The pyramids still stand, towering, impressive Built by a million hands, slaves but still expensive Civilized in bronze and iron Empires forged in the Fertile Crescent Hellenes to the north, heroic sons and daughters City-states at war, black ships on the water Mythology and ancient rhymes Migrating hordes led Greek lambs to the slaughter From the abyss, centuries out of mind After this expanse of time, flowers come poppin’ through Palaces collapse, leaving stones to build anew Winter always comes, but spring does too The poets sang the songs the dinner guests remembered Tragedies were fuel for sophisticated embers Astronomers gazed at the stars Astrologers promised more than delivered Comedy routines made light of the rulers Freedom of speech livened water coolers These weren’t just luxuries But critical components sustaining the culture From the abyss, centuries out of mind After this expanse of time, flowers come poppin’ through Palaces collapse, leaving stones to build anew Winter always comes, but spring does too Flowers in bloom will soon give up their petals Star-spangles fade to rustic ornamentals Songs about "the public thing"? Worthless relics of the world that’s collapsing

Owl-eyed goddess, virgin muse Give us your wisdom and we’ll sing for you Up on the acropolis we’ll offer up a tune ‘Liberty Forever’ - Is it safe to assume? It’s Athens, 431 BCE, shit’s about to hit the fan for Pericles Hoplites are marching from the Peloponnese, war is coming east When Sparta knocks, he says to bolt the doors And let them have their way on the Attic floor We’ll use our brains, they’ve only got spears Time to rope these dopes, nothing to fear Owl-eyed goddess virgin muse Give us your wisdom and we’ll sing for you Up on the acropolis we’ll offer up a tune ‘Liberty Forever’ - Is it safe to assume? Sent word to the oracle, she was sniffing glue Brought along the plans for her to review The priest said he remembered those wooden walls From back when the Persians came through (forty-nine years ago) It’s just that this time they’re our neighbors and they’re armed to the teeth They’re propped up by a shit storm of phony beliefs Of course we’ve tried comedic ridicule but they’re humorless and Afraid of immigrants, sex, women, ethnic minorities, children and Jews Owl-eyed goddess virgin muse Give us your wisdom and we’ll sing for you Up on the acropolis we’ll offer up a tune ‘Liberty Forever’ - Is it safe to assume? Well that was 431 BC, a public thing can hit the fan in the 21st century As Orwellian headlines drop like Niagara Falls So keep up the work you faithful few Pray to the gods for signs of what to do Look to Athena, Goddess of wisdom Though she may rejoin to “go back to school” (Come on people now, science is real) Owl-eyed goddess virgin muse Give us your wisdom and we’ll sing for you Up on the acropolis we’ll offer up a tune, ‘Liberty Forever’ - Is it safe to assume? ‘Liberty Forever’ - Is it safe to assume?

Pericles, Pericles, Apollo’s brought Athena to her knees The plague rages through our city streets And burials won’t restore our olive trees Pericles, Pericles, historians shudder at the gnashing of your teeth The crowded throngs, you’re their prince and their shrink And the philosophers are out having drinks The soothsayers say your strategy’s to blame Why can’t our hoplites go earn some fame? The enemy that’s out there, bloodlust all inflamed Is preferable to our waiting game You’ve run this place for years, built these mighty walls Conquered all the seas in Athens' name Now you’ve competition from grifters and scams The deplorables have found their man Here, why don’t we let him introduce himself... Servants and slaves, you should love me I’m the best I’ve told you as much in my lengthy crows I’m certainly top dog, proved by firing right and left Ambidextrous in my shit-for-show A dumpster fire’s expected, no rest for me until I’ve drained all the brains from the room I’m that fat orange fuck with an ass for a mouth Trophy wives and I’m here in your white living room Servants and slaves, you should love me I’m the best Wait, didn’t I already told you so? My bro-mance with Persia’s emperor seems to be going really great I’m sure you’re all envious of the debts I owe It’s time we jettison this democracy that was built By heroes in a once golden age Yes I’m the fat orange fuck with an ass for a mouth Here to cart eighteen more on the taxes that you pay You’ve worn all the hats, and fought in all the wars Now you have to leave it to these hordes Who seem to ignore their own self-interest Voting misanthropic oxy-heads But now the time has come to let out your last breath Here’s hoping you find Hades nice in death If logic and science can win over the day Your future will transcend this common grave If you build your acropolis high It will fall from a very great height Pericles, Pericles, the chorus will sing you fast asleep Your viral breath is shallow and weak Your last words are written down even as you speak them For a distant age will have your legacy

