“Do Not Consider Yourself Free.” Dharma-punk?
Kin, one of the Horse’s two brothers from another mother, recently pointed out some lyrics from the band Embrace. Embrace were, essentially, Ian MacKaye — previously of Minor Threat, and later, of Fugazi — backed by three former members of fellow 80’s/DC hardcore pioneers, The Faith. The pointing-out was aimed at the track, “Do Not Consider Yourself Free.”
Take a look:
I didn’t want to see people
Hurting people
But I refuse to close my eyes
So in front of me
I see ugly people
Seething and believing ugly
Lies
And yes, of course, I’m
Scared of being hurt
And yes, of course, I’m
Scared of being wrong
But at the same time my silence
Will convict me
And the evil will carry on
If I can do some good
I want to do it
If I have a choice
I want to make it
It’s my human responsibility
That life lives
Selfishness gives
And death becomes natural
So you can stay cool behind
Your window
And choose the view
You want to see
But as long as there are
Others held captive
Do not consider
Yourself free.
Now, don’t get me wrong — I am in NO WAY suggesting that this is a “Buddhist” song, or that MacKaye and company are or were Buddhists. Not at all. But still: is it just Kin, and me, or are these lyrics a wonderful take on the Bodhisattva’s Vow?
And more importantly: what songs do you know of, Buddhist-created or not, that inspire and uphold your practice?
8 Comments »
RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URL
Leave a comment
February 3rd, 2009 at 12:30 am
I knew Ian and his girlfriend Cynthia well when I was living in DC. I always considered them natural Buddhists.
February 3rd, 2009 at 7:26 am
Brilliant…I might actually go and buy this album now.
Most music today, including punk, has very little meaning other than “I gots to get mine”. It gives me hope to see that it isnt all that way.
February 3rd, 2009 at 7:44 am
i would HIGHLY recommend it. i grew up listening to a lot of 80’s era DC stuff, but somehow this album passed me by (except for the song “Building”). when my friend turned me on to it the other day, i couldnt believe I’d missed it. it’s fantastic; really holds up.
February 3rd, 2009 at 8:45 am
This is very strange…. I was listening to this CD yesterday….. I would also recommend his band The Evens….
February 3rd, 2009 at 1:06 pm
Love the lyrics. Found a video of the band performing this song. Check it out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlNgOaXYJmE
February 3rd, 2009 at 2:32 pm
Great find, Alice. Thanks!
February 4th, 2009 at 4:05 pm
Embrace was one of my favorites in highschool, but I never considered there dharmic quality. Another song from that era that came to mind is “The Hidden Wheel” by Guy Picciotto’s pre- Fugazi band “Rites of Spring”. Enjoy!
It never seemed that close to me
No it never seemed all that much to see
But now it feels so real
feels so real to me
But now it feels so much
Feels so much to see
Is this the,
The first time
I’ve seen the color of this room?
Is this the,
The first time?
Yes, I had a taste but I did not swallow
And if I went it was just to follow
And now a question was asked of me
But now there’s a question being asked of me
Is this the,
The first time
I’ve seen the size of these walls?
Is this the,
The first time?
Yes.
Now
I’m the angry son
Everything I’ve learned was wrong
I’m the burning door
Once I’m opened I can’t be closed
I found a hidden wheel
And it rolls to reveal that
I’m the angry son
I’m the angry son
February 5th, 2009 at 7:20 am
His brother Alec was in a band called Ignition that used the eternal knot as a graphic.
http://www.dischord.com/images.d/release/image/6644/088.jpg
Which I take to be absolute proof that the whole family are Buddhist fundamentalists (and probably violent with it).