Time for something completely different and off the beaten path. Music is a big part of American culture and the human experience in general, and I confess to being a metalhead (although somewhat dormant over the past year). I was listening to my metal playlist the other day and had a revelation. There are a few metal/hard rock songs whose lyrics convey messages that are entirely appropriate for the 2020 political landscape in America. Here are three of them.

The first is Gallows Pole from Led Zepplin III, their third studio album released in 1970. Metal didn’t exist way back then, of course, but Led Zep has influenced a lot of metal bands over the years. Jimmie Page is one of the greatest lead guitarists ever, although I am partial to Dimebag Darrell (RIP) of Pantera and Corey Beaulieu of Trivium. Gallows Pole is the perfect theme song for US Attorney John Durham as he issues multi-count indictments to the coup conspirators, FISA abusers, and others. The lyrics fit nicely, but I don’t think a little gold or silver will save them:

Hangman, hangman, hold it a little while

Think I see my friends coming

Riding a many mile

Friends did you get some silver?

Did you get a little gold?

What did you bring me my dear friends

To keep me from the gallows pole?

What did you bring me to keep me from the gallows pole?

Listen to the whole song and rock out:

The second is entitled There is No Hope from Generation Kill’s We’re All Gonna Die album released in 2013. This should be the theme song of the Democrat National Convention this year, as they don’t have an ounce of hope or a chance in Hell in November. Think of Democrats as you read the lyrics and listen to the song:

And they don’t know where the tending disease

Destroying the air and avoid what’s now seas

They kill everything that we don’t understand

We are a virus, a virus that come down

It’s all gone

There is no hope

It’s all gone

There is no hope

It’s all gone

There is no hope

Contagious it’s better, is no quarantine There’s no care for that is a final disease All that we brought here is death and fear No one will cry when we all disappear

It’s all gone

There is no hope

It’s all gone

There is no hope

It’s all gone

There is no hope

It’s all gone

There is no hope

Listen to the whole song and rock out, but the main lyrics above and the dirge start around the 3:35 mark:

The third song is Here to Stay, a Grammy award-winning song for best metal performance in 2003 by the nu metal band Korn from their fifth studio album Untouchables released in 2002. This one could easily be President Trump’s theme song, as he endured the shit that’s “gone way too far” from the Democrat-media complex and has “taken everything and … cannot give any more” chances to them. And, triumphantly, he spits in their faces after all they tried to do to impeach him and yells out, “I’m here to stay!” And then finishes by yelling, “Gonna break it down,” which is what he’s doing to The Swamp. Anyway, that’s how it resonates with me.

My mind’s done with this

Okay, I’ve got a question

Can I throw it all away?

Take back what’s mine

So I take my time

Guiding the blade down the line

Each cut closer to the vein

Vein, vein This state is elevating

As the hurt turns into hating

Anticipating

All the fucked up feelings again

The hurt inside is fading

This shit’s gone way too far

All this time I’ve been waiting

No, I cannot grieve anymore

For once inside awaking

I’m done, I’m not a whore

You’ve taken everything and

Oh, I cannot give any more I’m here to stay

Bring it down!

I’m here to stay

Bring it down!

I’m here to stay

Bring it down!

I’m here to stay

Bring it down!

Bring it down!

Bring it down!

Bring it down!

Gonna break it down!

Gonna break it down!

Gonna break it down!

Gonna break it down!

Gonna break it down!

Gonna break it down!

Gonna break it down!

Gonna break it!

Listen to the whole thing and watch for the above lyrics (it’s a pretty hairy video, too):

I’ll bet you never thought metal music had any real utility, did you? Anything is possible on God’s Green Earth. And be kind to any kids of yours who listen to metal music, too.

The end.

Stu Cvrk served 30 years in the US Navy in a variety of active and reserve capacities, with considerable operational experience in the Middle East and the Western Pacific. An oceanographer and systems analyst through education and experience, Stu is a graduate of the US Naval Academy where he received a classical liberal education which serves as the key foundation for his political commentary. He threads daily on Twitter on a wide range of political, military, foreign policy, government, economics, and world affairs topics. Read more by Stu Cvrk