I Am a Patriot – Let the river open for the righteous someday. #MusicisLife #TedTocksCovers #LittleStevenandtheDisciplesofSoul #StevenVanZandt #BruceSpringsteen #JacksonBrowne #KrisKristofferson #EddieVedder

The word patriot is not the property of any political party. We gotta keep it that way. That’s what this song’s all about.”

Steven Van Zandt

Somewhere along the way the word patriot was commandeered by fear mongering Conservative politicians. Their efforts to denigrate any dissenters, by implying that their views were somehow in violation of any semblance of good citizenship has become a constant talking point from the pulpit of countless right-wing political leaders.

It’s a false flag argument offered up by self-serving morons with nothing meaningful to offer other than division and anxiety.

By definition, to be a patriot implies someone who would vigorously defend their country and stand up to any perceived enemy or detractor.

Sadly, the term has become misused. From my vantage point, most of what threatens us lies within our own borders.

When Steven Van Zan Zandt wrote ‘I Am a Patriot’ back in 1984 he was disturbed by the growing sentiment in Reagan’s America that the only way one can be a patriot was by being a flag waving, gun loving, religious zealot.

It was one of the most difficult songs I’ve ever written, because I knew my political stuff was gonna be very critical of the American government, and I wanted to make it clear that I was being critical from a patriotic point of view: (I’m) very proud of the ideals that our founding fathers had in mind when I created the country, but the fact is (the US is) still very much a work in progress, and very often goes off the rails. In those instances, it’s up to the true patriots to say, wait a minute, the government isn’t always right, we need to be vigilant about keeping our ideals intact. So, I knew it was the most important song I was ever gonna write, and I stared at that title for at least a year – I just couldn’t work I just couldn’t figure out how to make it work, but finally I did.”

Steven Van Zandt

The album ‘Voice of America’ was released on May 7, 1984. This is a significant date because Little Steven’s album actually predated a very prominent album in music history by just over three weeks. I am referring to ‘Born in the U.S.A.’ by Bruce Springsteen. It is well known that Little Steven and The Boss are ‘blood brothers’ and very much aligned in their thinking.

What keeps people human is their ability to keep dreaming about things.”

Bruce Springsteen

‘No Surrender’ is a song that Bruce wrote about his best dreaming partner. This is the best version of that song. I was at this show.

In the summer of 1984 two friends took different paths to share the same message.

Here is ‘I Am a Patriot’ by Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul’.

And the river opens for the righteous, someday

I was walking with my brother
And he wondered what’s on my mind
I said what I believe in my soul
Ain’t what I see with my eyes
And we can’t turn our backs this time

I am a patriot, and I love my country
Because my country is all I know
I want to be with my family, the people who understand me
I’ve got nowhere else to go

And the river opens for the righteous
And the river opens for the righteous
And the river opens for the righteous… someday

And I was talking with my sister
She looked so fine
I said, “Baby, what’s on your mind?”
She said, “I want to run like the lion
Released from the cages
Released from the rages
Burning in my heart tonight”

And I ain’t no communist
And I ain’t no capitalist
And I ain’t no socialist
And I ain’t no imperialist
And I ain’t no democrat
And I ain’t no republican
I only know one party
And it is freedom
I am, I am, I am…

I am a patriot, and I love my country
Because my country is all I know

And the river opens for the righteous
And the river opens for the righteous
And the river opens for the righteous… someday”

Steven Van Zandt

On the surface, this song may come across as patriotic tripe, but when the message is delivered out of genuine concern for the direction of humanity it becomes essential listening. Little Steven cuts through the bullshit and delivers a sermon for the righteous. Sadly, the religious right, backed by oligarchs who are attempting to overthrow the Western world are being allowed to run rampant without any effort from the mainstream media to address the corruption. It should be added that our police forces are complicit. Literally, bought and paid for.

Here in Canada, I am stunned by the similar patterns that have been allowed to prevail.