We’re headin’ down to the Attic, weapons in tow Headin’ down to the Attic, it’s time for the show Drainin’ outta one swamp, gonna fill another War is bloody business, it ain’t for your mother But that ain’t you, get on out here and fight us I’m talking to you, Athens...come on out here and fight We’ve been training for this since the 8th century Our schools and summer camps are extra gory And when we advance the flutes sweeten our ears Crimson horse hair ‘neath the points of our spears We’re lookin’ good, so get on out here and fight us We’re lookin’ at you, Athens...come on out here and fight You ask us why we need to terrorize The Wine Dark Sea that you’ve colonized Keep using those sarcastic parables Of “sail-around-city-states” and “deplorables” You ask us why we need to terrorize The Hellenistic world you’ve imperialized All your talents come from gold It’s time to share that stranglehold Comin’ down to the Attic, left our slaves back home To your peninsula to right some wrongs What they are is not our concern We’re no Republic! We’re told which way to turn By the flutes, so come on out...by the flutes…get on out… By the flutes...come on out here and fight...us. I don’t want to fight, no I don’t want to fight I thought war was over! You know....diplomacy? and hindsight? I don’t want to go, no I don’t want to go I remember Marathon, Hiroshima, Overlord I don’t want to run, no I don’t want to run ‘Cause I remember Agincourt, Thermopylae, Verdun I don’t want to fight You peace lovers, you tree huggers Get your sandals in gear March on up from the rear Raise your spear and shield up high To protect you neighbor’s thigh Your phalanx needs your guts Ares needs your blood lust Aim for a similar looking kids Full of youthful vim and vig Don’t let them grow up like planted trees Instead of dying at your knees It’s time to kill for your polis Drink some wine for the guilt and for solace The playwrights romanticize Neither pacifists nor compromise I don’t want to fight, no I don’t want to fight I thought war was over, you know... diplomacy.

We’re not on your side And we’re not your allies We’ll be a thorn in both sides Exposing both the truth and the lies We’ll read your releases, we’ll look at your plans We’ll want to know what did you know and when did you know it? And how much cabbage crossed those greasy little hands We’re not on your side We’re looking for both the truth and the lies We’re not on your side And we’re not your allies We’ll be a thorn in both sides As we expose the truth and the lies We’ll review redactions Inadvertent erasure seems to be more common than one would think! And if there’s a smoking gun, we’re gonna find it So don't blame us when you find yourself squirming in the clink We’ll be that thorn in your side Or you could tell us the truth instead of the lies Meet the Press

Well I’m your soothsayer, mama I’ll be your future-teller mama Give you the lay of the land Wake you up in a la la land Reading from the entrails of a lamb Satisfaction when I tell you what you told me that you wanted to hear I’ll be your glad hander Your “what’s to come” diviner You’re gonna like my words I can tell it from the flight of the birds That science shit’s absurd Satisfaction when your expectations are made crystal clear Only half believes reality, the other half wants to secede A third half is tickled by the first two halves' stupidity I swear I can’t tell which from whom, maybe I need more booze Only the few, the Oligarchs, will never lose I’ll wag your dog, mama Puppeteer your frog, mama Make Kermit flap in the breeze, anything that you need PBS or THC Focus groups and feedback loops made for your conceits Reaganomics trickles down like venom from the fangs of an asp And Christianity long before that gave to Caesar what Caesar grasped Then there’s the gods, slurping ambrosia from the palms of their hands And still they need you to sacrifice the choicest bits of lamb I’ll be your Echo Chamber, mama Tune into your Echo Chamber, mama I’ll read that swine’s liver, anything delivered I’ll tell you what you oughta fear Some wine and some poppies will make it all easier to hear I’ll be your Echo Chamber, mama… Tune into your Echo Chamber, mama… I’ll be your Echo Chamber, mama… Give you a divided land

