End of a (Youth) Era

Well, it’s official: I am no longer a youth. On the upside, neither am I a tool. Phew. In honor of my vanished youth, here’s a song from 1981 by guys even older than I am. It’s “Youth of America” by the Wipers, which has been in my head since that Mission of Burma show. My apologies to Reagn Youth, Sonic Youth, Youth Youth Youth, Youth of Today, Wasted Youth, both Youth Brigades, and Youth Gone Mad for not chosing their lyrics to celebrate this occasion. As is often sadly the case, these lyrics from over 20 years ago have lost none of their relevance.

Youth of America

Is living in the jungle

Fighting for survival

But there’s no place to go

Youth of America

There’s pressure all around

The walls are crumbling down

The walls are coming down on you

It is time we rectify this now

We got to see it now

Got to see it now, now, now

They attack you from the right side

Down the left side

Down the middle till you don’t know who you are

Stay around, think it don’t really matters

There trying to put you 6 feet under the ground

It is time we rectify this now

We got to feel this now

Got to feel now, now, now

It is time we rectify this now

We got to heal it now

Got to heal it now, now, now

Youth of America

Is living in the jungle

Fighting for survival

But there’s no place to go

No place to go

No place to go

The rich get richer and the poor get poorer

Now there’s no place left to go

Got to get off of this rot

Do you want to be born here again?

I don’t want to be born here again

This just ain’t no existence

Beware of those guys in disguise

We’re living in the jungle fighting for survival

Can’t wait much longer

Hurry

They’ll attack you from the right side

Down the left side

Down the middle till you don’t know who you are

Stay around, think it don’t really matters

There trying to put you 6 feet under the ground

It is time we rectify this now

We got to hear it now

Got to hear it now, now, now

Youth of America

Youth of America

Youth, youth, youth, youth, youth

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