I Remember (It’s Happening Again)
December 22nd, 2007 | by Scott |Last week when I did my top 20 albums of the year the new Griffin House LP “Flying Upside Down” finished in at #4. I made the statement then that “this album has the best anti-war song of the year hands down in ‘I Remember’.”
I wasn’t able to provide a link to the video for the song at the time because there wasn’t one. But my blog friend Greg has noticed that a version has just been posted on YouTube.
I Remember (It’s Happening Again)
(Griffin House)
Well my grandpa fought in World War 2, my uncle fought in ‘Nam
My father was too young he went to school and met my mom
Her dad always told us stories around dinner time
And there’s one he told when I was young that sticks out in my mind
He said 10 years after daddy taught me about the birds and bees
I was stranded in Pearl Harbor fighting the Japanese
When the kamikaze pilots came and dove in without warning
I was on the Arizona on a warm December morning
I remember when I was a younger man
We were solders fighting in a foreign land
Now I’m older and it’s happening again
It was hard to have forgiveness for the things they did that day
And our president decided we should make their people pay
So we dropped on Nagasaki and we cut them down to size
And the one we drop on Hiroshima left them vaporized
And I heard some Christians say “What would Jesus do?”
What if you were on the wrong side would he point the gun at you?
And they read through every word of Matthew, mark, Luke and john
So they could see if killing was the side that Christ was on
I remember when I was a younger man
We were solders fighting in a foreign land
Now I’m older and it’s happening again
They separate the church and state and keep god out of the schools
So our governments can educate based upon their rules
But people start to wonder if our politics make sense
When religion is our best excuse for national defense
And when our citizens start to saying that our wars are not ok
And Washington keeps telling them “God loves the USA”
They teach us history so we can learn from our mistakes
And this generation wants to know how many years it takes
To change the way we treat our neighbors all across the land
‘Cause if we don’t change our hearts, we repeat the past again
I remember when I was a younger man
We were solders fighting in a foreign land
Now I’m older and it’s happening again
(Instrumental break)
When my grandpa finished talking, we went walking he and I
I was thinking of the future and how scared I was to die
Now my best friend’s overseas in the desert where it’s dry
Fighting for our country and I need a reason why
I remember when he was a younger man
Now he’s a soldier fighting in a foreign land
Now we’re older, God bring him home again.
—————-
Now playing: Darden Smith - Boy
via FoxyTunes
28 Responses to “I Remember (It’s Happening Again)”
By Robin on Dec 22, 2007 | Reply
Here’s a reason - I don’t want to live in the dirt or wear a burka.
By Justin on Dec 23, 2007 | Reply
Jesus lived in that exact dirt you reference Robin.
How one can hear that song and not be convicted, I just don’t understand. I guess what Jesus says only matters if it doesn’t affect my life at all, right?
By Doug Freeman on Dec 23, 2007 | Reply
I thank God I am free, because of the brave. Fighting for our freedom is NOT anti-God. In the beginning God gave man domain over everything. He wants us to be free and fighting for that freedom. If a nation values anything more than freedom, it will lose its freedom. Freedom is the coin of realm in the kingdom of human worth and dignity, and the coin has two sides. On one side is the inscribed the rights and priveleges of free men. On the other side is the responsibilities. If you don’t believe this your coin is counterfeit. I agree with Robin.
By Justin on Dec 23, 2007 | Reply
I also thank God I am free, because its through him that my freedom comes. Not through armies or governments. Whether I’m living under Hitler, Stalin, GWB, or Jefferson. My freedom comes from Christ.
Now, I’m a Libertarian, so I’d imagine that our definitions of freedom differ, in a purely secular way, Mr. Freeman. I think secular freedom means being able to do drugs, being able to not wear a seat belt, basically being able to do anything that doesn’t infringe on the rights of others that the Constitution deems to be granted by our Creator.
But the truth of it is this. In a world without God, maybe killing people can make me “free”. And in a secular world, maybe that makes sense. But because we, as Christians, believe in a Resurrection, our freedom comes from that alone. I’m free from anyone who thinks that have dominion over me, any of the Kingdoms of the world. Any terrorist, any fascist, any communist. I am free because I know that there is life beyond death, so no matter how I’m threatened, I will follow in the footsteps of the one who paved the way for me. I will willingly lay down my life, rather than kill to preserve it.
By Jonathan on Dec 23, 2007 | Reply
Doug,
I’d appreciate it if you would cite some of the scriptures that establish that God wants us to fight for our freedom.
