Monster
In 1970 the Canadian/American band Steppenwolf released a themed album titled Monster. It was one of the first gatefold-covered ’70s concept albums, with a real concept running through all the tracks (unlike, say, Sgt. Pepper’s…), and the topic was politics. The band had already tackled politics before in tracks like "The Ostrich" and "Don’t Step on the Grass, Sam" in between the other songs of groovy love and "heavy metal thunder." But this entire album was going to lay it out on the table, and whack the listener over the head with a message of social and economic liberalism. It’s hard to imagine a mainstream band attempting this today, or even being capable of it. (There was Rage Against the Machine, but who could understand them? And had they just had a Top Ten hit on their previous album?)
The album leads off with the 9+ minute track "Monster - Suicide - America." In theory this is a suite of 3 different songs, but I don’t imagine there are many people lifting the needle after the first 3 or 6 minutes. It works as a whole song, and what a song! It basically lays down a summarized history of the country and inspires the upcoming generation to do better with a stirring coda. We can surmise that the Clintons and the Dubya were too into Fleetwood Mac (or cocaine) around this time to notice.
"Monster - Suicide - America" - John Kay and Jerry Edmonton, copyright 1969
Once the religious, the hunted and weary
Chasing the promise of freedom and hope
Came to this country to build a new vision
Far from the reaches of kingdom and popeLike good Christians some would burn the witches
Later some got slaves to gather richesBut still from near and far to seek America
They came by thousands, to court the wild
But she just patiently smiled and bore a child
To be their spirit and guiding lightAnd once the ties with the crown had been broken
Westward in saddle and wagon it went
And till the railroad linked ocean to ocean
Many the lives which had come to an endWhile we bullied, stole and bought a homeland
We began the slaughter of the red manBut still from near and far to seek America
They came by thousands to court the wild
But she just patiently smiled and bore a child
To be their spirit and guiding lightThe Blue and Grey they stomped it
They kicked it just like a dog
And when the war was over
They stuffed it just like a hogAnd though the past has its share of injustice
Kind was the spirit in many a way
But its protectors and friends have been sleeping
Now it’s a monster and will not obeyThe spirit was freedom and justice
And its keepers seemed generous and kind
Its leaders were supposed to serve the country
But now they won’t pay it no mind
Cause the people grew fat and got lazy
Now their vote is a meaningless joke
They babble about law and order
But it’s all just an echo of what they’ve been toldYeah, there’s a monster on the loose
It’s got our heads into the noose
And it just sits there watchin’The cities have turned into jungles
And corruption is stranglin’ the land
The police force is watching the people
And the people just can’t understand
We don’t know how to mind our own business
‘Cause the whole world’s got to be just like us
Now we are fighting a war over there
No matter who’s the winner we can’t pay the cost‘Cause there’s a monster on the loose
It’s got our heads into the noose
And it just sits there watchin’American, where are you now
Don’t you care about your sons and daughters
Don’t you know we need you now
We can’t fight alone against the monsterAmerican, where are you now
Don’t you care about your sons and daughters
Don’t you know we need you now
We can’t fight alone against the monster
