Remembrance Day -1

Remembrance Day - At the 11th hour on the 11th day, of the 11th month is a time we set aside to honour those who have sacrificed their personal freedoms in the service of their country. This show presents a selection of some of the songs from our own generations war - Vietnam. Some of these songs are still relevant today.  Maybe  —  someday  —  they won’t be. 

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:28

This is Acoustic Avenue. I'm Ted Crouch, your host in Salmonar, British Columbia, with co-producer Joe Little in Calgary, Alberta. On Acoustic Avenue, we recognize with respect and gratitude that these lands where we live, work, and make our music remain home to a number of indigenous nations and people. We acknowledge this land out of respect for the indigenous nations who have cared for Turtle Island, also called North America, from before the arrival of the settler peoples until this day. I'd like to ask Joe Little to step up to the microphone and introduce today's program.

SPEAKER_00 1:11

At the eleventh hour on the eleventh day of the eleventh month, is a time we set aside to honor those who have sacrificed their personal freedoms in the service of their country. Remember this as we should be a day to remember the sacrifice of not only life and land, but also the wounds to their psyche and soul as well. Wounds that, although unseen, never completely healed. Along with each new generation of those that serve, whether voluntarily or drafting, there is also a new generation of artists, writers, and musicians who use their artistic abilities, often in the form of provocative pros and satire, trying to recount the souls of people and thereby once and for all the concept that the word stranger is synonymously the idea that it is always generally right from the free marriage anyway. We'll follow that with Tom Paxton's Lyndon Johnson Hold of the Nation. And we'll close the set with Pete Seager and the I feel like I'm fixing to die wreck.

SPEAKER_04 3:14

They're rioting in Africa. They're starving in Spain. There's hurricanes in Florida. And Texas needs rain. The French hate the Germans, the Germans hate the poems, Italians hate Yugoslavs, South Africans hate the Dutch. And I don't like anybody very much. But we can be tranquil and thankful and proud. And we know for certain that some lovely day someone will set the spark off. And we will all be blown away. What nature doesn't do to us will be done by our fellow man over there across the sea, they've got another war.

SPEAKER_17 5:10

But all I wonder if they know just what the fighting for in that war. That crazy war. In 1917, you know, we helped them win their fight. But all we got was the last one of what Sherman said was right in that war. That crazy war. I never even killed a man or done a money until that poor. That ready lore. One day the sheriff caught me and said, Come along, my son. Your Uncle Sam is needing you to help include a gun in that boar. That ready lore. They took me down to the courthouse, my head was in the world. And when the doctors passed for me, I wish I'd been a girl in that board. That read the war They took me up to the rifle range to hear the bullet scream. I shot the shot the whole day long and never hit a thing in that war.

SPEAKER_14 6:34

That crazy lore.

SPEAKER_17 6:36

The captain sitting up hard will I said, Who is he? The old fool got serabin' mad, he took a shot at me in that war. That crazy war. And when we got to Sunny France, I looked around with plea. But rain and kilometers was all I could see in that war.

SPEAKER_14 6:57

That crazy war.

SPEAKER_17 7:10

A cannonball flew overhead, and I started home right then. The corporal E was after me, but the General B the same in that war. That crazy war. And now we're back at home again from over there in France. The enemy lost the battle, but we all lost a pants in that war.

SPEAKER_14 7:31

That crazy war.

SPEAKER_17 7:33

Now over there in Vietnam, we're in another war. And after 50 years, they still don't know what we're fighting for in that war. This crazy war I got a letter from LBJ.

SPEAKER_03 7:56

It said this is your lucky day. It's time to put your khaki trousers on. Though it may seem very clear, we've got no job to give you here, so we are sending you to Vietnam. Lyndon Johnson told the nation, have no fear of escalation. I am trying everyone to please. Though it isn't really war, we're sending 50,000 more to help save Vietnam from Vietnamese. I am trying everyone to believe. Though it isn't really war, we're sending 50,000 more to help save Vietnam from Vietnamese. Every night the local gentry slip out past the sleeping sentry. They go out to join the old VC. In their nightly little dramas, they put on their black pajamas and come lobbing mortar shells at me. But Lyndon Johnson told the nation, have no fear of escalation. I am trying everyone to please. Though it isn't really war, we're sending 50,000 more to help save Vietnam from Vietnamese.

