(C) Daily Kos This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . Ki Yi Yippie Yi Yi (50 Sad Years Later) [1] ['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.'] Date: 2023-09-03 I grew up on Elton John. My dad loved his music and by the time I was 12 (in 1978), without realizing it at the time, I knew all the words to probably 90% of his songs. I would lie on the floor, gazing at every aspect of the album cover art, reading the lyrics and singing the songs (in my terrible singing voice) for literally hours. My first ever concert was Elton at Dodger Stadium when I was only 9 years old. My dad took my brother and me. Elton literally pointed to me and waved at me as I sat on my dad’s shoulders near the stage. I will never forget it. Every time a new album would come out, my father, brother and I would excitedly go down to the music store across the street from the iconic Cinerama Dome on Sunset Blvd in Los Angeles. The store (the name of it escapes me some 50 years later) would have dozens upon dozens of album covers of the brand new album decorating the walls. It was a cause for celebration in my family when a new Elton album would finally arrive. Fast forward to today. I was having a Bloody Mary (or 2) and minding my own business (LOL) while listening to Elton and missing my father (who left us at age 90, 5 years, 10 months and 27 days ago but who’s counting) when “Texan Love Song” hit my playlist. This song is from the album “Don’t Shoot Me I’m Only The Piano Player” which was released 50 years ago this very year (in 1973). As I belted out the lyrics (in my still terrible singing voice), I realized how not far we’ve come in the last 50 years. Here are the lyrics, for your consideration: I heard from a friend you'd been messing around With a cute little thing I'd been dating up-town Well I don't know if I like that idea much Well you better stay clear I might start acting rough You out of town guys sure think you're real keen Think all of us boys here are homespun and green But that's wrong my friend so get this through your head We're tough and we're Texan with necks good and red So it's ki yi yippie yi yi You long hairs are sure gonna die Our American home was clean till you came And kids still respected the president's name And the eagle still flew in the sky Hearts filled with national pride Then you came along with your drug-crazy songs Goddamit you're all gonna die How dare you sit there and drink all our beer Oh it's made for us the workers who sweat spit and swear The minds of our daughters are poisoned by you With your communistic politics and them Negro blues Well I'm gonna quit talking and take action now Run all of you fairies clean out of this town Oh I'm dog tired of watching you mess up our lives Spending the summertime naturally high And it's ki yi yippie yi yi You long hairs are sure gonna die Our American home was clean till you came And kids still respected the president's name And the eagle still flew in the sky Hearts filled with national pride Then you came along with your drug-crazy songs Goddamit you're all gonna die Goddamit you're all gonna die Oh Lord, Goddamit you're all gonna die As I listened and sang (badly), I couldn't help but feel washed over with sadness over how we seem to be still fighting this same exact fight...50 years later. Prior to the dotard arriving on the scene, I truly don't think I would have felt this way. But he gave all the racist, bigoted assholes “permission” to come out from under their rocks. And so while all our brothers and sisters who are people of color and marginalized in other ways have all too painfully understood the whole time, I truly thought we had made more progress than we actually have. I stand here today, ashamed at how little progress we have made. And, today at least, I am sad. Very sad. Perhaps it’s the Bloody Mary talking. Perhaps it’s the reality smacking me in the face. The same reality that others live every single day, for the last 50 years. I am humbled today. And today, I also renew my commitment to fight. For myself, for you and for all those who wish for a better America (and world) for everyone. No matter how they look or who they love. Thanks for listening and if you want to hear Elton sing the song, I found a YouTube link for you: Texan Love Song Thanks for being such an incredible community. It feels so good to be able to chat with like-minded people here at DK. Cal (as in California) Dem (as in Democrat) Syd (as in Sydney). ❤️ [END] --- [1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/9/3/2191371/-Ki-Yi-Yippie-Yi-Yi-50-Sad-Years-Later Published and (C) by Daily Kos Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified. via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/