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Yellow Ribbon
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A song about following a higher law than the unjust laws of a country with a large oil lobby. When Utah was touring around at the time, he took the train, claiming that his car "doesn't run on blood."
politics marijuana cannabis antiwar political iraq media social struggle israel cuba pirates environment labor afghanistan empire imperialism capitalism terrorism activism bullying bullies ecoterrorism guerrilla gardening irish hunger strike oil leaks oil spills social change
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"If the great Phil Ochs were to rise from the dead today, he would probably be hailed as the new David Rovics." Andy Kershaw, BBC
Song Info
Genre
Acoustic • Acoustic Folk
Charts
Peak #198
Peak in subgenre #27
Author
Sung by David Rovics
Rights
Written by Utah Phillips
Uploaded
June 14, 2005
Track Files
MP3
MP3 6.1 MB • 128 kbps • 0:00
Story behind the song
More or less moving our way closer to the end of the century, here is a song Utah wrote during the American slaughter in Iraq known euphemistically as the "Gulf War." One of many great anti-war songs written before and since. A song about following a higher law than the unjust laws of a country with a large oil lobby. When Utah was touring around at the time, he took the train, claiming that his car "doesn't run on blood."
Lyrics
(by Utah Phillips) I've traveled through this country And I'll tell you what I've seen A million yellow ribbons And I wonder what they mean It's love and hope and sympathy For those who've gone to fight But still I know that none of them Can make the killing right When we see two children fighting Don't we try to come between Get 'em both to talk Instead of acting rough and mean We give 'em love and limits Say now try to get along Then we tell 'em it's alright to kill To prove that killing's wrong Sometimes your yellow ribbon Tries to make me feel ashamed Tells me I'm a traitor That somehow it's me to blame But I can't hide behind it Just to prove that I belong And I won't be an accomplice To a thing I know is wrong But I'd wear a yellow ribbon For the peace that's in my heart I'd wear it for the loved ones That should never have to part I'd wear it for the wasted lives No matter friend or foe And I'd wear it for the children If they never had to go Yes, I've seen your yellow ribbons Hanging up all over town But I don't think they'll ever buy The peace we've never found Oh, the guns will all be silent And the battle flags all furled When we tie a yellow ribbon 'Round the world Yes, the guns will all be silent And the battle flags all furled When we tie a yellow ribbon 'Round the world
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