SPEAKER_06 10:49

Come on, you big strong men. Uncle Tam needs your help again. Got himself in the terrible jam. Way down yonder in Vietnam. Now put down your books, pick up your gun. We're gonna have a whole lot of fun. And it's one, two, three. A lot of we fight it for. Don't ask me if I'll give it out. Next up is Vietnam. And it's five, six, seven, open up the burgade. Ah, ain't no time to wonder why. We're all gonna die. Come on, generals, you better move fast. You'll make chances come at last. Gotta go out and kill them red. Only good command is the one who's dead. We know peace can only be one when we blow them all the kingdom comes. And it's one, two, three. What do we fight in lost?

SPEAKER_10 11:34

Next up is the SMAM. And it's five stays up. Open up the burning gate. Ah, ain't no time to run alive.

SPEAKER_06 11:56

Come on, Wall Street, don't explode. This wall here has long ago. Only hope when they drop the bump, they drop it on the Viet Cong. And one, two, three, what do we find off? Don't ask me, I don't give a lamb. Next up is Vietnam.

SPEAKER_10 12:15

And five, six, seven, open up the burly gate. Ah, there ain't no time to unwind. We're all gonna die.

SPEAKER_06 12:23

Come on, mother, throughout the land, send your boy to Vietnam. Come on, Pop, don't hesitate. Pack him off before it's too late. Be the first parents on your block to bring your boy home in a box. And it's one, two, three, one we find it flock. Don't ask me you don't give a damn. Next up is Vietnam.

SPEAKER_10 12:43

And it's five sixty seven. Open up the burly gate. Ah, ain't no time to wonder why. We're all gonna die. Ain't no time to wonder why. We're all gonna die.

SPEAKER_01 12:59

This is Acoustic Avenue. The song's wasted deep in the big muddy. Singin' in Vietnam dark and blue. Vietnam prayer. A letter from Vietnam to Mother and Ragged Connection. They are not technically associated with the official commemoration. They are related to the broader context of the war. Remembering the day. Followed by Johnny Cash and singing in Vietnam talking blues. Ian Temple sings the Vietnam prayer, and he'll be followed by Hank Snow and A Letter from Vietnam to Mother. We end this second set with Phil Oaks and Draft Dodger Rag.

SPEAKER_06 15:40

It was back in 1942. I was a member of a good platoon. We were on manoeuvres in Louisiana one night by the light of the moon. The captain told us to ford a river, but that's how it all begun. We were knee-deep in the big muddy, the big fool says to push on. The sergeant said, Sir, are you sure this is the best way back to the base? Sergeant, go on. I forded this river about a mile above this place. It'll be a little soggy, but just keep slogging, we'll soon be on dry ground. We were waist deep in the big muddy, the big fool says to push on. Well, the sergeant said, sir, with all this equipment no man'll be able to swim. Sergeant, don't be nervous, Nelly. The captain said to him, All we need is a little determination, men. Follow me, I'll lead on. We were neck deep in the big muddy, the big fool says to push on. All at once, the moon clouded over. We heard a gurgling cry. A few seconds later, the captain's helmet was all that floated by. The sergeant said, Turn around, men, I'm in charge from now on. And we just made it out of the big muddy with the captain dead and gone. We stripped and dived and found his body stuck in the old quicksand. I guess he didn't know that the water was deeper than the place he'd once before been. Another stream had joined the big muddy about a half mile from where we'd gone. We were lucky to escape from the big muddy when the big fool said to push on. Well, I'm not going to point anymore, I'll leave that for yourself. Maybe you're still walking, you're still talking, you'd like to keep your health. But every time I read the paper, them old feelings come on. We're waist deep in the big muddy, the big fool says to push on. Waist deep in the big muddy, the big fool says to push on. Waist deep in the big muddy, the big fool says to push on. Waist deep, neck deep, soon even a tall man'll be over his head where waist deep in the big muddy, the big fool says to push on.

