And in the spirit of the age, some have felt drawn to this popular song from the musical, Les Miserables (2012).
The novel spanned the French Revolution, the Reign of Terror, the rise and fall of Napoleon, the Bourbon Restoration, to the July Monarchy. [ reference: France in the Long Nineteenth Century ]
And during the July Monarchy, the workers revolted against their abysmal conditions. The scene in the video clip above reflects this protest.
Then in...
America has known turbulent times. Just look back to the last century ...
The unpopular Vietnam War sparked many protests and riots. The decade witnessed the assassination of many leaders: President John F Kennedy (1963), civil rights leader the Reverend Martin Luther King (1968), presidential candidate Senator Robert F Kennedy (1968). [ reference: America's Best Timeline (1960 - 1969 ) ]
They put out this song answering the question about the Vietnam War. All the protests. All the riots. And their response in the lyrics is a surprising call for reason.
Let's take a closer look at them.
The entire lyrics can be found here: Beatles - Revolution Lyrics | MetroLyrics
Here's my comments on some of the meanings of the words.
* Point 1
You say you want a revolution
...
You tell me that it's evolution
...
We all want to change the world
Revolution and evolution can be a good thing.
(Something we've heard a lot about in the past few election cycles.)
Hope and Change
Good intentions, right?
Change the world for the better
But when you talk about destruction
Don't you know that you can count me out
....
Violent protests, riots, vandalism, looting?
Allegedly sparked by grievances, real or imagined.
Especially when a group doesn't get their way ...
Like an election?
Destruction?
Count me out!
* Point 2
You say you got a real solution
...
We'd all love to see the plan
You ask me for a contribution
...
We're doing what we can
Of course, we want solutions to our vexing problems.
Social, economic, judicial, educational,...you name it.
What's the plan?
How do we fix it?
Of course it will take effort, time, and money.
We'll do what we can.
* Counter Point 2
But if you want money for people with minds that hate
All I can tell is brother you have to wait
...
Hate is not the answer.
So often those who protest against hate
seem to be the most hateful, don't you think?
It's calling out all the poverty pimps, fakers, charlatans
shaking us down for money
Those who came to do good
and did very well (for themselves) indeed.
* Point 3
You say you'll change the constitution
...
We all want to change your head
Yes, there's been a call to change the rules.
For example, abolishing the Electoral College,
requiring an amendment to our Constitution.
And changing minds in the body politic.
* Counter Point 3
You tell me it's the institution
...
You better free you mind instead
Some claim our institutions are broken
Infected with white privilege.
The opposition is labeled as
racist, homo-phobic, sexist...
yada, yada, yada
Those preaching tolerance
lecture those who disagree
Consider freeing your mind instead.
Like being truly open minded yourself.
But if you go carrying pictures of Chairman Mao
You ain't going to make it with anyone anyhow
Chairman Mao was China's dictator in the 1960s.
He brought about the Cultural Revolution
as well as the deaths millions of his own people.
[ reference: Mao Tse-Tung ]
Oppression, suppression, death...
No, not this.
* Conclusion
Don't you know it's gonna be
All right...
In spite of all the turmoil, heated rhetoric, protests...
There's an optimism in these lyrics.
Even a faith expressed in a Higher Power.
After this election and the comings years...
It's Gonna Be All Right.
Yes,
It's Gonna Be All Right!
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I always have to be reminded that many people involved in causes today may have never heard of the Beatles, listened to their songs or paid any attention to their lyrics. Almost every song has a message or two in it.
We are in a time of great change similar to the 1960s. The white middle-class is suffering from future shock. They are unable to adapt to the changing technology and new openness that the Internet and progressive movements happening worldwide are fostering. It is very similar to parents working hard in the 1960s to become prosperous while their children turned on, dropped out, and became nomadic hippies--usually for only a short time.
I agree that we will get past this and not only will the United States be greater for it, but so will the world when most of our citizens understand it better than just a place to visit and exploit as a tourist.
Ron