There’s no time in our public lives for frivolity In Sparta we will educate ya! Your training shall commence at seven Come and learn why your parents made ya So let’s begin... (Forget physics) From the barracks, to the fields You’ll learn how to wield both spear and shield (And economics) We’ve got our helots, slaves, poor knaves, we act like they’re depraved (Forget anatomy) There’s just blood, phlegm, black and yellow bile (Sex education…) Can you underwhelm, brag a lot, and begat lots of males? You’ll be fine, You’ll be fine A four chord song works every time (shoo-be-doo-be-wah) You’ll be fine, Stand By Me and Happiness will be a Blue Moon (shoo-be-doo-be-doo-be) Fine, Fine, and when the vultures circle over you... Just close your eyes (Forget math) Two plus two equals dragon It’ll make more sense when you get to the bottom of your flagon (Forget your history) Mythology is much better - glory and fame, not gore and shame (Forget literature) It’s all Greek to me anyhow (Forget philosophy...) Where you’re going there’s no need to think with sophistry You’ll be fine (Apollo), You’ll be fine (Apollo) This familiar song should ease your mind You’ll be fine, Earth Angels Beyond the Sea Sleepwalk in your mind You’ll be fine, and when Apollo plays his lyre for you... Just close your eyes (Don’t forget the Gods) When the flutes play and the dust is blinding and the phalanx closes in (Don’t forget the Gods) When your horsehair helmet falls to the ground and gets bashed in (Don’t forget the Gods) You’ll need someone’s name to scream out as your blood spills out on the battle plain (Don’t forget the Gods) You’ll ask them to explain why you’ve been slain (Don’t forget the Gods) And that’s where you’ll finally understand the word “expendability” (Don’t forget the Gods) Your parents were smart to shield you from the academy (Don’t forget the Gods) And now, young man...you’re educated (Don’t forget the Gods) Have some wine it’ll keep you in line and sated (Don’t forget the Gods) Just Don’t forget the Gods!! Fine, You’ll be fine Let a four chord song assuage your mind You’ll be fine, in a Chain Gang In an Aeroplane Over the Sea You gotta Let It Be! And when the vultures circle over you... Just close your eyes (explosion sounds were fireworks in the background as I was recording in Kalamazoo's Edison neighborhood on July 4th, 2021)

Who is that old man walking around Would-be academics draped to his sleeves Foot speech deliverin’, fine way of givin’ out his expertise (Watch out, he’s got enemies) Who is that old man querying Plato, those two are in every frieze It’s the agora-striding, fine advertisement For the rigors of Philosophy (That’s Socrates) Can you the best and brightest give us some answers That’ll help us save our Public Thing?(Our Republic) Should we dismantle voting rights? Restrict immigration? Resume irrigation? (Not sure what that means) Will health care for no one suffice? Will THAT quell the oligarchic appetite? Or can justice and reason be carefully employed To sew our fraying edges up tight? (Watch out, he’s turnin’ on his mic…) SOCRATES: What is the measure of a man? Is it family? Is it status in your town? Is it skill at building columns or hinge joints Is it charity for the poor? Or were just you being cynical? You have to admit the question is off point I know some others give that fat orange guy Kudos for using borrowed money to buy... (Russian golden showers) Is it always this hard to get a straight answer out of this guy? SOCRATES: Have you examined your life? Can’t you just help us? Tell us what to do? It’s your city too! Pericles always used to You’re smart, right? They say that you are That beard can’t be an accident (it’s been trademarked) So why all the questions? Mental masterbation? For Athena’s sake, give us the English translation That kid over there’s gonna write a book called “Republic” (in quotes) Maybe I should ask him instead? SOCRATES: Is an act pious because it’s dear to the gods, or is it dear to the gods because it’s a pious act? Is kicking your ass a pious act? The dude’s not listening. He’s like free jazz... Fun when everybody’s drunk (maybe) Really great when it’s got some funk Jesus, what a worthless old man And HE becomes our most famous citizen? SOCRATES: But what is “fame,” really? It’s what got us here, how that moron got elected His voters weren’t duped, they knew who he was And he gave them the shit-show they requested SOCRATES: But how does one really “know”? (He’s hand-gesturing “know” with quotation marks) Owl-eyed goddess, it’s time to ignore This archaic, peripatetic, pickled old bore We followed the money, hung out the red flag Ducked into the theater, took two cabs A “Deep Throat” like him got nothing to say Enigmation won’t take the problems away “Back to the game,” “play out the innings” And other tired sports metaphors for not quitting The next one I see climb the capitol steps Without an invite is gettin’ a spear through the chest! Who else is with me? Where is the MAN? who will help us out of this jam? Owl-Eyed Goddess Virgin Muse Give us your wisdom and we’ll sing for you Up on the acropolis we’ll offer up a tune “Liberty Forever” -- is it safe to assume? “Liberty Forever” -- is it safe to assume?

Grumpy old man behind the bar God awful blues spinning on the box Too many shots for the lot You were the lonely one standing next to the door You were the only one... In the room I could see when Eros Shot that strange arrow into me Sharpened my view and suddenly I was the only one who was gettin’ his cover charge’s worth You were the only one... Introductions were made finally You spilled your beer on me In that working man’s saloon You were the lonely one standing there by the door I was the only one who was gettin’ his money’s worth You were the only one.

