America's Youth vs. Big Government

Since I’ve become engulfed in the freedom movement, my liberty senses have been finely attuned to all things which question tyranny.  Whether comments made by people in passing, music, or cinema, I seem to be more receptive to messages which embrace individualism and reject collectivism.

To my pleasure, one of my favorite bands, Spock’s Beard, recently released an album, X, with a great libertarian song, ‘Their Names Escape Me.’  Spock’s Beard is an epic progressive rock band who has been on the music scene for almost two decades.  Their musicianship has always been top notch; blistering guitars, sweeping vocal harmonies, and symphonic arrangements, but their lyrics have always been hit-or-miss.

The Beard’s record label went under before the recording of X and instead of shopping around for a new contract, they decided to take pre-orders from fans for a special edition of the new album while they were recording it.  They used this money to finance the production of their record, and in homage to those who dedicated money to the special edition, Spock’s Beard wrote their names into a song.

Instead of simply dropping some bland names on top of a basic chord progression, they opted for a more creative approach.  The result is ‘Their Names Escape Me,’ which is a Orwellian tale of a dissident being forced to reveal the names of those who have committed treason against the “nation.”

The protagonist wants to resist, but understands the little power he will ultimately have over the great extortion of the “oracle,” and asks for forgiveness if he is unable to maintain silence.  He is tortured, and the rest is musical genius.

This song presents a frightening look into the sort of thought control that could be exerted on sovereign citizens by their oppressive and out of control government if deemed dangerous by the state.  In Beard’s world, nothing is safe, even the valuable ownership of private consciousness, which the tyrants will go to great lengths to retrieve.  In today’s reality, one where the Patriot Act is supported by both major parties, I can’t help but wonder, “how far away are we from this?”

Listen to ‘Their Names Escape Me’ here. Lyrics are as follows:

Stand said the oracle and speak the truth
All we want is information
Tell us the names of every traitor who
Took up arms against the nation

In my mind are faces
In my hands I hold their destiny
I will pray forgiveness
If their names escape me

Fear not the iron fist that found your door
Said the only god that matters
Here you are helpless in this holy war
With your fragile web in tatters

In my mind are faces
In my hands I hold their destiny
I will pray forgiveness
If their names escape me

Brought to this place
Stripped of my innocence
Praying for providence
This isn’t where I belong
I protest all of the evidence facing me
God save their souls