It's Valentine's Day, and I felt that there couldn't be a better way to re-invigorate our drive for optimism and hope in the face of despair than with a song from Motown legend Marvin Gaye. "What's Going On" was written during the time of the Nixon Presidency and the Vietnam War; today, during another imperial presidency which seeks to escalate yet another unjust war, Marvin Gaye's words and his music are no less powerful.

  I don't know if any of y'all know who Norman Blake is. Flatpicker, was in John Hartford's Aeroplane CD, Will the Circle Be Unbroken, Long time sideman for the Cash's. Was on Nashville Skyline.

  Anyway, he put out this really cool anti war song. You can listen to it online. It is set up kind of an old Carter Family tune. It's at here, but you have to scroll down the link to the mp3:  

http://www.westernjubilee.com/...

  Mentions the elections, Cindy Sheehan, And the lyrics are below:

Pulling down statue of King George III,
New York City, July 9, 1776

It has been noted before how much of the Declaration of Independence seems appropriate when directed at our present "King George."

In honor of the 4th I have written a song loosely based on our founding document. Lines taken or adapted from the original text are highlighted. The recording was done straight to computer without the benefits of a recording studio. But the quality should be listenable to most ears. I hope so anyway. Please feel free to share the lyrics and sound file.