As a young person it always vexed me that humanity saw a need to inflict suffering upon one another. 'Why we can't just live in peace?' is a dilemma that has vexed greater minds than mine.
I recall as a child being upset by legends that involved conquest and death. Always seemed they involved such a waste of life. The stuff of nightmares. Those childish thoughts of ancient... but violent... tales, were behind the strange title of this adolescent anti-war song, "Hagen and the Griffins (Chewing dead frogs)." I think I was around 13-14 years old when I first wrote the words. The music came a little later as I was attempting to teach myself guitar. (Older friends may remember my first guitar "Eric"... that's another story! lol)
Recorded on my trusty Teac A3340 tape deck, by a much younger me, many moons ago it sadly still resonates with the warring madness that continues in the 21st century.
I still hate the fact we need guns. I hate that we need weapons to fight against each other. I hate the fact that we have not evolved as a species into rational beings who can reason their way out of conflict. It is hard to understand how, when the simple prescription, 'Love thy neighbor' is continually being offered to us, for generation after generation, we manage to evade it and ignore it.
The planet has enough for us all. But we don't care. We won't share. We have to be right and we have to be in charge. So we inflict suffering upon each other. And upon creation. And we put up with it and say nothing can change.
So here's to all who are doing the little things that make a big difference. Here's to the peacemakers. Here's to the helpers and those who pay it forward. Here's to those who refuse to be molded by values that are destroying us all. You tip the scales by adding one little weight at a time.
Hagen and the Griffins (Chewing Dead Frogs)
Adrian J Pratt 1973ish
Hey, What's going on?
Why all the bombs?
Why all the pain and agony?
Who started it?
Who'll finish it?
Will it finish?
Strange isn't it?
Doesn't it make you sick?
Doesn't it make you sick?
Politicians become senseless.
The people become restless.
Everyone sits by and lets it happen.
What can they do?
Who'll do it?
And when will it be done?
Strange isn't it?
Doesn't it make you sick?
Doesn't it make you sick?
Hey, What's going on?