Kiss The Ring (a song for John McCain's magically disappearing principles)

We thought John McCain might want something to listen to as he chucks his principles out of the bathroom window of the Straight Talk Express each time he capitulates to some figurehead of the religious right or hires one of the people who slandered him in 2000 to advise his campaign.

Enjoy Kiss the Ring, our song about McCain's dwindling integrity and the clip we cobbled together for it.

Max and the Marginalized is the only rock band in the progressive blogosphere, and therefore the best one! They write and record a song a week and post them here. Go to their outposts on Facebook or MySpace for tour dates. Right click this and select "save link as" to download this song.

Kiss The Ring

There's a space at the table for everyone
From the crackpot fringe to the favorite sons, bring them in
Bow down and kiss the ring
Cozy up to the zealots and disown their quotes
From the hellfire preachers to the talk show hosts bickering
Kiss kiss, kiss the ring

Sign all the checks to the bottom of the deck
if it deals you a hand you can win
And I know it's just as well that a special place in hell
it can wait if they can help you get in
The purple hearts and silver stars that got you where you are
No they won't add up to a thing
'Cause all the guards on patrol in the circles that you roll
Will never ever let you make it anywhere unless you kiss the ring
Kiss the ring

Peeling off the cover of the old façade
If you can't beat them then give them a job, yes it's odd
The very same thugs that did you in
There's a reputation that you might've once deserved
Before the Straight Talk Express hit Dead Man's Curve
Even though I never agreed with you on much of anything

Put the bus in reverse as your principles disperse
And let the big games begin
Say goodbye to your code as you move on down the road
It won't do shit for you from here on in
The purple hearts and silver stars that got you where you are
No they won't add up to a thing
So Senator, it's time, let them kick you down the line
I hope that you don't mind the taste of metal 'cause it's time to kiss the ring
Kiss the wrong

I'm crossing your name off the list of people I respect but still disagree
If you expand your ranks to the likes of them it'll never include the likes of m
Of course I want you to lose, but maybe just maybe with some dignity
But it don't matter much how you do it, as long as you do
It'll be just fine with me

Sign all the checks to the bottom of the deck
if it deals you a hand you can win
And I know it's just as well that a special place in hell
it can wait if they can help you get in
The purple hearts and silver stars that got you where you are
No they won't add up to a thing
'Cause all the guards on patrol in the circles that you roll
Will never ever let you make it anywhere unless you kiss the ring
Kiss the ring

Comments

[mamacat]

There was a time, back during the cold war, when we criticised the Communist states for embracing the old Machiavellian policy of "The ends justify the means."
It seems to me that today many in our own country are too easily lured into adopting the tactics of what we used to call the Evil Empire.
Thus Sen. McCain, when he embraces torture, and Karl Rove's dirty tricks, and permanent tax cuts for the wealthiest of Americans, and immoral and illogical invasions, is showing that he too is part of the Republican generation that believes that the ends really do justify the means.
It appears to me that Sen. McCain has lost his principles, as well as his reasoning faculties.

[SpencerKent]

Great song, really interesting vibe. Love the song structure and the verse especially.

You are a master at putting lyrical ideas together.

Well done, indeed. One of your best

[SonnyBono]

"Straight Talk Express"??? - back home, most folks say that nick-names you give to yourself don't amount to much of anything.

[TonalCrow]

And exactly what Ring is it that McCain is kissing? Probably this one:

http://z.about.com/d/politicalhumor/1/0/Q/K/bush_lordoftherings.jpg

[Jacky1]

Wonderful job! I enjoyed it!

[pchdriver]

Another winner, Max. Love the imagery of the Straight Talk Express hitting Dead Man's Curve.

Bummed I had to miss the Knitting Factory show...good luck with the tour!

-- Christian Gulliksen