Top Ten Reasons to Stand United
Us versus Them. There is a division in our country and in the world beyond our borders. Ruling factions are treating citizens like a Punch and Judy puppet show, pulling the strings to create battles. The ideals that separate us will always be in place. The minds of humans all work in different ways. Those functions are in the plus column. The world we live in would be drastically changed if we all thought the same way. Like a song, it is the ability of the chaos to come together that makes beautiful music. In order for the human race to survive we need to come together and find a common ground. Our beliefs have similarities that are being downplayed as our differences are being put on display daily as distractions to mask what those in power would like to keep hidden.
Our path is a simple one. Rather than picking a side to be on, we need to stand united in spite of our differences. The current political situations could inspire we the people to stand together and take charge of our world rather than giving over control to those that can’t handle the task of governing. Rulers seek to keep us in our seats while they take on the role of game show hosts, entertaining with insults and hinting at possible prizes for the winners.
Our list this week does not have the answers, maybe not even the questions. The artist providing music show a road to take in their words. Sly and the Family Stone start things off with one basic instruction, “Stand!”. The demand comes from the adage that ‘if you don’t stand for something you will fall for anything. The Del Lords have some solutions as they pose the question “How Can a Poor Man Stand Such Times and Live?” while Old Crow Medicine Show can hear the voices of the past lending their experiences for our futures in “I Hear Them All”. Encouragement comes from The Pointer Sisters with “Yes We Can Can”, from Dwight Yoakam in “Let’s Work Together”, and with a song from Kevin Deal in “Stand and Deliver”. Royal Southern Brotherhood lend support with defiance demanding we “Stand Up” as The Wailers bring us on our feet to confront oppressors with “Get Up, Stand Up” while Eliza Gilkyson envisions a land “Where No Monuments Stand”. Closing out our list, Patti Smith sums it all up, pointing out that our future is in our hands if we want it in “People Have the Power”.
01 Stand! – Sly and the Family Stone (from the album Stand!)
A drum roll gives the marching orders that will lead us into action as Sly and the Family Stone shout out “Stand!”. The words came out at the end of the tumultuous decade of 1960, when wars were stopped and rules were re-written by people in the streets. The words are still available for use in 2017.
Listen and buy “Stand!” by Sly and the Family Stone on AMAZON
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02 How Can a Poor Man Stand Such Times and Live – The Del Lords (from the album Get Tough: The Best of The Del Lords)
Guitars become the sound of trumpets that lead to the barricades and tear all the walls down. The original release of “How Can a Poor Man Stand Such Times and Live” was found on The Del Lords release, Frontier Days. The tune can now only be found on a compilation of the band’s music on Get Tough: The Best of The Del Lords.
Listen and buy “How Can a Poor Man Stand Such Times and Live” by The Del Lords on AMAZON
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03 I Hear Them All – Old Crow Medicine Show (from the album Big Iron World)
The voices of refugees come through clearly to Old Crow Medicine Show. The rattle of chains, the turning of pages filled with rules, and the cries of the hungry become hushed by the sound of children laughing and the clink of guns being thrown into a heap and abandoned in “I Hear Them All”. The track was a 2006 release from Old Crow Medicine Show on their Big Iron World release.
Listen and buy “I Hear Them All” by Old Crow Medicine Show on AMAZON
05 Let’s Work Together – Dwight Yoakam (from the album If There Was a Way)
Wilbert Harrison retitled his own tune. He released “Let’s Stick Together” in 1962, changing the title to “Let’s Work Together” for his re-release in 1969 when the song hit the charts. Dwight Yoakam gives the tune a twang, offering the suggestion on a bed of California Country from his If There Was A Way release from 1990.
Listen and buy “Let’s Work Together” by Dwight Yoakam on AMAZON
07 Where No Monument Stands – Eliza Gilkyson (from the album The Nocturne Diaries)
Possibilities for happiness materialize in the visions of Eliza Gilkyson as she translates the images in her mind into song with “Where No Monument Stands”. The beauty of potential comes the Eliza Gilkyson release, The Nocturne Diaries.
Listen and buy “Where No Monument Stands” by Eliza Gilkyson on AMAZON
09 Get Up, Stand Up – The Wailers (from the album Burnin’)
Confrontation was the canvas for The Wailers to scratch their message with “Get Up, Stand Up”. Burnin’ was the fourth album from the Bob Marley-led Jamaican band, their second for Island Records. The path was clear to the front of the battle lines as The Wailers urged the people to unite and stand up for your rights.
Listen and buy “Get Up, Stand Up” by The Wailers on AMAZON
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04 Yes We Can Can – The Pointer Sisters (from the album Stitch of the World)
A rumble of rhythm backed the beliefs of The Pointer Sisters when they re-worked the Allen Toussaint tune “Yes We Can Can” with a mixture of boogie and groove. The track introduced the Oakland, California siblings to the world on their self-titled album with The Pointer Sisters 1973 release.
Listen and buy “Yes We Can Can” by The Pointer Sisters on AMAZON
06 Stand Up – Royal Southern Brotherhood (from the album The Royal Gospel)
The most recent recording from Royal Southern Brotherhood, The Royal Gospel, provides a ‘joyful noise’ as Cyril Neville leads the band in a funky romp with “Stand Up”. Royal Southern Brotherhood make revolution a dance step as the band boogies the human race into a conga line.
Listen and buy “Stand Up” by Royal Southern Brotherhood on AMAZON
08 Stand and Deliver – Kevin Deal (from the album Nothing Left to Prove)
Out of the darkness all around us comes the calming voice of Kevin Deal. The sway of the music provides a strong foundation for freedom…’don’t be afraid to live for the fear of death’. The statement to “Stand and Deliver” unites mankind in a common cause as Kevin Deal offers a tune from his 2015 release, Nothing Left to Prove.
Listen and buy “Stand and Deliver” by Kevin Deal on AMAZON
10 People Have the Power – Patti Smith (from the album Dream of Life)
Pounding drums and anthemic guitars set the stage for Patti Smith to walk into the room and talk about her dream. We have the power to ‘redeem the work of fools’ as the decree is passed in “People Have the Power”. The track is a mantra and an action item from the Patti Smith 1988 release, Dream of Life.
Listen and buy “People Have the Power” by Patti Smith on AMAZON
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