I consider myself a patriotic Canadian, but I am rapidly losing faith. I used to look at the Canadian flag as a symbol of peace and freedom. A beautiful mix of red and white that reflects a country aiming to be respected worldwide. Sadly, there are forces at work in local, provincial, federal and global politics that move way beyond political issues and our own day to day interests. People who don’t understand that the political landscape has become nothing more than a quagmire of corruption led by corporate barons, right-wing media outlets and religious nutbars who manipulate a gullible throng of frightened sheep to contribute to their money laundering schemes. All the while, the better part of one third of our population mindlessly follow the bullshit doctrine they spew.

We are being led down the garden path. If you doubt me, do yourself a favour. Follow the money.

Maybe someday the river will truly open for the righteous. Just like Steven Van Zandt visualized when he wrote this song in the midst of the reign of yet another radical right political pretender.

There are several quality covers of ‘I Am a Patriot’. Here is Jackson Browne from his 1989 album ‘World in Motion’. When it comes to Jackson Browne, there are truly no superlatives to adequately describe his brilliance as a lyricist or his ability to deliver the message.

Here is a fun acoustic version with a heartfelt introduction.

Just one year later, the great Kris Kristofferson covered ‘I Am a Patriot’ during Farm Aid. This is channeling the true message. We need to be available to each other. Support those who need assistance. Filter out the white noise and zero in on those who are truly deserving. Politicians and religious denominations do not need your money. Wake up!

Whenever Eddie Vedder covers a song, Ted Tocks Covers gravitates to it because from my vantage point Eddie stands up for the very people Little Steven was aiming to address when he wrote this song.

In order to put a stamp on today’s message I felt that this 2019 live version of ‘I Am a Patriot’ by Little Steven and his band really summarized the message contained within the song. To Van Zandt’s chagrin, things had still not improved 35 years later. In fact, they were much worse. As he concludes, he gives a nod to the new generation, as he dedicates this performance to Greta Thunburg. A nice touch followed by a strong rendition.

You know, back in the old days, I’d be talking about politics, you know. I used to bring it with me. It felt like the appropriate thing to do back in the ‘80s, cause most of the bad stuff was hidden. But these days we are all drowning in it 24/7. So, I think our usefulness is giving you a break from it for two hours tonight. Giving you some spiritual nourishment instead. Help face that bullshit tomorrow. But, I must say that traveling around like we do, you know, you hear all the different politicians talking. We were in Australia for that election, and England, and as we travel around, we realize; wow, English is not the universal language after all. The universal language really is bullshit. It’s always hard to know when you are being lied to. But, one way for sure lately, when they give you a false choice. That still bugs me to this day. It is not a partisan thing, but just something that a lot of politicians like to do. You know they say to you that ‘you can either have a good job and a good economy, or you can have a clean environment’. And, that’s just bullshit. That’s a false choice. You can have a good job, a good economy and a clean environment all at the same time. If they did their fucking jobs. Or the other false choice lately is you can either be a patriot and love your country, or you can be a global citizen. And that’s bullshit too. You can be a patriot and love your country, and be a member of the world community at the same time. There’s no contradiction there…When I wrote it in 1984, I thought things are as bad as they are ever going to be. It can’t get worse. It got worse…”

Steven Van Zandt

Listen to the reggae groove. It drives the song. It brings people together.

When you’re trying to write songs that are very simple, with no poetry or metaphor to hide behind, you have to find a way to do that without being obnoxious or boring or cornball… reggae helped!”

Steven Van Zandt

Music is the tie that binds. Steven Van Zandt has made a career out of sharing the fact that #MusicisLife.

I know one party and it is freedom.”

Steven Van Zandt

To be clear, it must be known that there is freedom, which most of us in this country definitely enjoy. It cannot be denied. Pay no attention to those who say that their freedom has been withdrawn. The word for them is entitled. There is a difference.

Let’s just call them FREEDUMB. They wear it well. Oblivious, conspiracy minded and hopelessly led by con artists who feed on their ignorance like vultures on a rotting carcass.

They truly define the term FREEDUMB. Their mind rot will be their undoing.

Meanwhile…

The river will open for the righteous…someday.