Randy Newman - 17 Follow The Flag (Jazz Open 06)

[brendanseanbarry]

One of his greatest songs. So economical. So little said. So much left unsaid. So many lovely empty paces. I also love that slight hesitation in the delivery of the notes, something he did previously with 'I Think Its Going To Rain Today'.

[MaabudZ]

I listened to Rednecks for years thinking I'd gotten the irony of it. Only recently (10 years ago?) did I catch the irony on top of the irony in that song. Randy is certainly a master of that style.

[PeterZeeke]

@MaabudZ

really? oh you mean the second verse about being free etc, yeah its a clever song

[Hoboscouts]

Honestly the best song

[CHINOOKCREEK]

"The best dream man has ever dreamed "in 4500 years is in process in the United States. Freedom & liberty ,to the extent it exists now the world ,is a direct result of our proactive efforts promoting freedom . To deny the totality of that result due to historical ignorance , arrogance or petty political bias is proof that some 'iealists.'just pretend to be .One doesn't need to be Einstein to recognize the dream of that flag's meaning in spite of self righteous arrogance of perfection.

[jkatko50]

Indeed, Marnavot: the patriotic flavor of the tune seems so genuine that those less familiar with RN might miss its faux nature. But think about "Political Science" and "A Few Words in Defense." And the album release of "Flag" has an explicit marker of irony in the dark clouds formed on the horizon by the menacing bass note that begins the final piano line. America is better served by understanding what RN is about here than by blindly trailing the flag and those who most strenuously wave it.

[madhoneydew]

well said. think of the difference between saying something and showing it

[fjccommish]

Ridiculously bad song.

[Hoboscouts]

you wish you cock sucking faggot

[Marnavot]

This is just an amazing song. My only hope is that people see the irony in it (and not take it literally ).

[madhoneydew]

by writing such songs and listening to them, there is of course that good hope. it's just hard to see. it's impossible to say such painful beauty, but that's why he is SHOWING it.

[ZiggyStardust35]

Thank you so much for this posting. This is one of my absolute favorite songs...

so beautiful...

[Hoboscouts]

me too

[JustAintthatWay]

@ZiggyStardust35 yeah i love it too but lately im not liking any flag

they seem to all get bloody sooner or later

which i guess is what r newman might be saying anyway sorry im kinda slow

on the uptake