I’m pretty sure I was blissfully unaware of the danger lurking just below the surface of rock and roll. Perhaps the strains of a 4/4 backbeat, amplified guitar and bass, and the raw energy in those first songs blasted from the 2’’ speaker of my first transistor radio at eight-years-old was enough to complete that defining experience. I’ve never lost the magic and transformative elements of rock and roll on my life.
I had a transistor radio like this one.
If you don’t think rock and roll was once a seditious form of “entertainment” or something else, Google “GG Allin,” or do some reading about Iggy Pop. There are certainly others that could be called “dangerous.” The former is someone who, even if you think his anti-authoritarian stage antics including defecation and throwing shit is a tad over-the-top, Allin believed that his total embodiment of rock and roll was “an escape from consumerism and commercialism” and “a desire to return rock and roll to it’s rebellious roots.” What were those roots? And how the hell did it go from being anti-establishment to every single fucking pansy-ass rock and roll millennial buckling under and quivering in total fear to a virus that may or may not pose any real threat to them and their picking up a goddamned guitar. If GG Allin is a turn-off, look up Iggy Pop then. Is he now pimping for the man? I’m not saying rock and roll has to be scatological to be good. Not at all. But, damn!! What the hell has happened to the genre when everything is so passive and complicit with following a narrative that enshrines our corporate overlords? Seeking an alternative to Allin? I’m fine with Johnny Rotten. I’m a fan of Neil Young and play some of his songs.
What are other rock and rollers doing now? Supporting the likes of Joe Biden and parroting the same old leftist claptrap. Bruce Springsteen is still trotted out there as being “populist” and “for the people.” Right. Like the mindfuckery we’ve been subjected to for a year now from the likes of Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos and others have our best interests at heart.
A year ago I wrote a song about being locked-down by Janet Mills. This petty tyrant has been allowed unprecedented power and total control over our lives under the guise of “keeping us safe” or some other variant of poppycock that all you stupid sheep are fine with. I’m not!
Two weeks ago, I got shit-canned from my healthcare-related job. I’m still standing and unapologetic. I could see that slow train coming. Life’s too short to carry water for a bunch of fakes, frauds, and phonies. I’d say it’s worse when your CEO is a lying snake and disingenuous at that. If this offends you, I don’t care. I’m sick of playing nice. That ship sailed four years ago for me.
In order to stay busy in-between sending out my resume and not lose music momentum, I’ve been working on re-recording some of my songs. Working at some alt mixes, also. I don’t think I’ve ever recorded “Stuck in a Nightmare.” The song has evolved over the past year, too. I recognized a riff in the song and realized I was channeling some 1970s Mick Ronson riffing on guitar for Ziggy Stardust-era David Bowie. I like where the song lives right now as an electric number. It’s a nice 3 ½ minute vamp, really. But God forbid—it’s political because I mention Janet Mills, I guess. Or perhaps TPTB can read my thoughts and know I’m being a “bad boy” in questioning my overlords. Because Facebook banned my ad I was going to run promoting the song I uploaded to my Soundcloud page. Will they finally kick me off their propaganda-infused platform? Who knows.
My nod to rock and roll’s spirit, as much of my populist songcraft is a paean to. I even posted the words so you know what the hell I’m singing about.
Look out—JimBaumerMe is dangerous performer!
Stuck in a Nightmare
Verse I
Stuck in my house
Feeling Like a Mouse
Waiting for the cat to pounce
Goin’ to the store
Don’t want no more
Toilet paper aisles cleaned out
Chorus
I wanna’ leave today
I can’t ‘cause the governor says to stay
Fear-fogging is the media’s way
Maybe this nightmare ends today
Verse II
On the road to work
Cut off by a jerk
Wishing that the guy would try
We’re all in this phase
People getting crazed
Thinking that their world might end
Chorus
I wanna’ leave today
I can’t ‘cause the governor says to stay
Fear-fogging is the media’s way
Maybe this nightmare ends today
(Hope this…) (Would that this…)