By Doug Freeman on Dec 23, 2007 | Reply
Justin it would probably have been better if you lived under Hitler or Stalin. Then you would recognize the important aspects of living in this country.This country has been served by brave men who have defended your right to do your ranting.Until you have put on a uniform and served this country then you have no right to criticize those who have.
By Robin on Dec 23, 2007 | Reply
Well Justin - just because Christ lived in that dirt 2000 years does not mean I want to live in that dirt today. I think Doug is right. He remembers - he is part of the greatest generation. He remembers Hitler and Stalin - socialism and communisium. See when I read the words to that song I don’t understand how a whole generation has been raised that doesn’t get it. A generation that is so spoiled that it doesn’t appreciate the freedom and liberty that has been given to them by the deaths of thousands of fighting men and women. I don’t want to be turn Muslim or die. I don’t want my freedom to worship God like I did this morning in church be taken away. Sorry, Doug and I might be the minority on this forum, but Justin, to us, you just don’t get it.
By jasonk on Dec 23, 2007 | Reply
No surprise here, I’m with Doug on this one. My Uncle Ralph is about the closest thing to a grandfather that I ever had. I can’t describe in words what a great man that he is. Part of the greatest generation, he went to war as a young man, and did his part to liberate the free world. He gets mad when I call him a hero, because he does not think he is.
After VE Day, he was on a troop ship headed for Japan. Although he had never been in the infantry, they put him through six weeks of training, and his next stop was probably a beach on the Japanese mainland. The Japanese were so stubborn, refusing to surrender a war they had lost. If the Allies had not made the decision to drop those bombs, I would likely have never met my Uncle Ralph. Some people estimate that as many as one million Americans would have died in an attempt to bring the Japanese to the point of surrender, if not for the nukes. I hate that it had to happen, but I don’t see that there was any other choice.
Thanks to men like my uncle, Patty Griffin has the right sing songs critical of war. I’m glad for that.
By Justin on Dec 23, 2007 | Reply
I think I do recognize the important aspects of living in this country. Most notably, the fact that I can say whatever I want (unless it’s negative about the military, right) without fear of persecution. That is a tremendous blessing. I think people were made to be free. I think (and this is just speculation) that at judgment when the earth is put back to rights, that all will have the opportunity to make whatever decision they want, but still choose to make the right ones. Granted, none of us really know what heaven will actually be like.
However, to say I have no right to criticize soldiers because I haven’t served in the army is ridiculous. Both of my Grandfathers served, one of them in combat, in the closest thing to a justified war that we’ve ever had (WW2). We’ve had plenty of wars that were completely unjust, however, according to the Constitution that our soldiers swear an oath to uphold. The Constitution gives the power to declare war to the Congress for a reason, yet they have given that power to the President of the United States with disastrous results. Spanish American War, Korea, Vietnam, Lebanon, Somolia, Bosnia, Iraq… none of these wars were justified by our Constitution, none ended in Victory, and none protected my freedom to do anything I’m doing right now. If anything, they further empowered the executive branch to take away my constitutional liberties.
Because of my freedom, that comes from the Creator, not from the government or whatever wars it prosecutes, I have the right to say whatever I want about whomever I want. Its your mentality of troop worship and government worship that has destroyed the Republican Party, and turned it into a revamped version of a Truman Democrat. The state always has the best interests of its people in mind, and whenever it takes away liberty or prosecutes a war, if you are a true patriot, you must support it.
This type of statism is anti-liberty in every way shape and form. Not to mention that its completely unchristian to support the state when its actions are the antithesis of the Christian ethic.
By Justin on Dec 23, 2007 | Reply
How many Japanese don’t have an Uncle or a Grandfather… or don’t even exist, because of those two bombs.
Christians should look at things from a different perspective. One that sees each and every human life as precious as their most dear loved ones. Should the government have dropped the bombs? I don’t know. I wasn’t around when the decision was made. Maybe it was the best decision for the information that they had. Maybe it was the best decision for the world. But for God’s sake, it wasn’t a good decision. And if Christians in Germany had renounced their nationalism and followed Christ rather than Hitler, even if it meant their death in a concentration camp, maybe WW2 wouldn’t have happened.
By Scott on Dec 23, 2007 | Reply
Sigh, this is why I’m really thinking about giving this up.
Is it possible to have a discussion about matters of this sort without belittling others opinions? When we marginalize the opinions of others than there is no basis for a true discourse.
Do I get just war? Yeah, I do. Does that make me part of a spoiled generation because of my wanting to ask questions and make sure that my positions align with Christ? Absolutely not.
