This has aged well. Replace “Reagan” with…
They tell us a story of lying
Of lying & of murder too
To whom is this tale mystifying
Not’me boys perhaps 'tis to you
They’re telling us a story of Reagan, boys
Our President so bold & so true
How can he be a false killer–
When he’s wrapped in the red, white & blue?
Rapped in the red, white & blue, boys
Rapt in the red, white & blue
A man of the movies, a starlet
He’s just an asshole like you
Yes, he’s just an asshole likе you boys
Yes, he’s just an asshole likе you
You 'lected him in 1980
And dunce more in '84 too
O my, O my he’s a liar
As if you didn’ even know
He’s killed many people off welfare
Nicaragua, Grenada, much mo’
He smiles when he gives you the shaft, lad
He smiles when he gives ya the shaft (ha-ha)
If you think he cares about poor folks
Well then I surmise that you’re daft
He always finds money for war, girls
He always finds money for death
He’ll fight for the rights of the rich, boys
He’ll fight for them 'til your last breath
So here’s to President Reagan, boys
To Ollie, to Dick & to Cap
To some they’re All American Heroes
To me they’re just murderous crap
So here’s to Dumbo Ron Reagan, boys
To Ollie, to Fawn & to Cap
To some they’re All American Heroes
To us they’re American crap
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I wonder if this song is a cover, considering it’s credited as written by Tuli Kupferberg of The Fugs, and the album has a whole bunch of other covers. Although apparently Mark Kramer played on tour for The Fugs previously, so might’ve just used the connection.
Also fun fact, Kramer was before in New York Gong with Bill Laswell and Michael Beinhorn, who later were known as Material; and he also played with Butthole Surfers, Ween, Half Japanese (and personally Jad Fair), John Zorn, Penn Jillette and Debbie Harry. And did production for such folks as Galaxie 500, White Zombie, Gwar, and Daniel Johnston. Bongwater also employed Fred Frith on some records, who was in Massacre and Laswell’s other projects, and on some of Zorn’s records. It’s remarkable to see how tight and rich in talent the eighties-nineties New York scene was.
Kramer did a lot of music, both playing and producing. But the pairing with Ann Magnusson was somehow perfect imo.
Oh yeah. I’m primarily a fan of Bill Laswell since mid-2000s, and it took me about five years to listen through most of his discography — I’ve definitely still missed some. Meanwhile Michael Beinhorn also has hundreds of credits. It’s basically a full-time job to dig through that scene.
