David Vance SubstackRead More
I must have heard “Born in the USA” by Bruce Springsteen a million times and at NO POINT did I ever consider the lyrics racist! Turns out some think otherwise!
That iconic 1984 hit has reportedly been censored by the UK radio station Absolute Radio due to a lyric now considered offensive! Seriously!! The track, from the multi-platinum album of the same name that has sold over 30 million copies worldwide, features the line “to go and kill the yellow man” in its verses. Check it out here. it comes after 1 minute in!
This phrase, referring to Asian people during the Vietnam War context, is viewed by pious lunatic as a derogatory racial term. According to reports, Absolute Radio—owned by Bauer Media—will bleep or edit out the words “yellow man” when playing the song on air.
It comes shortly after BBC Radio 2 altered the mighty Spice Girls’ 1997 song “Spice Up Your Life” by removing the word “yellow” from the line “yellow man in Timbuktu” for similar reasons. (1m 31secs in)!!
Back to Springsteen. You see, I assumed that everybody knows that despite its anthemic chorus and patriotic-sounding title, “Born in the U.S.A.” is actually critical of American society. Springsteen sings the song from the perspective of a disillusioned Vietnam War veteran facing alienation, unemployment, and broken promises upon returning home. It is a very poignant song in many ways as it highlights themes of racism, economic hardship, and the human cost of war. But some clown at the dour faced Absolute Radio knows better!
This creeping censorship should be mocked and resisted at ALL times. There is nothing in that Springsteen song that needs bleeped out, and the same with the Spice Girls!
The MOST annoying bit of all this woke lyrical revisionism affects MY favourite song of all time .. “Oliver’s Army” This lyrically dense and clever song uses the term “White Nigger” which has NOTHING to do with black people. (1m 10 seconds) and has been bleeped from the BBC.
The lyrics sweep around the world but the controversial lyrics relates to a slang term for Catholics back then. Such is the grief Costello got that he now sings the song with new lyrics, and they aren’t as good as the old lyrics. Judge for yourself;
“There was a Checkpoint Charlie
He didn’t crack a smile
But it’s no laughing party
When you’ve been on the murder mile
Only takes one itchy trigger
One more widow, one less white nigger”
And now…
“They say that times are changing
And peace on Earth has come to pass
Although the war is raging
They say each war will be the last
Send our boys back to Enniskillen
There’s a robot army does all the killing”
It is good but the original is better. That said, Costello has the final say!
Why can’t they just leave well alone and let us judge whether we like the words?