Those who hold to a just war position need those of us who hold to a non-violent position just as those of us who non-violent need the discussion from those who disagree with us.
Everybody has a right to question whether or not something is moral. That is NOT an American right but is an innate human right.
Is there nuance that might be overlooked in the above song lyrics? Probably so. But is it a discussion worth having that says we need to look at whether or not our wars are just and in line with the teachings and examples of Christ? Absolutely. And dismissing people out of hand and saying that they are spoiled, don’t get it, unchristian and do not possess the right to question is out of place.
God did not give us dominion over one another and so we best be sure that our positions are in line with that.
By Robin on Dec 24, 2007 | Reply
Everyone can question - my comments also question. Sometimes war is necessary, does it always have to be just? I’m not dismissing anyone out of hand - Justin doesn’t think I get it because I am not convicted by the lyrics to an anti-war song. Flashback to the 60’s - yick. Just how should this song “convict” me. Just because my opinion is different than the majority here doesn’t mean I’m not entitled to it.
By jasonk on Dec 24, 2007 | Reply
I got drawn into this same argument last year, Scott, and it made me really mad at Justin, because, like Robin, I didn’t think he understood. I still don’t think he understands, but that’s okay. We are all entitled to our opinions. What I have learned is that I will not be drawn back into this argument, because I am not sure that it is fruitful, at least no altogether.
Don’t dog Robin for saying that Justin is spoiled. He is. We all are. It is very difficult for those of us who have spent the majority of our lives in relative peace to understand the mentality of people who feel like they are driven to war. Not that we cannot ask questions, or debate whether it is just.
One thing Justin said brought a smile to my face, and I wanted to comment on it. If we were talking about this in person, it would have been much funnier, I think. As for the Japanese people who went without grandparents because we had the audacity to drop two atomic bombs on them, how dare we? How dare we drop atomic bombs on Japan, depriving them of so many future grandparents. How dare we make the decision to save American lives rather than the lives of our declared enemies. What were those 2600 men and women thinking when they threw themselves under those bombs at Pearl 60+ years ago? Why would those men throw themselves in front of those 20mm machine gun bullets being fired onto Hickham Field? We should have considered the selfishness of those men and women who carelessly and recklessly put their lives in harm’s way before we dropped those atomic bombs on them.
Merry Christmas everyone :>)
By Justin on Dec 24, 2007 | Reply
Look Jason, I’m just saying is it not possible that there were Japanese Christians who had no say in what was happening, and because of that, lost their lives?
Is it not possible, that Japanese Christians thought that God was on their side?
What I don’t seem to understand is why people can’t separate our government from the ethic of Christ. Just because our government does something that it deems necessary, does not mean that Christians should support it. At this point in time, our government deems it necessary to keep abortion legal. Should Christians support that?
Just because a war is “just” according to the just war theory (which in my opinion, is a nearly impossible sell, with ww2 being one of the few that’s close to meeting the criteria) does not mean that Christians cannot look at what happened and be prophetic about it.
We must stop equating America with God. We are Babylon. We are Rome. We’re the best one that human beings have come up with so far… but for all intents and purposes the government is not a redeemable structure. It exists solely to keep enough order that the Kingdom can multiply, and it exists as an arm of God for punishment… but we are foolish if we believe that because we think we are good and blessed by God, that our armies always do the right thing, or that God is always on our side. Sometimes, he might be using others to wake us up. Maybe if we’d been a little more interest in justice for the poor in the middle east, as well as spreading the gospel even when its dangerous, 9/11 wouldn’t have happened.
By Justin on Dec 24, 2007 | Reply
“war is necessary, but does it have to be just”
Robin, the only Christian theological understanding of war is the Just War Theory. So if you are a Christian, and you think a war is necessary, then it has to be “just” because otherwise it is “immoral”
By Scott on Dec 24, 2007 | Reply
I didn’t say that people didn’t have the right to question. Far from it. I appreciate the discussion but it can be done with hearing the other persons side.
I didn’t “dog” anybody but brought out the dismissive techniques that were made in several peoples comments including my dads.
With that said, I agree with Jason that it seems that these kind of conversations can no longer be productive. It’s as if we have two varying hermeneutics: one of violence and one of non-violence. If you approach it from those varying perspectives then it is hard to produce fruitful dialogue.
I would hope that we could get to the place where we can stop for a moment, look at the words of Christ and at least wonder whether or not our actions as a people truly take what he says seriously. And then approach the issue of war utilizing both sides, non-violent and just war, to continually strive to lessen our number of wars.
