Bearing that in mind, the parallels between the 60’s and now are worrying.
Picture the scene:
1968
America, which in terms of society is yet young, has displaced the native population and imposed a gestalt of mores and conventions brought from other countries. The meld is less than two centuries old and USA is struggling to formulate both a national identity and its place in the world. The country is unified but suffers from lack of true integration. It has begun its expansionist/colonial phase by taking on, unasked, the role of world policeman, using its own values and standards as a yardstick.
The USA is in Vietnam, just prior to the Tet offensive, communism is the great enemy and the domino theory prevails. Martin Luther King and Malcolm X have been assassinated and the (civilised) world is growing a conscience, led by the younger generation. Flower power abounds and the reaction to the austerity and values of the post-war years is in full swing. One of the leading groups of the day; The Beatles, returns from meditation and withdrawal and issues the White Album. Recreational drugs were freely available to many. Amongst the many tracks are
The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill
And
While My Guitar Gently Weeps
See lyrics at
the-beatles.lyrics-songs.com/lyrics/79468/ (Bungalow Bill)
and
the-beatles.lyrics-songs.com/lyrics/188/ (Guitar)
In order to understand the values behind the songs, one must understand the references within it.
Bungalow Bill
‘Bill’ – old Bill – policeman
see www.met.police.uk/history/oldbill.htm for more info
‘Bungalow’ – a disparaging term meaning (he) has nothing upstairs. Other allied phrases – the lights are on but nobody is in. ie Of low intelligence or stupid.
‘Tiger hunting with his elephant and gun’ – a direct reference to colonial India. Mostly partaken for sport and to rid the area of a danger.
Bungalow Bill is referred to as ‘all American bullet-headed Saxon mother’s son’
The whole is masked within a rather catchy, simple tune and delivered tongue-in-cheek, although there is no doubting the message berating America for her direct interference and the imposition of western values in an eastern society by use of main force.
Guitar weeps
There are no obscure references here, but the metaphor is unmistakeable.
Today the enemy is not communism, but terrorists particularly Islamic fundamentalists, characterised as highly organised, well-funded organisations with tentacles reaching into every country and at every level. Where then is 007? Again the USA casts itself as the policeman to the world and is in Iraq and Afghanistan. The concern of the world has turned to the environment, rather than issues of freedom and rights. No leading musical group issues warnings masked as songs.
Of course, I could have just made all of this up, what do you think?
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