SPEAKER_13 18:34

One morning at breakfast, I said to my wife, we've been everywhere once and some places twice. As I had another helping of country ham, she said, We ain't never been to Vietnam. There's a bunch of our boys over there. So we went to the Orient Saigon. Well, we got a big welcome when we drove in to the gates of a place that they call Long Ben. We checked in and everything got kind of quiet. But a soldier boy said, just wait till night, things get noisy. Things start happening. Big bad firecracker. Well, that night we did about four shows for the boys, and they were living it up with a whole lot of noise. We did our last song for the night, and we crawled in the bed with some peace and quiet, but things weren't peaceful. And things weren't quiet. Things were scary. But for a few minutes, June never said one word, and I thought at first that she hadn't heard. Then a shell exploded not two miles away. She sat up in bed, and I heard her say, What was that? I said, That was a shell. She said, I'm scared. I said, Me too. Well, all night long that noise kept on, and the sound would chill you right to the bone. The bullets and the bombs in the morning chills shook our bed every time one fell, and it never let up. It was gonna get worse before it got any better. Well, when a sign came up, the noise died down, and we got a few minutes' sleep and we were sleeping sound. Then a soldier knocked on our door and said, The last night they brought in seven dead and fourteen wounded. And would we come down to the base hospital and see the boys? Yeah. So we went to the hospital ward by day, and every night we were singing away. Then the shells and the bombs took dawn again, and the helicopters brought in a wounded man night after night, day after day, coming and agoin'. So it sad to sing for them our last song. And reluctantly we said so long. We did our best to let them know that we care for every last one of them that's over there, whether we belong over there or not. Somebody over here loves them and needs them. Well, now that's about all that there is to tell about that little trip in the living hell. And if I ever go back over there anymore, hope there's none of our boys there for me to sing for. I hope that war is over with. And they all come back home to stay in peace.

SPEAKER_11 21:20

This song is dedicated to the Vietnam folks who go to church every Sunday. Kill the comedy for Christ. If you can get a Vietnam right, if you meet a red, better leave him. If you want to keep in with your mind, drop some for God. You can imagine and remember when you're not going to be able to do it.