I agree with Justin that we as Christians need to be continually testing our doctrines, beliefs and practices to ensure that they are of God. Our government and our wars must not be above question. What if we were more proactive in being the salt of the earth? Could the Good News bear more long-term fruit than war? I can’t help but think that it could.
But, how about we let this go for another time. Let’s embrace the child of peace and say “Merry Christmas, everyone.”
By R-Liz on Dec 24, 2007 | Reply
Merry Christmas, folks. Peace be with you.
By Doug Freeman on Dec 24, 2007 | Reply
What does it mean to be free. I recall these words by General Douglas McArthur.This is what I long for.
Today the guns are silent. A great tragedy has ended. A great victory has been won. The skies no longer rain death.–the seas bare only commerce–men everywhere walk upright in the sunlight. The entire world is quietly at peace. The holy mission has been completed. And reporting this to you, the people,I speak for the thousands of silent lips, forever stilled among the jungles and the beaches and in the deep waters of the Pacific which marked the way. I speak for the unnamed brave millions homeward bound to take up the challenge of that future which they did so much to salvage from the brink of disaster.
Their sacrifice is what sustains me, along with my faith in God. I am continually concerned about our future. Many today holler tolorence. Tolorence is the virture of the man without convictions.
Merry Christmas to all.
By Jonathan on Dec 24, 2007 | Reply
Doug,
I don’t understand how you can advocate the virtues of freedom and intolerance in the same breath.
By jasonk on Dec 24, 2007 | Reply
Jonathan,
I wonder if you and Doug are not defining tolerance in different ways.
Some would say that if we were tolerant of others’ beliefs, we would never go to war. This may be true, although I suspect that we would still find a reason. It seems like a majority of the United States is tolerant toward Muslims, but they still attacked us.
But do we tolerate those things that are named specifically as sin by the Bible? If we do, than does it mean we have no convictions?
Just some thoughts.
By Jonathan on Dec 24, 2007 | Reply
jasonk,
Yes, we have been attacked by radical islamists, radical christianists, and radical atheists. I see none of the above as a reason to be less tolerant of others who are different than me.
Deja vu. See this post of mine from a year ago tomorrow. Listen to (stream for free) the This American Life episode 322 that I reference with its segment “Which One of These Is Not Like the Others?” and imagine how tolerated you would have felt in Serry’s shoes.
Yes, though I strive not to tolerate sin in my own life, I believe everyone should be free and tolerated to choose to sin (just like I am free to choose) while balancing, of course, the rights of others not to be harmed or have their rights infringed by that sin.
By Doug Freeman on Dec 24, 2007 | Reply
Jasonk, thanks for defining what i meant.I suppose that I am too soon old and too late smart according to some.
By Scott on Dec 24, 2007 | Reply
Wow, no one ever comments when I post a youtube video. I guess I need to include the lyrics in the future.
By len on Dec 26, 2007 | Reply
Great lyrics to this song. I don’t agree with all of the sentiment of the author, especially about WW2, but still appreciate what he is trying to communicate: war is horrible.
I live in Clarksville, TN, home of Ft. Campbell. At any given time there have been as many soldiers from Ft. Campbell in Iraq as any place in the US. Many of the guys, including some from my church, are on their third tour there. One of them is named Kevin. By the time he is 25 he will have spent half is post High School life in Iraq. I wish he didn’t have to be there. If that is what the songwriter is trying to communicate, then I completely agree.
By Scott on Dec 26, 2007 | Reply
I get the impression that the song is more about the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in particular than about WW2 in general and then drawing a parallel to current conflicts.
To me the message of the song is more about revenge and trying to make a biblical justification for retribution. The larger conflict of WW2 is unaddressed.
I think you are right that the message of the horrors of war is one that we should all agree on. War is horrendous and we should want all conflicts to cease. That is where those of us who understand the purpose of the Kingdom come in.
By Jonathan on Dec 29, 2007 | Reply
Robin asked:
To me, that question is like asking “do people always have to be righteous?” No, they don’t have to be (people can choose otherwise), but that is the ideal…and when they aren’t, the mark has been missed.
By Robin on Dec 30, 2007 | Reply
Jonathan - we don’t live in an ideal world nor do we live in a moral one. The majority of the world does not follow the rules. If they did, there would be no need for war.
By Justin on Dec 30, 2007 | Reply
Yes, you are right. But WE serve a God who calls us to the ideal, even at the cost of our lives.
Its not really practical to change the world by letting the authorities kill you. Much more practical to take over the government/s. But Jesus was killed and then left a small group of followers to change the world non violently. I think that’s our mission still today.