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The Rodeway Nine

The Covered Wagon Musicians
Language: English



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[1972]
From "We Say No To Your War!"
wesayno
words by Mark Lane and Jim Shaffer
music by Jim Shaffer

Outside the Rodeway Inn where the Boise Chamber of Commerce were honoring General Westmoreland in August, 1971. Nine Covered Wagon members were arrested for "disturbing the peace" and three others charged with "interfering with the police." This song played an important part in the state-wide campaign to win an acquittal for them. After the charges were finally dropped, some of the defendants filed charges against the police on behalf of the Covered Wagon.

The song "The Rodeway Nine" referenced the My Lai Massacre, Lyndon Baines Johnson (LBJ), and General Westmoreland. Composed by Mark Lane and Jim Shaffer, the record booklet said the following about this song: "outside the Rodeway Inn where the Boise Chamber of Commerce were honoring General Westmoreland in August in 1971. Nine Covered Wagon members were arrested for 'disturbing the peace' and three others with 'interfering with the police'. This song played an important part in the state-wide campaign to win an acquittal for them. After the charges were finally dropped, some of the defendants filed charges against the policy on behalf of the Covered Wagon". So in the lyrics a group of Vietnam veterans confront Westmoreland - commander of US forces in Vietnam, 1964-1968 - holding him responsible for the massacre: "we pointed to the general, take him before others die, he was in charge of Johnson's My Lai".
(Spoken)
What do we want? PEACE.
When do we want it? NOW.
PEACE NOW. PEACE NOW. PEACE NOW.

(Chorus:)
What do we want?
Peace not sorrow.
When do we want it?
Now, not tomorrow.

Boise's biggest, Boise's best
The place to dine, the place to rest.
300 rooms, a banquet hall
Convention center, but not for all.

One day in August in '71
Businessmen met, businessmen's fun
Westmoreland was their honored guest
For soaring profits he's the best

The wine they sipped, the general's brand
Turns into blood on foreign lands.

What do we want?
Peace not sorrow.
When do we want it?
Now, not tomorrow.

From Mountain Home, 40 miles or more
Said we won't fight your fucking war
The guests were simply horrified
With the chants . . . not genocide

L-shaped pool, governor's room
Tinted water, Westmoreland's tune.

What do we want?
Peace not sorrow.
When do we want it?
Now, not tomorrow.

They came to seize the criminal
We pointed to the general
Take him before others die
He was in charge at Johnson's My Lai

What do we want?
Peace not sorrow.
When do we want it?
Now, not tomorrow.

They came with chains to end the song
But chains could never right the wrong
Nor jail cells, change their stand
While children die in other lands
(Repeat Chorus)

Brother did you obstruct police
Sister did you disturb the peace
Mothers, fathers, sons and daughters
We defend the peace, disturb the order.

They came to wish each other luck
There is no crime to pursue the buck
Swine did not bother those who dine
Instead they took the Rodeway Nine.

What do we want?
Peace not sorrow.
When do we want it?
Now, not tomorrow.

Rita, Carolyn, Maria and Penny
We are many
Peyton, Tom, Mike, Mark and Joe
We will grow.

What do we want?
Peace not sorrow.
When do we want it?
Now, not tomorrow.

Contributed by Alessandro - 2008/11/14 - 09:17




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