John Mellencamp, your services are no longer required here. Yet for some reason, The Coug continues to record and play shows. John has just been in the studio tracking with the legendary T-Bone Burnett and his latest idea? A tribute song to the Jena 6. While I appreciate the sentiment, it still struck me as dumb for a few reasons. If you haven't heard the song, you can watch and listen here or keep reading for the lyrics below:
1: If you're going to write a blatant "protest" song (I guess that's what it is?), you'd better have some content to throw in there. Problem with this one is that John has none. All he does is lazily describe the situation during the verses, throw in a few moral judgements and then slide right back into the equally lackluster choruses. The chorus feature the lyrics, "oh, oh, oh, Jena / take your nooses down." It's a far cry from the cryptic power of Dylan's best topical music or Hendrix's inspired take on "The Star Spangled Banner."
2: As far as I can tell, Mos Def, Talib Kweli and Bun B have the situation on lockdown. Their voices are slightly more credible, but it's not because they're black. The difference? They're relevant artists, John isn't. Well, Mos might not be a popular rapper anymore, but he's actually there, not just penning a weak-ass song about it.
3: "Pink Houses." Excuse me, but that first verse is almost as
unforgivable as the blaxploitation in the first few clips of its video:
Finally, the lyrics:
An all white jury hides the executioner's face
Is this how we are, me and you?
Everyone needs to know their place
And here we thought this blackbird was hidden in the flue
Oh oh oh Jena
Oh oh oh Jena
Oh oh oh Jena
Take your nooses down
So what becomes of boys that cannot think straight
Particularly those with paper bag skin
Yes sir no sir wipe that smile off your face
We've got our rules here and you've got to fit in
Oh oh oh Jena
Oh oh oh Jena
Oh oh oh Jena
Take your nooses down
Hey some way sanity will prevail
But no one knows when that day will come
A shot in the dark, well it might find its way
To the hearts of those who hold the keys to kingdom come
