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Revolution Blues Lyrics
Well, we live in a trailer
at the edge of town
You never see us
'cause we don't come around.
We got twenty five rifles
just to keep
the population down.
But we need you now,
and that's why
I'm hangin' 'round.
So you be good to me
and I'll be good to you,
And in this land of conditions
I'm not above suspicion
I won't attack you,
but I won't back you.
Well, it's so good to be here,
asleep on your lawn.
Remember your guard dog?
Well, I'm afraid
that he's gone.
It was such a drag
to hear him
whining all night long.
Yes, that was me with the doves,
setting them free
near the factory
Where you built your computer,
love.
I hope you get the connection,
'cause I can't take
the rejection
I won't deceive you,
I just don't believe you.
Well, I'm a barrel of laughs,
with my carbine on
I keep 'em hoppin',
till my ammunition's gone.
But I'm still not happy,
I feel like
there's something wrong.
I got the revolution blues,
I see bloody fountains,
And ten million dune buggies
comin' down the mountains.
Well, I hear that Laurel Canyon
is full of famous stars,
But I hate them worse than lepers
and I'll kill them
in their cars.
at the edge of town
You never see us
'cause we don't come around.
We got twenty five rifles
just to keep
the population down.
But we need you now,
and that's why
I'm hangin' 'round.
So you be good to me
and I'll be good to you,
And in this land of conditions
I'm not above suspicion
I won't attack you,
but I won't back you.
asleep on your lawn.
Remember your guard dog?
Well, I'm afraid
that he's gone.
It was such a drag
to hear him
whining all night long.
Yes, that was me with the doves,
setting them free
near the factory
Where you built your computer,
love.
I hope you get the connection,
'cause I can't take
the rejection
I won't deceive you,
I just don't believe you.
with my carbine on
I keep 'em hoppin',
till my ammunition's gone.
But I'm still not happy,
I feel like
there's something wrong.
I got the revolution blues,
I see bloody fountains,
And ten million dune buggies
comin' down the mountains.
Well, I hear that Laurel Canyon
is full of famous stars,
But I hate them worse than lepers
and I'll kill them
in their cars.
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Charlie Manson. One of NY's angriest songs, perfectly captures bloody, angry violence more than any punk or metal song ever could.
Hand's down one of the best Neil song's ever!!! So underrated!!! Why haven't more people commented about this brilliant but lyrically evil song?!? Love Neil Young! Hate Charles Manson!
You're absolutely right, mikegross ! The last lines are, hmm, obvious : "Well, I hear that Laurel Canyon is full of famous stars, But I hate them worse than lepers and I'll kill them in their cars."
And the following ones are maybe the greatest expression of cold rage : "I hope you get the connection, 'cause I can't take the rejection I won't deceive you, I just don't believe you."
Fucking great song !
milkegross, exactly right. If the punk and metal bands would have a fraction of Young's talent, they'd actually say something. This is as raw as it gets. Straight and to the point!!!
Great lyrics, but phrasing and manner in which Young delivers them takes them up another notch. The last word on Manson. Or at least it should've been, and have spared us all the imbeciles who've glorified and obssessed about him since.
This is a fucking great song. This song turns me on. I know I'm not the only one.
Uh, I think we've all missed the nastiest part... he tortured a dog to death??
"we live in a trailer at the edge of town" -- Charles Manson and members of the Manson Family lived in trailers at Spahn Ranch, a property near Los Angeles owned by George Spahn, during 1968 and 1969.
"carbine" -- a light military weapon
"ten million dune buggies" -- Manson and members of the Family constructed an improvised workshop on the Spahn Ranch, where they built improvised dune buggies out of stolen Porsches and Volkswagens, then sold them for money and drugs. Manson's plans to start a race war that he called "Helter Skelter" included the idea of a fleet of dune buggies manned by his followers. See the book "The Family: The Story of Charles Manson's Dune Buggy Attack Battalion" by Ed Sanders.
"Laurel Canyon" -- an upscale neighborhood in Hollywood Hills West, Los Angeles.