Compared to What?! Encore 2006

[Guest guest]

Compared to What

 

by Eugene McDaniels

as performed by Les McCann

 

1. Love the lie and lie the love

Hangin' on, with a push and shove

Possession is the motivation

that is hangin' up the God-damn nation

Looks like we always end up in a rut (everybody now!)

Tryin' to make it real — compared to what?

 

2. Slaughterhouse is killin' hogs

Twisted children killin' frogs

Poor dumb rednecks rollin' logs

Tired old ladies kissin' dogs

Hate the human, love that stinking mutt

(I can't stand it!)

Try to make it real — compared to what?

 

3. The President, he's got his war

Folks don't know just what it's for

Nobody gives us rhyme or reason

Have one doubt, they call it treason

We're chicken-feathers, all without one gut

(God damn it!)

Tryin' to make it real — compared to what?

(Sock it tome, now)

 

4. Church on Sunday, sleep and nod

Tryin' to duck the wrath of God

Preacher's fillin' us with fright

Tryin' to tell us what he thinks is right

He really got to be some kind of nut (I can't use it!)

Tryin' to make it real — compared to what?

 

5. Where's that bee and where's that honey?

Where's my God and where's my money

Unreal values, crass distortion

Unwed mothers need abortion

Kind of brings to mind ol' young King Tut

(He did it now)

Tried to make it real — compared to what?!

 

 

© Eugene McDaniels ©1999-2003 Ralph Dumain

 

Seth Godin writes:

At the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1969,

Eddie Harris and Les McCann walked onto the stage and

though they had hardly rehearsed at all,

launched into an adlibbed song that made history.

Ironically enough, the song contained the line,

" Real... compared to what? "

 

A million copies later, the vinyl souvenir of that

live performance was a classic. Les McCann & Eddie

Harris - Swiss Movement: Montreux.