Thursday, January 22, 2009

A new year? A new day?

Sorry, sorry, sorry. I've been slacking on the blog since Christmas, I know. But I'm back. Today I became bored while driving the 3.5 hours to Indianapolis for a week of nannying. Not that driving 80 mph with one's knees while eating a DQ Blizzard and having a dog restlessly waiting for drippings on one's lap isn't a little slice of heaven, but sooner or later one runs out of Blizzard . . .

Anyway, I turned on the radio and knew I had found a good, solid classic rock station as soon as I heard the words "Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss." Great driving music. My normal day-to-day driving is typically done sans radio as I much prefer to get lost in my own thoughts. Paying attention to where I'm going or listening to music isn't usually part of the program. But I digress.

The Who's lyrics turned my thoughts to Inauguration Day and the excitement and enthusiasm I've been sensing since the election of Barack Obama. This time it feels different out there, something like the second coming of Christ, perhaps. Is all this euphoria justified? One can only hope.

Politics is not my arena. I don't feel informed enough to hold an intelligent conversation on the subject and each subsequent election during my entire adult life has become more and more about voting for the lesser of two evils rather than supporting a good candidate. The campaign promises have become more and more like:

The shining star predictably fades. Do we dare hope things will be different this time? Do we dare not? Are The Who's lyrics prophetic?


We'll be fighting in the streets
With our children at our feet
And the morals that they worship will be gone
And the men who spurred us on
Sit in judgement of all wrong
They decide and the shotgun sings the song
I'll tip my hat to the new constitution
Take a bow for the new revolution
Smile and grin at the change all around
Pick up my guitar and play
Just like yesterday
Then I'll get on my knees and pray
We don't get fooled again
The change, it had to come
We knew it all along
We were liberated from the fold, that's all
And the world looks just the same
And history ain't changed
'Cause the banners, they are flown in the next war
I'll tip my hat to the new constitution
Take a bow for the new revolution
Smile and grin at the change all around
Pick up my guitar and play
Just like yesterday
Then I'll get on my knees and pray
We don't get fooled again
No, no!
I'll move myself and my family aside
If we happen to be left half alive
I'll get all my papers and smile at the sky
Though I know that the hypnotized never lie
Do ya?
There's nothing in the streets
Looks any different to me
And the slogans are replaced, by-the-bye
And the parting on the left
Are now parting on the right
And the beards have all grown longer overnight
I'll tip my hat to the new constitution
Take a bow for the new revolution
Smile and grin at the change all around
Pick up my guitar and play
Just like yesterday
Then I'll get on my knees and pray
We don't get fooled againDon't get fooled again
No, no!
Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!
Meet the new boss
Same as the old boss . . .