SPEAKER_16 22:21

God we want us The Prime Minister dispatches the message of heaven Come back for all the smoke when God on our win for war for war is warm as well from the international God of his world of Marines World of Marines God will be a little bit more than God will help us do the communist Oh peace on our Jesus Light Kingdom God bless us as we drop the ball if you can get away if you need to be in with your sun was slowly setting on the land of Vietnam A captain gave his orders and I quickly took my stand but guns were roaring fiercely as our jets took off in flight so I took this piece of paper mom and to you I thought I'd write Mom I'm writing this from a treetop I'm a sniper here by the way and from where I sit I watch for the enemy because as you know they're our deadly prey but while I was writing this line that says Dear Mother I love you so I heard a shot and when I looked my God they had killed my best friend Joe It was heartbreaking Mother to see him lying there in tears and racked with pain our chaplain praying over him and the doctor trying to ease his pain as I hurried to the dreadful scene I heard the doctor say I'm afraid his battle's over you see Mom his chest was shot away so I thought I might ease my saddened heart and the pain of this horrible blow and if this letter seems to be blurred a bit it's from my tears that flow but there's one consolation I have Mom and the great general in heaven knows how right I am he gave his life for you and my sweetheart and above all for Uncle Sam I just came from a funeral so I'll finish this to you they wrapped him in old glory of the red white and the blue I'd better take my post now so please give my love to Sue and I'll do my best for Uncle Sam and mother deal for you Oh I'm just typical American boy from a typical American town I believe in God and senator dot and I keep an old castrow down and when it came my time to serve a new better death than red but when I got to my old draft board buddy this is what I said Sarge I'm only eighteen I got a ruptured spleen and I always carry a purse I've got eyes like a bat and my feet are flat and my asthma's getting worse yes think of my career my sweetheart dear my poor old invalid aunt's eyes ain't no fool I'ma goin' to school and I'ma working in a defense plant I got a disligator disc and a wrap up back I'm allergic to flowers and bugs and when the bombshell hits I get epileptic fits and I'm addicted to a thousand drugs I got the weakness woes I can't touch my toes I can hardly reach my knees and if the enemy came close to me oh I'd probably start to sneeze I'm only eighty got a rupture and spleen and always carry a first I've got eyes like a bat, my feet are flat my asthma's getting worse yes think of my career my sweetheart dear my poor old envelope and I no cool I'ma goin' to school and I'ma workin' in a defense plan I hope he dies but one thing you gotta see and that someone's gotta go over there and that someone isn't me so I wish you well Sarge give him hell kill me a thousand or so and if you ever get a war without blood and gore I'll be the first to go yes I'm only eighteen I got a ruptured spleen and always carry a purse I've got eyes like a bat and my feet are flat and my asthma's getting worse yes think of my career my sweetheart dear my poor old invalid Besides ain't no fool I'ma goin' school and I'm working in a defense plan This is Acoustic Avenue the first song to open the second half of today's program is talking Vietnam by Tom Pax it was written during the Vietnam War is a terrible and critical take on the warning of many war and iron Johnny I don't know originally known as when Johnny comes marching home and reflects the impact of war on individuals and society tells the story of a soldier Johnny who returns from war severely wounded and unrecognizable to his friends and family carries an anti-war message by highlighting the suffering and destruction caused by conflict.

SPEAKER_01 30:38

This song is significant as a part of Irish musical heritage and continues to be a symbol of the consequences of war, not limited to any specific conflict.

SPEAKER_03 30:50

This is talkin' Vietnam potluck blues and Johnny I hardly knew ye both songs serving as reminders of the enduring power of music to convey important social and political messages Now when I landed in Vietnam I hardly got sea saigon they shaped us up and called the roll and off we went on a long patrol swapping lies swapping flies firing the odd shot here and there the captain called a halt that night and we had chow by the pale moonlight a lovely dinner they planned for us with the taste like a seat on a crosstown bus. Some of the veterans just left theirs layin' in the cans for the Viet Cong to find deadlier than a landmine Naturally somebody told a joke and a couple other fellas began to smoke I took a whiff as the cloud rolled by and my nose went up like an infield fly the captain this uh blonde fella from Yale he looked at me and said What's the matter with you, baby? Well I may be crazy but I think not I'd swear to god that I smell pot but who'd have pot in Vietnam he said what do you think you've been sitting on these funny little plants thousands of 'em good god almighty pastures of plenty So we all it up and by and by the whole platoon was flying high with the beautiful smile on the captain's face he smelled like midnight on St.

SPEAKER_05 32:43

Mark's place cleaning his weapon chanting something about Hare Krishna Hare Krishna The moment came as it comes to all when I had to answer nature's call I was stumbling around in a beautiful A's when I met a little cat in black PJs rifle ammo belt BF Goodrich sandals he looked up at me and said What's the matter with you, baby He said we're camping down the pass and smelled you people blowing grass and since by the smell you smoking trash it brought you a taste of a special stash straight from Uncle Ho's Victory Garden We call it Han Oye Gold So his squad and my squad settled down pass some lovely stuff around all too soon it was time to go the captain got on the radio said hello headquarters Hello uh headquarters we have met the enemy and he has been smashed thank you when go in the road the sweet a thigh haroo haroo when go in the road the sweet a thigh haroo haroo when go in the road the sweet of thigh a stick in my hand and a drop in my eye a doleful dance delay or cry Johnny and hardy queer drums and guns and guns and drums arroo queer drums and guns and guns and drums arroo queer drums and guns and guns and drums the enemy dearly oh darling dear you looks a queer Johnny and hearty eyes that looks of wild the eyes that looks of my arrows are the eyes that looks of my one where are the legs well are the legs out there that you're done the happened back you're not taking that up to be done the bottom back and bear and bear yellow but I'm happy for it to see a home haroom haroom yes I'm happy for to see a home haroom haro I'm happy for to see a home all from the island of the home so low and flash so high and hold Johnny I'd drop and gun and gun and drop hard where you're drop and gun and gun and trump arroom haroot where you're trump and gun and gun and drum the enemy never stood up oh darling dear you look so queer you are this is the final set for today's special remembrance day Alice's Resturant Massacree by Arlo Guthrie is a folk song that had a significant impact when it was released in the 1960s and continues to resonate with modern audience.

