephens
Purchase
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