I really like the band Queensrÿche. I’m not a huge fan or anything, but I love the album Empire. My favorite song on the album is called “Anybody Listening?” I was listening to it today in the car on my way to work and I was thinking how appropriate it was for today’s society. With apologies to Chris DeGarmo and Geoff Tate, I’d like to walk through the lyrics of this song and relate them to today. I have no idea what Chris and Geoff’s political leanings are, but if they aren’t conservative then sorry for stealing your song. 
You and I long to live like wind upon the water
If we close our eyes we’ll maybe realize
There’s more to life than what we have known
And I can’t believe I’ve spent so long
Living lies I knew were wrong inside
I’ve just begun to see the light
This part reminds me of a joke. I originally heard it about Bill Clinton and Al Gore during Gore’s presidential candidacy and as I have told it through the years I usually update the people. I’ll retell it here as I first heard it.
Al Gore is walking down the street being followed by reporters and he is looking for a good photo op. He sees this little boy carrying a box and sensing a good moment goes to him and asks, “Hey little guy, what’s in the box?” The kid replies, “Kittens.”
Al asks, “What kind of kittens are they?”
The boy replies, “Democrat kittens.”
The photographers snap away and the reporters write away and everyone is happy. A couple of weeks later Al Gore is walking down the same street with Bill Clinton and sees the same boy with the same box. He says, “Hey, Bill, watch this. This little boy is so cute!” He walks over to the boy and asks him, “Hey, there! What do you have in the box?”
The boy replies, “Kittens.”
Al Gore then asks, “What kind of kittens?”
The boy replies, “Republican kittens.”
Al is shocked! He says, “A couple of weeks ago you said they were Democrat kittens!”
The boy looks at him and says, “Yeah, but they’ve got their eyes open now.”
::insert rim shot here::
Long ago there was a dream, had to make a choice or two
Leaving all I loved behind for what nobody knew
Stepped out on the stage
A life under lights and judging eyes
Now the applause has died and I can dream again…
Is there anybody listening?
Is there anyone that sees what’s going on?
Read between the lines, criticize the words they’re selling
Think for yourself and feel the walls
Become sand beneath your feet
Is there anyone who’s paying attention out there? We are so caught up in 5 second sound bites and unfortunately most of our country gets its news from the media who has turned from their “watchdog” role into a role where they are selling us a bill of goods. They have an agenda and it’s not a good one. You have to think for yourself and not enough of us do that.
Fell the breeze?
Time’s so near you can almost taste the freedom
There’s a warm wind from the south
Hoist the sail and we’ll be gone
By morning, this will all seem like a dream
And if I don’t return to sing the song, maybe just as well
I’ve seen the news and there’s not much I can do…alone
This is my favorite verse. At the very end of it, the line that says “I’ve seen the news and there’s not much I can do” is exactly what most people feel like, especially here in Fly Over Country. The great thing about it is that Geoff (the vocalist for the band) holds out the word do for quite awhile, long enough to let “There’s not much I can do” sink in so you think, “He’s right. There’s not much I can do.” Then, just as you’ve given up to that thought he sneaks in the word “alone”. It’s almost too subtle. But wait! I can do it, I just need those who think like me and agree with me to come with me and stand up with me!! That’s what the tea parties last week were all about. There’s not much those people can do alone, but together they are strong! Together they can change the course of history, and boy does it need changing right now!!
Then they follow that up with a slightly changed chorus:
Is there anybody listening?
Is there anyone who smiles without a mask?
What’s behind the words
Images they know will please us?
I’ll take what’s real
Bring up the lights
I don’t want this bill of goods they are selling us!! I don’t want the soothing words from our President! I want the truth! I want what is real!!
Is there anybody listening?
Is there anyone that sees what’s going one?
Read between the lines
Criticize the words they’re selling
Think for yourself and feel the walls
Become sand beneath your feet
The song is finished with one more powerful chorus like the first. If you want what’s real you have to read between the lines. Don’t just take what they (they being the politicians, the media, or anyone else for that matter) say at face value. Learn to think for yourself and nothing will hold you back. The walls will become sand beneath your feet.
We need to embrace this sentiment today no matter what your level of political envolvement is. Don’t just follow what someone else says, think for yourself! It’s what living in Fly Over Country is all about.