SPEAKER_01 37:52

This song became an anthem for the counterculture movement anti-establishment message appealed to a generation of young people who were societal and served as a reminder of the idealism and the challenges of environmental challenges are also today as environmental issues become increasingly important. Alice's restaurant endures as a symbol of the counterculture a protest against authority and a reflection of the turbulent nineteen sixties its humor, storytelling and messages continue to resonate with people who appreciate its historical significance and its relevance to ongoing social and political issues.

SPEAKER_09 38:59

This is the original Alice's Restaurant This song is called Alice's Restaurant it's about Alice and the restaurant but Alice's Restaurant is not the name of the restaurant that's just the name of the song and that's why I call the song Alice's Restaurant You can get anything you want at Alice's restaurant You can get anything you want at Alice's restaurant Walk riding it's around the back just a half a mile from the railroad track and you can get anything you want at Alice's restaurant it all started two Thanksgivings ago is on two years ago on Thanksgiving when my friend and I went up to visit Alice at the restaurant But Alice doesn't live in the restaurant she lives in the church nearby the restaurant in the bell tower with her husband Ray and thought she's a dog and living in the bell tower like that they got a lot of room downstairs where the pews used to be and having all that room seen as how they took out all the pews they decided that they didn't have to take out their garbage for a long time we got up there we found all the garbage in there and we decided it'd be a friendly gesture for us to take the garbage down to the city dump so we took the half a ton of garbage put it in the back of a red VW microbus took shovels and rakes and implements of destruction and headed on toward the city dump Well we got there and there's a big sign and a chain across the dump saying closed on Thanksgiving and we had never heard of a dump closed on Thanksgiving before and with tears in our eyes we drove off into the sunset looking for another place to put the garbage We didn't find one Till we came to a side road and off the side of the side road was another 15 foot cliff and at the bottom of the cliff was another pile of garbage and we decided that one big pile's better than two little piles and rather than bring that one up we decided to throw ours down this what we did strove back to the church had a Thanksgiving dinner that couldn't be beat went to sleep and didn't get up until the next morning when we got a phone call from Officer Obi Said kid we found your name on an envelope at the bottom of a half a ton of garbage and just wanted to know if you had any information about it and I said yes sir officer Obi cannot tell a lie I put that envelope under that garbage After speaking over for about 45 minutes on the telephone we finally arrived at the truth of the matter and said that we had to go down and pick up the garbage and also had to go down and speak to him at the police officer station so we got in the red BW microbus with the shovels and rakes and influence of destruction headed on toward the police officer station now friends there was only one or two things that OB could have done at the police station and the first was that he could've give us a medal for being so brave and honest on the telephone which wasn't very likely and we didn't expect it. Another thing was that it could have balled us out and told us never to be seen driving garbage around the vicinity again which is what we expected but when we got to the police officer station there was a third possibility that we hadn't even counted upon and we was both immediately arrested handcuffed and I said oh yeah don't think I can pick up the garbage with these handcuffs on Say shut up kid get in the back of the patrol car and that's what we did sat in the back of the patrol car and drove to the quote scene of the crime unquote I'll tell you about the town of Stockbridge Massachusetts