To Washington
Written by John Mellencamp 2003 about recent U. S. history that "borrows its melody and arrangement from folk/country icons
Woody Guthrie and the Carter Family. It's also 'unplugged,' featuring
mandolin, acoustic guitar, fiddle, accordion and tambourine. It questions President George W. Bush's motives at waging war against Iraq. The lyrics begin at the end of the Clinton administration, in which the Monica Lewinsky scandal is weighed against 'eight years of peace and prosperity.' In subsequent verses, Mellencamp addresses Florida's 2000 voting controversy and active duty for members of the National Guard and Reserves... During the southern Indiana native's most recent concert tours, an Albert Einstein quotation - "You cannot simultaneously prevent and prepare for war" - has been projected on a large screen at the back of the stage." (quote from Mellencamp web site)
Eight years of peace and prosperity
Scandal in the White House
An election is what we need
From coast-to-coast to Washington
So America voted on a president
No one kept count
On how the election went
From Florida to Washington
Goddamn, said one side
And the other said the same
Both looked pretty guilty
But no one took the blame
From coast-to-coast to Washington
So a new man in the White House
With a familiar name
Said he had some fresh ideas
But it's worse now since he came
From Texas to Washington
And he wants to fight with many
And he says it's not for oil
He sent out the National Guard
To police the world
From Baghdad to Washington
What is the thought process
To take a humans life
What would be the reason
To think that this is right
From heaven to Washington
From Jesus Christ to Washington
