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