Hey Class,
I would like you find a song (from a youtube video) or lyrics to a song that relate to issues of prejudice and analyze them. Place the video or lyrics in your post and then describe what these lyrics mean to you in relation to prejudice.
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I chose the song Hitler in my Heart by Antony and the Johnsons...
ReplyDeleteHitler in my Heart
As I search for a piece of kindness
And I find Hitler in my heart
And he is whispering
"As sure as love will spring
From the Well of Blood in Vain, oh Jew!
The Well of Blood in Vain!"
La la la la la la
And I fell into a deeper precipice
With mouths of rapists
Jaws dropped down
Jaws dropped down
Jaws dropped
Don't punish me
For wanting your love inside of me
Don't punish me
For wanting your love inside of me
And I find Hitler in my heart
From the corpses flowers grow
And I find Hitler in my heart
From the corpses flowers grow
And I find Hitler in my heart
From the corpses flowers grow
Flowers grow
From the corpses flowers grow
Flowers grow
Here is a link to the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rFRySWUGWM
The references to Hitler in this song are saying that it's inevitable for people to be filled with hate. Hitler is a perfect example of someone who made uneducated assumptions about groups of people, which resulted in the deaths of millions of people. But this song is portraying a positive message, that from the corpses grow flowers. Yes, those corpses are there because of irrational hate, but we've overcome that. It's what you make of it after it's overcome.
ASHLEY
I thought the song "Bui Doi" from the Broadway musical Miss Saigon.
ReplyDeleteLike all survivors, I once thought
When I'm home I won't give a damn
But now I know I'm caught
I'll never leave Vietnam
War isn't over when it ends
Some pictures never leave you mind
They are the faces of the children
The ones we left behind
They're called Bui-Doi
The dust of life
Concieved in hell
And born in strife
They are the living reminders
Of all the good we failed to do
We can't forget
Must not forget
That they are all
Our children too
These kids hit walls on every side
They don't belong in any place
Their secret they can't hide
Its printed on their face
I never thought I'd plead
For half-breeds from a land that's torn
But then I saw a camp for children
Whose crime was being born
They're called Bui-Doi
The dust of life
Concieved in hell
And born in strife
We owe them fathers, and a family -
And loving home they never knew
Because we know
Deep in our hearts
That they are all
Our children too
These are souls in need
They need us to give
Someone has to pay
For their chance to life
Help me try
[JOHN] and [CHORUS]
They're called Bui-Doi
The dust of life
Concieved in hell
And born in strife
They are the living reminders
Of all the good we failed to do
That's why we know
Deep in our hearts
That they are all
Our children too
These lyrics seem especially powerful because so many people went off to Viet Nam with so many preconceived notions about the people who they were fighting against. Once they got there and got to know the people, they came away with a very different idea of them; these were humans with goals and dreams and worries. Who would have thought? Once again it is proven that a little experience and education can go a long, long way.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vWhdz5svvQ
ReplyDeleteI chose the song "What it's Like" by Everlast. Here are the lyrics
We've all seen the man at the liquor store beggin' for your change
The hair on his face is dirty, dreadlocked and full of mange
He ask the man for what he could spare with shame in his eyes
Get a job you fuckin' slob's all he replied
[CHORUS]
God forbid you ever had to walk a mile in his shoes
'Cause then you really might know what it's like to sing the blues
Then you really might know what it's like [x4]
Mary got pregnant from a kid named Tom who said he was in love
He said don't worry about a thing baby doll I'm the man you've been dreamin' of
But three months later he said he won't date her or return her call
And she sweared god damn if I find that man I'm cuttin' off his balls
And then she heads for the clinic and she gets some static walkin' through the doors
They call her a killer, and they call her a sinner, and they call her a whore
[CHORUS]
God forbid you ever had to walk a mile in her shoes
'Cause then you really might know what it's like to have to choose
Then you really might know what it's like [x4]
I've seen a rich man beg
I've seen a good man sin
I've seen a tough man cry
I've seen a loser win
And a sad man grin
I heard an honest man lie
I've seen the good side of bad
And the down side of up
And everything between
I licked the silver spoon
Drank from the golden cup Smoked the finest green
I stroked the baddest dimes at least a couple of times
Before I broke their heart
You know where it ends
Yo, it usually depends on where you start
I knew this kid named Max
He used to get fat stacks out on the corner with drugs
He liked to hang out late at night
Liked to get shit faced
And keep pace with thugs
Until late one night there was a big gun fight
Max lost his head
He pulled out his chrome .45
Talked some shit
And wound up dead
Now his wife and his kids are caught in the midst of all of his pain
You know it crumbles that way
At least that's what they say when you play he game
[CHORUS]
God forbid you ever had to wake up to hear the news
'Cause then you really might know what it's like to have to lose
Then you really might know what it's like [x3]
To have to lose...
I chose this song because I feel that it describes prejudice exactly. The definition of prejudice is to pre-judge someone based on preconceived notions based on hateful ideas. I think that when people look at others in a hateful way, like a homeless man, or a young girl walking in to an abortion clinic they are pre-judging them without know their situations. I think that if people can be more open minded when it comes to people that they don't know in situations such as these society would be less hateful of the other.