F Posterity, issue 42: "Three Red Stars"

Here's a new song I've been trying to write for a long time, and the process has reminded me yet again of the need to stare at a blank page for a very long time, letting the essence of what you're trying to communicate distill into something reasonable to sing. The best songs are idea driven, because you have a specific destination you're seeking out, and you know when you're there. And when you're not.

This song is a specific anthem, which are usually pretty contrived, but the need for this expression has pushed me past self-conscious censorship. The concept of the tour I'm developing with some DC friends revolves around spreading the word that citizens of the District of Columbia don't have a vote in Congress. They haven't since 1801, when Congress stripped them of the right to vote in Maryland or Virginia.

This phenomenon is the most mind-blowing thing in American history. It really belies the fact that politics drive this nation -- because no politician can stand by stripping tax-paying, military-serving, law-abiding citizens of their fundamental right to vote. Most unbelievably, DC citizens couldn't vote for president until 1960! Only because Nikita Khrushchev criticized it did we hasten to rectify that matter in an anti-communistic flurry. Until then, DC citizens called election day "humiliation day." Really, it still is, and should be for all of America, because we know that our democracy is a hoax when people who live in Washington, DC don't have a Congressman or Senator.

I was dying to lay some drums and bass on this, but I don't have time at this point. I'm looking forward to filling it out with the band. Until then, here's a demo for an anthem.

For those that don't know, the image (less the ?) is the District of Columbia flag.

Three Red Stars

Three red stars over two red bars
Over ten square miles on the map
Seats of power lined up on a manufactured diamond
And the pressure of all time to make them crack

This place ails like a poker tell
Like a cautionary tale or joke
Destiny is manifest so how have all these hypocrites
Drawn salary, professed and left it broke?

These three red stars over two red bars
Are the only marks we have to call it ours

It's been two centuries, you have to think eventually
We'd bid this legal peasantry farewell
'Cause there's no argument against what they called self-evident
But evidently they meant someplace else

These three red stars over two red bars
Are the only marks we have to call it ours

The District of Columbia, with a distant roll of thunder
Resistance crumbles under you, but you can't fix yourself

So ink it into your virgin skin
To mark what's been and what's not
I'm not one to castigate, but this one has to take the cake
'Cause we haven't had a vote to buy or break or rock

And these three red stars over two red bars
Are the only marks we have to call it ours

The District of Columbia, with a distant roll of thunder
Resistance crumbles under you, but you can't fix yourself

Download mp3s below by right-clicking on the links.

F Posterity, 2006
52. F Posterity (Getzschman) - May 16, 2007
51. Crazy (Burton/Callaway/Reverberi/Reverberi) - May 9, 2007
50. Persistence of Regret (Getzschman/Ryan/Sahm) - May 2, 2007
49. Breakin' Plates (Getzschman/Ruthsatz) - April 26, 2007
48. Trio for Vocal, Metronome, Wurlitzer (Getzschman) - April 18, 2007
47. She Hates It When I'm Right (Getzschman) - April 11, 2007
46. Beat It (Jackson) - April 4, 2007
45. Mass Ave Strut (Getzschman) - March 28, 2007
44. Let's Fall Asleep Like This (Getzschman) - March 21, 2007
43. 2010 Ain't What They Said It Would Be (Getzschman) - March 14, 2007
42. Three Red Stars (Getzschman) - March 7, 2007
41. Birdhouse In Your Soul (Flansburgh/Linnell) - February 28, 2007
40. Everybody Thinks They're Self-Aware (Getzschman) - February 21, 2007
39. Hysterical Woman (Getzschman) - February 14, 2007
38. Hollaback Savior (Getzschman) - February 7, 2007
37. White Collar (old Philly dollar) (Getzschman) - January 31, 2007
36. Bottle of Blues (B. Hansen) - January 24, 2007
35. Ask Somebody (Getzschman) - January 17, 2007
34. All Time High Score (Getzschman) - January 10, 2007
33. Bury Me In My Jetpack (Getzschman) - January 3, 2007
32. Eggnogg Is The Liquor Of This Household (Getzschman) - December 27, 2006
31. Like Spinning Plates (T.Yorke/J.Greenwood) - December 20, 2006
30. Jack or Jesus (Getzschman/Peterson) - December 13, 2006
29. Runes (Getzschman) - December 6, 2006
28. We Leave Just Like We Come (Getzschman) - November 29, 2006
27. Shampoo! (Getzschman) - November 22, 2006
26. Tomorrow Is A Long Time (Dylan) - November 15, 2006
25. Was That Seriously Your Plan? (Getzschman) - November 8, 2006
24. Understated Explosions (Getzschman) - November 1, 2006
23. Everything Sounds Better On Vinyl (Getzschman) - October 25, 2006
22. Take Heart (Getzschman) - October 18, 2006
21. Pigs (L. Freese, S. Reyes, L. Muggerud) - October 11, 2006
20. Upstart Casualties (Getzschman) - October 4, 2006
19. Troubling (Getzschman) - Sept 27, 2006
18. Tales of Woe (Getzschman/Getzschman/Booth) - Sept 20, 2006
17. Manual Labor Pains (Getzschman) - Sept 13, 2006
16. The District Sleeps Alone Tonight (Gibbard/Tamborello) - September 6, 2006
15. Postmodern Burlesque Review (Getzschman) - August 30, 2006
14. Neverending Love Affair (Getzschman) - August 23, 2006
13. Living On Credit (Getzschman) - August 16, 2006
12. Broke As A Muhfuh (Getzschman) - August 9, 20006
11. Josie (Becker/Fagan) - August 2, 2006
10. Cold Day at the Races (Getzschman) - July 26, 2006
9. Calaveras (Getzschman) - July 19, 2006
8. Narcissist Blues (Getzschman) - July 12, 2006
7. Advice to a Young Jedi (Getzschman) - July 5, 2006
6. God Only Knows (Wilson/Asher) - June 28, 2006
5. Miracle Hubcap (Getzschman) - June 21, 2006
4. A Paycheck Is All I Ask (Getzschman) - June 14, 2006
3. Halfway (Getzschman) - June 7, 2006
2. Summer Crazy (Getzschman) - May 31, 2006
1. Sunday Street (Van Ronk) - May 26, 2006