A man went looking for America and couldn’t find it anywhere – Easy Rider
De tekst van deze klassieker zit vol verwijzingen naar de sixties – Vietnam, dienstweigeraars – maar is anno 2017 niet minder relevant dan in 1969: The cities have turned into jungles/And corruption is stranglin’ the land. Monster is geen simplistische tirade, de tekst zet de belofte van vrijheid af tegen de praktijk, die vaak wat minder rooskleurig was dan Amerikanen graag denken. Uiteindelijk was die belofte gebaseerd op het bloed van de oorspronkelijke bewoners en het zweet van de mensen die tot slaaf gemaakt werden. De song is typerend voor de Amerikaanse ‘protestgeneratie’, die de klassieke Amerikaanse belofte van vrijheid serieus wenste te nemen en moest constateren dat er een enorme kloof bestond tussen ideaal en praktijk. Uiteraard werd de poging de kloof te dichten door het ideaal serieus te nemen, haar niet in dank afgenomen.
Once the religious, the hunted and weary
Chasing the promise of freedom and hope
Came to this country to build a new vision
Far from the reaches of Kingdom and pope
Like good Christians some would burn the witches
Later some got slaves to gather riches
But still from near and far to seek America
They came by thousands, to court the wild
But she just patiently smiled and bore a child
To be their spirit and guiding light
And once the ties with the crown had been broken
Westward in saddle and wagon it went
And till the railroad linked ocean to ocean
Many the lives which had come to an end
But still from near and far to seek America
They came by thousands to court the wild
But she just patiently smiled and bore a child
To be their spirit and guiding light
The Blue and Grey they stomped it
They kicked it just like a dog
And when the war was over
They stuffed it just like a hog
And though the past has its share of injustice
Kind was the spirit in many a way
But its protectors and friends have been sleeping
Now it’s a monster and will not obey
The spirit was freedom and justice
And its keepers seemed generous and kind
Its leaders were supposed to serve the country
But now they won’t pay it no mind
Cause the people grew fat and got lazy
Now their vote is a meaningless joke
They babble about law and order
But it’s all just an echo of what they’ve been told
Yeah, there’s a monster on the loose
It’s got our heads into the noose
And it just sits there watchin’
The cities have turned into jungles
And corruption is stranglin’ the land
The police force is watching the people
And the people just can’t understand
We don’t know how to mind our own business
‘Cause the whole world’s got to be just like us
Now we are fighting a war over there
No matter who’s the winner we can’t pay the cost
‘Cause there’s a monster on the loose
It’s got our heads into the noose
And it just sits there watchin’
America, where are you now
Don’t you care about your sons and daughters
Don’t you know we need you now
We can’t fight alone against the monster
America, where are you now
Don’t you care about your sons and daughters
Don’t you know we need you now
We can’t fight alone against the monster
America…America…America…America…