Lysistrata, you see where there’s hell to pay When men are driving, no one asks the way Lesson time now, turn their pleasure into pain Lead them out to pasture in the freezing rain You’re fighting these wars over what? Which one of you will be the coxswain? The hen house dothe protest You roosters oughta be ashamed You destroyed the peace for what? To find out who has the longest sword We weave and conceive at home While our soldiers are out with whores If you want back in a real bed, bring us out to the table Think with your brain instead, try it once and see if you’re able To conquer patriarchal fears, to make nice with your better angels For justice and majority rule, Athena knows what we should do (We’re the press), you’ll find the truth in our pages We know you’ve been oppressed, and lied to for ages (Tell us what you want), tell us what you plan to do But first...can you tell us where you bought those shoes? (We’re the press), misogyny should be criminal It serves nobody well, and it’s so impractical (Tell us what you want), come on, let your plans spill But can you use a different voice? Yours is kinda shrill... (We’re the press), man-to-man, zone and full court (We’re the press), a medieval machine of torture (We’re the press), the crushing of the olive and the grape (We’re the press) we don’t discriminate Unbiased in our coverage of love and hate (Tell us what you want), we’ll consider our arrears For at least twenty-five hundred years... (Twenty-five hundred years) Comin’ at you with nonsense that we’ll call a song (Twenty-five hundred years) Next up I’m gonna sing about a woman’s legs (Twenty-five hundred years) What do you want to know about her face? (Twenty-five hundred years) I’d rather be shallow than "sad" (Sad) What will I sing about? It’s all I think about (Sad) It’s a synchronicitous humiliating kick in the nads (Twenty-five hundred years) Ooh, baby I love how your dress falls over your marble (Twenty-five hundred years) If you were still alive I’d bring you back to my pad (Twenty-five hundred years) Tell me baby, which polis did you call home? (Twenty-five hundred years) I’d rather be shallow than "sad" (Sad) What will I sing about? It’s all I think about (Sad) It’s a synchronicitous humiliating kick in the nads (Sad, Sad, Sad, Sad) (Sad) It’s all I think about. What will I sing about? (Sad) It’s a synchronicitous humiliating kick in the nads They were the press, now "we too" own their pages Old boys got canceled now they’re frustrated (Tell us what you want) It’s probably too late now But a modicum of respect would have been nice We’re fighting these wars over what? Which one of you will be the coxswain? The henhouse dothe protest You roosters oughta be ashamed We’re fighting these wars over what? Which one of you has the longest sword We weave and conceive while you’re out with whores [x2] Lysistrata, you see where there’s hell to pay When men are driving, no one asks the way Lesson time now, turn their pleasure into pain Lead them out to pasture in the freezing rain.

YOU deserved a camera, telephoto lens, Polaroids Color contrast, airbrushed centerfolds, oh if only there was celluloid WE use carbon dating, ideogramic red figure amphora Seriation, fragments of Linear B, hypostyle and philology YOU had no words to describe the color blue And WE claim to see more than ten million hues YOU deserved a camera, Viewmaster reels, stereo 3-D Click on the painted marbles, blur out collapse and rubble Record the true colors of your “Wine Dark Sea” YOU had no words to describe the color blue And WE claim to see more than ten million hues YOU deserved that camera, the Viewmaster reels, Stereoscope 3-D Click on the painted marbles, blur out the piles of rubble Document the colors of your “Wine Dark Sea” Your “Wine Dark Sea”

The first draft of history is singing from you Later mixes get mastered by the producers The first draft of history is oft out of tune Later versions get auto-tuned by the mixers Listen back, listen back to the demos Just listen back, you’ll hear it in those demos Let the record execs know exactly what you planned to do That the earlier version shone through You gotta listen back, yeah listen back to those demos You should refer back, yeah refer back to the first take The very first draft is quite often better than the last take You’ll find honesty, tragedy, comedy and poetry Present, future and past Gotta refer back, just refer back to... The first draft of history is singing from you Later mixes get mastered by the producers The first draft of history is oft out of tune Later versions get auto-tuned by the mixers Let’s listen back, we’ll listen back to the demos You won’t hear no hate, no gender, class or race in the demos Then tell that older generation When they try to throw that boomer-ang right at you Fear of change only curses fools You gotta listen back, just listen back to the demos