I Am A Patriot

I first heard this song being sung by Jackson Browne and Little Steven off of a Bruce Springsteen "Vote For Change" Tour compilation. I really dug it. After some research I was pleasantly suprised that Little Steven wrote it... though Jackson Browne and Pearl Jam have got some great milage out of it -- which is very cool, too.

Little Steven Van Zandt...

What can I say? The man's as cool as Steve McQueen...

He's a brother of The Boss...


He's an activist ("aint gonna play Sun City" was his idea)...
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And he's friends with Tony Soprano.


Anyway, it's a great song.

And in these days, when I look forward and all I can see is another four long years under the thumb of the Smirky McChimp, it's songs like this one that steels my resolve and helps me carry on. To me, that's when rock music is at it's greatest - when it lifts you up.
I am a Patriot.

"And the river opens for the righteous (5 times)
Someday

I was walking with my brother
And he wondered what's on my mind
I said what I believe in my soul
Ain't what I see with my eyes
And we can't turn our backs this time

I am a patriot
And I love my county
Because my country is all I know
I want to be with my family
The people who understand me
I've got nowhere else to go

And the river opens for the righteous
And the river opens for the righteous
And the river opens for the righteous
Someday

And I was talking with my sister
She looked so fine
I said, "Baby, what's on your mind?"
She said, "I want to run like the lion
Released from the cages
Released from the rages
Burning in my heart tonight"

And I ain't no communist
And I ain't no capitalist
And I ain't no socialist
And I ain't no imperialist
And I ain't no democrat
And I ain't no republican
I only know one party
And it is freedom

I am, I am, I am
I am a patriot
And I love my country
Because my county is all I know

And the river opens for the righteous
And the river opens for the righteous
And the river opens for the righteous
Someday

And the river opens for the righteous"

"I Am A Patriot", Steven Van Zandt, 1984.

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