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Was This 20th Century Song A Foresight To The Modern USA?

"When the world comes in, they come, to build a wall between us, we know they won't win."

Jan 30, 2017

Was This 20th Century Song A Foresight To The Modern USA?

"Don't Dream It's Over" is a song written by Neil Finn from the Australian rock band Crowded House. It was released in 1986, so it is safe to say that it is a really old song. It topped charts at the time and has been rerecorded dozens of times by other artists and was even featured on Glee.

I rediscovered the song not too long ago, specifically a version sung by Miley Cyrus and Ariana Grande, who are a surprisingly incredible vocal combination. Listening to the lyrics caused me to tear up as I realized that there are so many parallels in the song to what can be seen now in the United States.

The chorus speaks of an attempt to "build a wall between us." Build a wall? This is just too easy. In the second verse, the lyrics reference how it is far too easy for us to ignore suffering and injustice and get sucked into the world of pop culture. Even our current president is a pop culture star. How did we let that happen...? This song really inspires me to move forward and never give up. "We know they won't win."

But don't just take my word for it; give the lyrics a read and see if they evoke any familiar feelings in you.

There is freedom within, there is freedom without
Try to catch the deluge in a paper cup
There's a battle ahead, many battles are lost
But you'll never see the end of the road
While you're traveling with me

Hey now, hey now
Don't dream it's over
Hey now, hey now
When the world comes in
They come, they come
To build a wall between us
We know they won't win

Now I'm towing my car, there's a hole in the roof
My possessions are causing me suspicion but there's no proof
In the paper today tales of war and of waste
But you turn right over to the T.V. page

Hey now, hey now
Don't dream it's over
Hey now, hey now
When the world comes in
They come, they come
To build a wall between us
We know they won't win

Now I'm walking again to the beat of a drum
And I'm counting the steps to the door of your heart
Only shadows ahead barely clearing the roof
Get to know the feeling of liberation and release

Hey now, hey now
Don't dream it's over
Hey now, hey now
When the world comes in
They come, they come
To build a wall between us
We know they won't win

Don't let them win
(Hey now, hey now, hey now, hey now)
Hey now, hey now
Don't let them win
(They come, they come)
Don't let them win
(Hey now, hey now, hey now, hey now)

To me, this is a song of sadness and of hope, and it is going to be the anthem of my fight for justice in this country.

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