One of my commitments as an artist is to write a song a month. Although I may eventually do more, preparing for the Leap Day Hootenanny tonight and my Seamus O’Day and the Irish Way performances in March has already got me pretty well stretched. So this month, I kept it simple.
I wanted to write a song that spoke to the ignorance of duality, and how the same mentality the Bible says got humanity booted out of paradise, chewing on the knowledge of good and evil, is what we are basing our politics on. Obviously, I can’t do that without a bit of satire.
My housemate Don asked me how I would feel if this song contributed to people not voting. I hope that it doesn’t contribute to that. In actuality, I hope the song becomes a rallying cry for ranked-choice voting and helps work toward the decimation of the Democratic and Republican parties.
But for now, I hope it’s something people like to dance to.
Please let me know what you think in the comments below. Thanks!
KEEP IT SIMPLE, STUPID
In the early days of planet Earth, in the seat of paradise
Adam had it good with Eve his wife
Spending all day naked
Eating what they liked
There’s no way they could have had a better life
But a snake he came a calling
And said that all ain’t good
You ain’t yet met evil but you should
So he made a big fruit salad
Filled with the knowledge he bestowed
And chewing on that good and evil cost their souls
He said, you don’t need paradise
You can cuss and fume and whine
Your eternal bliss is just a waste of time
Keep it simple stupid
There’s only good and bad
They’re the only choices that you’ve ever had
Keep it simple, stupid
There’s only right and wrong
Your choice is just as simple as this song
So keep it simple and stupid
Four score and seven years ago plus a hundred fifty more
The founding fathers opted to keep score
The parties were established and everyone picked sides
And truth decided to go run and hide
They weren’t quite ready for democracy and opted for republic
When you’re on a team, you don’t even need a stomach
Your decisions are made for you
Whether you pick red or blue
It saves so much time deciding what to do
Keep it simple stupid
Life is just a game
You’ve always got somebody else to blame
Keep it simple, stupid
there is us and there is them
anything more complex would be mayhem
So keep it simple and stupid
You don’t have to worry ’bout your conscience
You don’t have to worry bout no facts
Too much thinking tends to get obnoxious
Just pick a side and let your judgment lapse
Keep it simple, stupid
You got no need to think
No need to think that you’re the missing link
Keep it simple, stupid
We got the system that we got
No need to give it another single thought
You got right and left, red and blue, conservative and liberal
Republican or Democrat, the vital and the trivial
There are just so many options
In our choices between the two
We never have to worry what to do
Just pick your next defender in the battle we have chosen
Your masters gave you two options
It’s not like your will is frozen
There’s no need for integrity
There’s nothing you need to know
You can vote any way you want to
Provided, for the status quo
Keep it simple stupid
Just play your little role
You’re sure to get a fair price for your soul
Keep it simple, stupid
Just don’t rock the boat
It may not matter who you vote for when you vote
But keep it simple and stupid
