Texas
This song originated back in 1998 as a response to the then Gov. Bush's unbeatable record on the death penalty. During his six years as Governor of Texas, he presided over 152 executions, including that of Karla Faye Tucker. If I remember correctly, the Pope, as well as Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell (hardly liberal love bugs) urged for clemency.
But that was then, and whether you are pro- or anti-death penalty, there is one imminent case in the Lone Star State that should make the most hardcore supporter wince-at least a bit. On August 30th, Kenneth Foster is scheduled for execution. What makes this case different and troubling is that Kenneth Foster never actually killed anyone. However, he was driving a car with three passengers, one of whom left the car, got into some kind of altercation and then shot a man to death. There was no proof that Foster encouraged the killer, nor that he knew the latter had the intention to commit the crime. Foster was sentenced by a controversial state law that, in essence, imposes the death penalty for anyone involved in a crime where a murder occurred, even if that person was not directly involved in the murder. Now, Foster may or may not be a swell fellow, but does he deserve the death penalty?
You can find out more or get involved by going to Freekenneth.com.
The first time I played "Texas" live was in, believe it or not, Fort Worth. I was at some bar where there was an unusual number of ex-frat boy looking men. And some serious drinking. I had just written the song and thought what better place to try it out. When I got to the chorus, "You better not kill in Texas...they just love to kill you", I got the first cheers of the entire night. One guy yelled out, " That's right sister, you don't mess with Texas." I think they misunderstood the intent of the lyrics. Hell, I didn't care. I finally got their love and attention. And I didn't get punched.
When you listen to the song, check out the background singing by Steve Earle.
Oh, and also notice the small references to Jon Benet and OJ.
Listen here.
TEXAS
If you're upset at your loved ones
Or you're just mad at mankind
Or you just need some money
Or the great horned one gave you a sign
Well, you can go to Ohio
Certainly go to Brentwood
But do yourself a favor
Don't end up in Fort Worth
You better not kill in Texas
Whatever you do
You better not kill in the lone star state
They just love to kill you
Even if you had a bad childhood
Or your daddy messed with you at night
Even if you're real sorry
Even if you're pretty or white
Even if you say you love Jesus
Or the doctor says you're real sick
Well, you can get off in Boulder Colorado
But they'll fry your ass in Lubbock
You better not kill in Texas
Whatever you do
You better not kill in the lone star state
They just love to kill you
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Hey -- this guy's sentence was commuted to life in prison today, pretty much on the grounds Jill Sobule was proposing. Congrats Jill!
Great song--love Steve Earle.
Bush and Gonzales--trying to eliminate death row appeals.
God help us.
Love the song, don't know the details on this newstory! Do know that under Bu$h as Gov they did put alot of folks to death. Don't get me wrong, but I say if you did the crime, well you do the time (or in this case) you pay with your life. Too bad California lets these folks on death row go on year after year, appeal after appeal. It's turned into a big warehouse!!! If you are still reading this post, yes I am for the death penalty.
No offense wizardfkap, but the argument you make is pure sophistry -- just one more example of a "law and order" argument comprised of waving the bloody shirt of victim's rights to confuse the issue. Because of course none of us who oppose the death penalty are actually in FAVOR of the crimes perpetrated against society by criminals, but nor is random street violence an equivalent of state-sponsored killing. The innocent who are victims of crimes are just that: victims. The death penalty is different because it's institutional violence -- cold, clinical, and legal, and exercised not as a transgression against society but with the full force and "majesty" of social sanction. Murder makes a criminal of the murderer. The death penalty -- performed in the name of society at large -- makes a murderer of you and me.
Jill, I'm a huge fan and I play your music (some listeners would say "excessively") on my internet radio station, Wizard Radio. I'll certainly join in your efforts to keep Kenneth from the death chamber.
But, as both a Texan and a liberal, I believe you really missed the point in your Fort Worth concert. The audience definately didn't miss your point. They got it and we Texans all get it. But you don't.
There are two sides to every crime. Don't think for even one second we don't have the worst of all death penalties in every state of the union. We kill innocents every hour of every day! We kill them without a trial and, generally, for no crime. Tens of thousands (you read that number right) suffer the death penality every year.
They were simply in the worng place at the wrong time. They were victims of robberies gone mad, domestic violence, planned murders, gang violence, police abuse, and hundreds more reasons.
But they are ALL DEAD. They all suffered the death penality.
While I agree with you, the government shouldn't be adding to the death toll through institutionalized executions, Texans do want justice. They want criminals to pay for their individual selfish decisions to inflict the "death penality" upon the innocent.
They tire of only the innocent being subject to the death penality.
the majority of murders are not committed after a cool calculation. Rather they are instances where someone feels another person deserves to die. Cheating spouse, anger over unfair treatment etc. One element in our country seems to insist on the death penalty. the use of the death penalty by society confirms that sometimes people deserve to die and that there would be something WRONG in not killing them. So when that so and so gets caught cheating or etc. there is no inhibition to giving him/her what he/she deserves and in fact there is societal encouragement to kill. that is why the death penalty does not have an overall deterrent effect. It encourages as many murders as it discourages.
You're a wonderful musician, Jill - something that many out there try to be. Tell me, will you have any shows in NC in the near future?
Love your songs, Jill... an offbeat, on target, most creative addition to the Huff Post.
So, if Our Congress finds the evidence or there gets to be prosecutions of High Crimes against Bush, Cheney, Rove, Rummy, Gonzales, Gates, Baker, Bush43, and all the other Bushite Fascists they need to be conducted while they are Residents of Texass? Is that what you are reccomending? (sounds like a plan to me)
Of the people Bush helped execute, were any of them rich? I don't know the answer to that one, but given what we now know about him, I rather doubt it.
he appears to have all the traits of a sociopath.
this may be why he and his wife get along so well considering her background with her boyfriend.
lets just say i doubt that neither one loses sleep over dead soldiers and iraqis.
today on tucker i heard his guest call the iraqis trying to kick us out of their country enemies.
i was raised thinking we were the good guys and now i see good an bad are very subject.
wanted to join the marines and kill the bad guys. thanks god i passed on that one.
we have become an imperialist nation and most americans dont have a clue.
even the media is part of the imperialism.
did he really mock a person about to die?
Well said, Desiderata.
It's been a perfect storm for the shrub, don't you think?
I mean, here we have a schoolyard bully who has always had money, priviledge and the ability to get out of every jam without consequences.
He gets selected by the supremes to be the president of our nation.
A few short months later, 9/11 happens.
The country falls into "fight or flight". The country needs a daddy figure to protect them.
His team of criminals understands this basic human reaction and exploits it to the max.
6 years later, we still have 29-30% of Americans who think he's an honorable man.
It's simply amazing to me that ANYONE believes anything that comes out of his lying mouth.
They need to revise his jacket to read TWPEOTUS: the worst president EVER of the united states.
"Please, please don't kill me," George Bush mocked the doomed Carla Faye Tucker on 60 Minutes.
More than anything else I learned about GBjr, his clear appreciation of his power to decide whether someone will live or die made me see the evil in his overly-privileged soul.
So his detachment from the deaths of our sons and daughters he sent to war has been no surprise to me.
Only a very exclusive club of the "haves and have mores" are worthy of his mercy, and, of course, the few who work for him.
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