Over the past few years working on the issue of public preparedness and engagement, I have found myself noting songs and lyrics I’ve heard that I think touch on related themes. So, I thought I’d post videos from YouTube (along with some selected lyrics) of four songs that I find particularly resonant and representative of the ideas raised in this blog.
I am pretty sure that none of these songs were written about civilian preparedness, but I think each relates in some way to the need for citizens to be ready to react and respond to whatever emergencies we face individually, as a nation and as a planet. After I listen to these songs, I find myself getting charged up about doing something. If you have suggestions for other songs that you think also relate to citizen preparedness, please email me at jsolomon@incaseofemergencyblog.com and I will post them:
1) Five For Fighting, “World” – ”What kind of world do you want/ Think anything/Let’s start at the start/Build a masterpiece/Be careful what you wish for/History starts now.”
Â
2) Patti Smith, “People Have The Power” –”The people have the power/The people have the power/The power to dream /to rule/to wrestle the world from fools/it’s decreed the people rule/it’s decreed the people rule/I believe everything we dream/can come to pass through our union/we can turn the world around/we can turn the earth’s revolution/we have the power/People have the power.”
Patti Smith, “People Have The Power”Â
3) The Eagles, “New York Minute” – “In a New York minute/Everything can change/In a New York minute things can get a little strange…And in these days/When darkness falls early/And people rush home/To the ones they love/You better take a fool’s advice/And take care of your own/One day they’re here/Next day they’re gone.”
Â
Don Henley, “New York Minute”Â
Â
4) Foo Fighters, “Times Like These” — “It’s times like these you learn to live again/it’s times like these you give and give again/it’s times like these you learn to love again/it’s times like these time and time again.”
Â
8 responses so far ↓
1 Robin // Sep 29, 2008 at 11:08 am
My favorite preparedness related song is Andrew Bird’s “Fiery Crash.” Go here and click to open the Jukebox http://www.andrewbird.net/AV.htm
“To save all our lives you’ve got to envision the fiery crash before you get on the plane.”
2 admin // Sep 29, 2008 at 2:03 pm
robin-
i had never heard andrew bird before, but that’s a beautiful — and very appropriate — song.
anyone want to see it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLyQgBFl7mc
thanks,
john
3 Reader ‘Citizen Preparedness Song’ Suggestions // Oct 17, 2008 at 8:40 am
[...] I posted some of my favorite citizen preparedness-themed songs several weeks ago and asked for some su…, I received two terrific suggestions — both are great songs in their own right in addition to [...]
4 Sara // Jan 31, 2009 at 10:32 am
John-
Such touching songs. I especially liked the first one by Five For Fighting.
5 admin // Jan 31, 2009 at 10:40 am
Sara-
Thanks for your comment. I love that Five For Fighting song too.
-John
6 Sara // Jan 31, 2009 at 10:51 am
~John
The songs are very unique songs that I hadn’t heard before.
~Sara
7 admin // Jan 31, 2009 at 10:53 am
Sara-
I’m glad you liked them.
Nice dashes.
-John
8 Some Of My Top Citizen Preparedness-Related Songs — Please Suggest Your Own // Jun 10, 2009 at 6:45 pm
[...] I posted my favorite citizen preparedness-themed songs initially and asked for some suggestions, I received two terrific suggestions — both are excellent songs in addition to having good [...]
Leave a Comment