Watch: A Moving Video About Our Current Political Climate

I saw this new video last night and simply had to share it here. Regardless of whether you support Trump, Hillary, or neither, this song carries a strong message. It’s a new song called “All That I Require,” from longtime singer-songwriter Radney Foster.

Written as if spoken by any number of power-hungry politicos throughout history, the song is packed with moving phrases. Perhaps the most powerful is the song’s final verse:

Your skin-and-bones grandchildren, they won’t ask me the tale
I’ll be buried ‘neath the rubble after my last scheme has failed
No, you’re the ones they’ll blame for their orphaned world that bleeds;
for all those days you slept instead of learning from history.

To me, it stands as an anti-war and anti-authoritarianism warning (the video calls it “a cautionary tale”). Throughout history, “leaders” have consolidated power and squashed the rights of citizens by fearmongering and waging war, doing exactly what the U.S. government has been doing for years, which is continuously presenting another enemy to citizens and using the resulting fear to expand government power, even while using those citizens as soldiers to fight the wars that perpetuate the process.

That’s my opinion, anyhow.

But because of certain phrasing in the song (“I’ll make us strong again”), some folks assume the song is anti-Trump (“make America great again”). But when someone suggested that on his Facebook page, this was Mr. Foster’s reply:

I felt I was trying to write past, present, and future. I never quote Mr. Trump. I quote Stalin, Mussolini, Hitler, and Franco. I believe when extremist language and view creep into our political discussion we all lose. That said I strongly believe in the first amendment.

My real motive was that we all look at that carefully, not just for this election but our future elections as well.

The song is presented in a powerful video. Here’s what the YouTube description says:

The voices of fascism are ringing loudly in our politics today. This is a cautionary tale from history.

“All That I Require” (Radney Foster)

Performance video: Craig Landshoot.
Editing: Cyndi Hoelzle

Newsreel footage in the public domain. Footage contains scenes from life under Mussolini, Stalin, Hitler, Franco, as well as footage from the Japanese internment camps in the US and photos of current Syrian refugees.

Here are the full lyrics of the song (all rights to which are owned by Radney Foster), and the video is below so you can watch and listen for yourself. Feel free to let us know what you think of it.

We’ve been insulted boys, and we must not hesitate
They’re different and they’re dangerous, deserving of our hate
so follow me, and I’ll whip all your fears into a fire
I’ve got all the answers; I’m the whore that you desire

Those neighbors who talk funny, well I’ll make them move away
and the ones who disagree? We’ll put them in their place
Those malcontents, muckrakers, protesters in the street
won’t make you feel uncomfortable — I’ll lay ’em at your feet

I’ll make us strong again, you’ll sleep safely in your beds
I’ll rain down Hell upon those dirty mongrels’ heads
Your pantries will be full and your fath will be inspired
and the blood of all your children is all that I require

I’ll seduce your anger, and I’ll massage your pride
you’ll feel so good at first, when I take you for a ride
but I told you who I am, and when it’s too late to resist
remember you’re the one who chose this scorpion to kiss

I’ll make us strong again and you’ll sleep safely in your beds
I’ll rain down Hell upon those dirty mongrels’ heads
Your pantries will be full and your fath will be inspired
and the blood of all your children is all that I require

I’ll always need new enemies so you’ll always need me
New fears and distractions, to tantalize and tease
Your pantries will be emptied for the glory I desire
You see, the blood of all your children is all that I require

Your skin-and-bones grandchildren, they won’t ask me the tale
I’ll be buried ‘neath the rubble after my last scheme has failed
No, you’re the ones they’ll blame for their orphaned world that bleeds;
for all those days you slept instead of learning from history.

Russ Chastain

Editor & Contributing Writer Russ Chastain is a lifelong hunter and shooter who has spent his life learning about hunting, shooting, guns, ammunition, gunsmithing, reloading, and bullet casting. He started toting his own gun in the woods at age nine and he's pursued deer with rifles since 1982, so his hunting knowledge has been growing for more than three and a half decades. His desire and ability to share this knowledge with others has also grown, and Russ has been professionally writing and editing original hunting & shooting content since 1998. Russ Chastain has a passion for sharing accurate, honest, interesting hunting & shooting knowledge and stories with people of all skill levels.