Revolution Summer

Revolution Summer

(By Walter Beck)

Oh brother

It’s a revolution summer

Here in the middle of goddamn nowhere.

I came here shaking;

Full of bad craziness & paranoia

As I walked into my ninth year.

I walked the tight rope

Through NCS

Amongst the shadows

Of old-schoolers & long-timers.

I walked that tight rope

Sitting through half-sincere lectures;

Not knowing

If they could handle

A gonzo-styled commissioner.

Even as we were being

Indoctrinated into National Standards

There were still a few kindred souls

Raising their own flags.

Oh brother

It’s a revolution summer

Here in the middle of goddamn nowhere.

As I strutted back into my wilderness home

Decked out in my medals from the streets

And Mork suspenders

Walking into a swarm of politicians;

Cold hostility

Armed with only my rock n roll.

Badgers don’t impress me much.

Took a day off from training

To tear the big stage up

In the Windy City;

“Sweating Bullets” spinning through my head

As I ripped through revolution

Gripping the sides of the podium

Eyes crazy with determination,

Grit, gut and soul.

My brother and I drove back

Feeling victorious;

Feeling the floodgates open up.

Oh brother

It’s a revolution summer

Here in the middle of goddamn nowhere.

Bosses speaking up

For my right to speak out

Through ribbon and sheet metal;

Telling a leader

He won’t get his dirty money back.

Oh brother

It’s a revolution summer

Here in the middle of goddamn nowhere.

Brothers and sisters

Showing support

Through Rainbow silicone;

A dozen,

Two dozen,

Three dozen

Pouring in;

Solidarity in a sunburned wrist.

Colors hung under moldy canvas

In the back lot known as Swamp City;

Pride shouting in the summer breeze.

Oh brother

It’s a revolution summer

Here in the middle of goddamn nowhere.

Hot off the wire

When New York rang the wedding bells

And the Swamp exploded

With the sounds of Jefferson Airplane,

Dylan and the MC5.

Rhode Island following fast behind

Drawing the line closer

And closer;

And our celebration continued

Late into the night.

Oh brother

It’s a revolution summer

Here in the middle of goddamn nowhere.

Unseen voices

Started whispering threats

Down the line;

Bound and gagged

For two weeks.

Bound and gagged;

So the hammer wouldn’t come crashing down,

So the other shoe wouldn’t drop.

Voiceless;

With no brass stepping in

To break the hidden chains.

Oh brother

It’s a revolution summer

Here in the middle of goddamn nowhere.

Sweating bullets

On the phone;

Digging for the opportunity

To take it on a National Stage,

To drag my heart and soul

On a bus route.

Immersing myself

In King and Thoreau;

Sharping my mind.

Getting my odds down

To one throw of the dice.

Oh brother

It’s a revolution summer

Here in the middle of goddamn nowhere.

During the last stretch

Dripping with grit;

Tearing down and packing up,

Got a text message

From a gathering

Of National Brass;

It was the news we had been waiting for

For ten long years.

They’re getting ready

To open our gates

To all

Who speak and believe

In the words

“On my honor”.

Oh brother

It’s a revolution summer

Here in the middle of goddamn nowhere.

Taking my last bow

In my Colors;

Braces, stockings

And Allen Ginsberg.

Heading home

Tired, exhausted, drained;

With a Lucky Strike lit

And headphones

Barking freedom.

Oh brother

It’s a revolution summer

Here in the middle of goddamn nowhere.