what is happening here they got three stop signs two police officers and one police car but when we got to the scene of the crime there was five police officers and three police cars being the biggest crime of the last 50 years and everybody wanted to get in the newspaper story about it. And they was using up all kinds of cop equipment that they had hanging around the police officer station they was taking plaster type track footprints dog smelling prints and they took 27 eight five ten color glossy photographs with circles and hours and a paragraph on the back of each one explaining what each one was to be used as evidence against us. Took pictures of the approach, the getaway the northwest corner and southwest corner and that's not to mention the aerial photography After the ordeal, we went back to the jail. Obi said he was gonna put us in the cell. Said, kid, I'm gonna put you in the cell. I want your wallet and your belt. And I said, Obi, I can understand you want my wallet, so I don't have any money to spend in the cell, but what do you want my belt for? And he said, kid, we don't want any hangins. Said, Obi, did you think I was gonna hang myself for littering? Obie said he was making sure, and friends Obi was, cause he took out the toilet seat so I couldn't hit myself over the head and drown. And he took out the toilet paper so I couldn't bend the bars, roll out, roll the toilet paper out the window, slide down the roll and have an escape. Obi was making sure, and it was about four or five hours later that Alice, remember Alice, it's a song about Alice. Alice came by with a few nasty words to Obi on the side, bailed us out of jail, we went back to the church, had another Thanksgiving dinner that couldn't be beat, and didn't get up until the next morning when we all had to go to court. We walked in, sat down. Obi came in with the 27-8x10 covered glossy pictures with the circles and arrows and a paragraph on the back each one and sat down. Man came in, said all right, so we all stood up and Obi stood up with the 27-8 by 10 covered glossy pictures. And the judge walked in, sat down with the C and I dog, and he sat down. We sat down, Obi looked at the C and I dog. And then the 27-8 by 10 covered glossy pictures with the circles and arrows and a paragraph on the back of each one and looked at the C and I dog. And then at the 27-8 by 10, covered glossy pictures with the circles and arrows and a paragraph on the back of each one and began to cry. Cause Obi came to the realization that it was a typical case of American blind justice, and there wasn't nothing he could do about it. And the judge wasn't gonna look at the 27, 8x10, covered glossy pictures with the circles and arrows and a paragraph on the back of each one, explaining what each one was to be used as evidence against us. And we was fined $50 and had to pick up the garbage in the snow, but that's not what I came to tell you about. Came to talk about the draft. Got a building down New York City, it's called Whitehall Street, where you walk in and you get injected, inspected, detected, infected, neglected, and selected. I went down and got my physical examination one day and I walked in and sat down. Got good and drunk the night before, so I looked and felt my best when I went in that morning. Cause I wanted to look like the all-American kid from New York City. Man, I wanted, I wanted to feel like all I wanted to be the all-American kid from New York. And I walked in, sat down, I was hung down, wrung down, hung up, and all kinds of mean, nasty, ugly things. And I walked in, I sat down, they gave me a piece of paper, said kid. See the psychiatrist, room 604 now. I went up there, I said shrink. I wanna kill. And I wanna I wanna kill. Kill. I wanna I wanna see I wanna see blood and gore and guts and veins in my teeth. Eat death, burnt bodies. I mean kill.

SPEAKER_08 47:39

And I started jumping up and down, yelling, kill, kill, and I started jumping up and down with me, and we was both jumping up and down, killed, killed, and the sergeant came over, pinned a little mama, send me down the hall, said you're our boy.

