Strijdlied du jour: Manic Street Preachers – If You Tolerate This

Een van de mooiste songs over de Spaanse Revolutie en de daarop volgende burgeroorlog (1936-1939). De titel is ontleend aan een propagandaposter uit die tijd en de zin “if i can shoot rabbits, then i can shoot fascists” is een citaat van een mijnwerker uit Wales die als vrijwilliger in Spanje ging vechten tegen de fascisten.
The future teaches you to be alone
The present to be afraid and cold
So if I can shoot rabbits
Then I can shoot fascists
Bullets for your brain today
But we’ll forget it all again
Monuments put from pen to paper
Turns me into a gutless wonder
And if you tolerate this
Then your children will be next
And if you tolerate this
Then your children will be next
Will be next
Will be next
Will be next
Gravity keeps my head down
Or is it maybe shame
At being so young and being so vain

Holes in your head today
But I’m a pacifist
I’ve walked La Ramblas
But not with real intent

And if you tolerate this
Then your children will be next
And if you tolerate this
Then your children will be next
Will be next
Will be next
Will be next
Will be next

And on the street tonight an old man plays
With newspaper cuttings of his glory days

And if you tolerate this
Then your children will be next
And if you tolerate this
Then your children will be next
Will be next
Will be next
Will be next