Don’t Spectate; Participate

The time has come for us to go
and use our voices, cast our votes.
Half us will just look on
as the other half tries to fix what’s wrong.
Don’t spectate; participate.
If you don’t give a damn and you’ve nothing to say-
If you won’t give a damn then get out of the way.

If I hear another idiot say
“this election won’t affect me either way.”
Well, my selfish friend, that may be true-
but there’s a few more people in this world besides you.
Don’t spectate; participate.
If you don’t give a damn and you’ve nothing to say-
If you won’t give a damn then get out of the way.

If I hear another coward say
“if that one side wins then I’m moving away”
Just do us a favor and get the hell out now.
This land was never your land anyhow.
You can spectate while we participate.
If you don’t give a damn and you’ve nothing to say-
If you won’t give a damn it’s a Goddamn shame.

If I hear about another regulation
that prevents anybody from participation.
Well, I say to you as you try to turn back time:
“A lot of people died just to have this right.”
Don’t spectate; participate.
If you don’t give a damn and you’ve nothing to say-
If you won’t give a damn then get out of the way.
You might give a damn as you’re fading away.
And if you won’t give a damn it’s a Goddamn shame.

   Like most of us in the entertainment business, I believe our primary job is to entertain and take people away from the weight of the world.  I’m not trying to alienate people, but I’m also not concerned with who would or wouldn’t want to work with me just because I speak my mind.  I’m not concerned with writing any kind of a song but a good song. 
   And speaking of giving a damn, I honestly don’t care who you vote for.  It’s none of my business.  I just want you to participate in the great privilege that is called VOTING.  I want you to help preserve the great democratic experiment that was started in Revolution and continues hanging on to this day.  
  The local election is what’s it’s all about.  Media and even the government have led you to believe that it’s not as important as the Presidential election but actually the midterm election is the one you should care about more.
  I’ve only lived in my home state of Tennessee for a few years, and I didn’t move here to change it.  I moved here to get inspired by the creative culture, the good music and true artists-and also to raise a young daughter.   When you have children, you start to pay more attention to education and where your water comes from, for instance.  I wasn’t all “get out the vote” in my twenties.  I was too busy traveling the world as a street musician.  
  I did, however, vote absentee.  
  Somehow, someway we’ve got it so damn easy around this country that we have slacked off to a point of 50% or more of us being completely apathetic.  I believe those that are in power relish in this fact.  It is also my belief that if every North American citizen took a trip to the Third World, they might get a better idea of how great we actually have it, and therefore might care a bit more about making it better, and prevent what would make it worse. 
  So if wishing that more people would vote makes me a radical Tennessean than so be it.  I welcome all healthy debate on this subject-especially from locals.  

  Years ago, I was living in London.  There was a huge demonstration and march through the city which ended in a massive performance by some major acts.  The whole thing was set up for a guy who was unfairly prisoned by his government.  His name was Nelson Mandela.  During the march, as I was walking around trying to figure out who this Nelson Mandela character was, another protester screamed out “Don’t spectate; participate!”  I filed it away for later use.
  
  Last week, I had the privilege of playing some songs at the Woody Guthrie Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma.  Afterwards, many gathered in Woody’s hometown of Okemah to participate in Woodyfest, which is an excellent gathering of songwriters who care more about songs than hits.  They care about telling it like it is.
  At my room in the Day’s Inn, I set up a few microphones courtesy of Mojave Audio, and recorded a few new songs.  This is one of them.  I dedicate it to the spirit of Woody Guthrie and people everywhere who speak their minds and follow the beat of their own drum, not worrying about the fact that somebody might disagree with them-and in fact welcome spirited debate.  
  A few days after Woodyfest, I was driving across the Tennessee border and noticed the large amount of election signs clouding up the landscape.  It was kind of an eyesore actually, but it reminded me that early voting has started in Tennessee and you can’t use “I don’t have the time” or “I don’t know anything about the candidates” for an excuse.  Use the internet.  Whatever your particular flavor is-conservative, liberal, or in between-there are web sites out there that point out the directions your side wishes you to lean toward.  Or, maybe you could decide for yourself, if that doesn’t take too much time away from your projects or social media-or whatever floats your boat.  It’s a busy world out there, and the internet has made it seem even busier.  Still, we all have time to vote.  If you have a reason not to, I’d like to hear it.  Send me a note at TimEaston.com  
  I am leaving Tennessee for a tour of Alaska which will prevent me from voting on election day, but I will go on line and look up EARLY VOTING IN NASHVILLE in order to find out where I can vote today.
  If you are not registered to vote, then it’s too late to vote in this primary, but you may register now for the November election.  It’s simple, and easy, and several wars were fought so that you may now participate.   

Tim Easton    Nashville, TN  July 22, 2014




 

Don't Spectate; Participate

here's a more bluegrass take on Festival Song

FESTIVAL SONG

Here's Megan Palmer and Tim Easton playing Gallatin Pike Blues live on KDHX in St. Louis

Gallatin Pike Blues LIVE ON KDHX

Here's the four track cassette demo of a new song
Enjoy!  12.26.14  
TE

Right Before Your Own Eyes_DEMO

THIS IS THE FIRST SONG OF THE ONE AND ONLY RECORD BY COLUMBUS, OHIO'S HAYNES BOYS, ORIGINALLY RELEASED IN 1996 ON SLAB RECORDS.  RE-MASTERED FOR VINYL BY RE-VINYL RECORDS  

01 Jackie

Singing "JESUS PROTECT ME" live in AUSTIN, TEXAS, supporting LUCINDA WILLIAMS on Tour

Jesus, Protect Me(LIVE IN AUSTIN, TX)

Paco & The Melodic Polaroids

Baby Come Home

Traveling songwriter, living in Nashville, TN.  
All TOUR DATES at TimEaston.com  



Tim Easton 1

Popular tracks