SPEAKER_09 47:58

Proceeded on down the hall, getting more injections, inspections, detections, neglections, and all kinds of stuff that they was doing to me at the thing there, and I was there for two hours, three hours, four hours. I was there for a long time, going through all kinds of mean, nasty, ugly things, and I was just having a tough time there, and they was inspecting, injecting every single part of me, and they wasn't leaving no part untouched. Proceeded through it. When finally came to see the very last man, I walked in, walked in, sat down after a whole big thing there, and I walked up and said, What do you want? He said, Kid, we only got one question. Have you ever been arrested? I proceeded to tell him the story of Alice's restaurant, Nassau Cree, with full orchestration and five-part harmony and stuff like that, and then all the phenomena stopped me right there and said, kid. Did you ever go to court? I proceeded to tell him the story of the 27, eight by ten, covered glossy pictures with the circles and hours, and a paragraph on the back of each one that stopped it right there and said kid. I want you to go over and sit down on that bench and say group wheel. There's group W is where they where they put ya. If you may not be moral enough to join the army after committing your special crime, and there was all kinds of mean, nasty, ugly looking people on the bench there is mother rapers, father stabbers, father rapers, father rapers sitting right there on the bench next to me, and one it was mean and nasty and ugly and horrible and crime-fighting guys is sitting there on the bench, and the meanest, ugliest, nastiest one, the meanest father raper of them all, was coming over to me and he was mean and ugly and nasty and horrible and all kinds of things. And he sat down next to me and said, kid, what'd you get? I said, I didn't get nothing. I had to pay $50 and pick up the garbage. I said, What were you arrested for, kid? And I said, littering. And they all moved away from me on the bench there and carry eyeball and all kinds of mean, nasty things till I said, and creating a nuisance, and they all came back, shook my hand, and we had a great time on the bench talking about grandmother, stampfather eight, and all kinds of groovy things that we was talking about on the bench. And everything was fine. We were smoking cigarettes and all kinds of things until the sergeant came over, had some paper in his hand, held it up, and said, Kids, this piece of paper's got 47 words, 30 samples, 58 word.

SPEAKER_15 51:11

We want detail, the kind of thing got a slap time about the cramp on the rest of the kind of thing you gotta say about four to five minutes, and nobody understood a word that he said, but we had fun coming out the forms and playing with the pencils on the bench there.

SPEAKER_09 51:28

And I filled out the massacre with the four-part harmony and wrote it down there just like it was, and everything was fine. And I put down a pencil and I turned over the piece of paper, and and there, there on the other side, in the middle of the other side, away from everything else on the other side, in parentheses, capital letters, quotated, read the following words. Kid, you rehabilitated yourself. I went over to the sergeant and said, Sergeant, you gotta blot a damn god. Ask me if I've rehabilitated myself.

SPEAKER_07 52:27

I mean, I mean, I mean that you s I'm sitting here on a bench. I mean I'm sitting here on the group W bench.

SPEAKER_09 52:38

Cause you wanna know if I'm moral enough to join army, burn women, kids, houses, and villages after being a litter bug. You look at me, said kid. You don't like your kind. And we're gonna send your fingerprints off to Washington and friends. Somewhere in Washington enshrined in some little folders, studying black and white of my fingerprints. And the only reason I'm singing you the song now is cause you may know somebody in a similar situation. Or you may be in a similar situation, and if you're in a situation like that, there's only one thing you can do is walk into the shrink wherever you are. Just walk in, say shrink. You can get anything you want at Alice's restaurant and walk out. You know, if one person just one person does it, they may think he's really sick and they won't take him. And if two people, two people do it in harmony, they think they're both faggots and it won't take either of them. And if three people do it, three, can you imagine three people walking in, singing a bar, Alice's restaurant and walking out? They may think it's an organization. And can you can you imagine 50 people a day? I said 50 people a day walking in, singing a bar, Alice's restaurant and walking out. And friends, they may think it's a movement, and that's what it is. The Alice's restaurant, anti-Master Creed movement, and all you gotta do to join is to sing it the next time it comes around on the guitar with feeling. So we'll wait till it comes around on the guitar here. Sing it when it does. I've been singing the song now for 25 minutes. I can sing it for another 25 minutes. I'm not brow. Or tired. So we'll wait till it comes around again This time with four-part harmony in the feeling. We're just waiting for it to come around is what we're done. Alright now you can get anything you want, an appetite, restaurant, accepting Alice, you can get anything you want An opposite restaurant to walk riding it around the back just a half a mile from the railroad trying, and you can get anything you want, an applet, restaurant, an apples to rest around.

SPEAKER_01 57:20

Until next time, this is Ted Crouch signing off, and on behalf of Joe Little, from our heart into yours, stay safe and love the ones you're with. Peace.