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Peace E​.​P. (reissue)

by Jason Luckett

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1.
Democracy at the Point of a Gun 02:47
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democracy at the point of a gun in this city 5 million strong rain down bombs i'm fifteen years young don't see much sand i hate the sun kill me so i can help you you are who they say you are we do what you say i will self fulfilling irony war brings peace? tell me how you'll kill me so i can help you how do you win peace through war mp3 says "i need love!" many concerns one guitar peace is sexy love goes far kill me so i can help you? shock and awe shock and awe ... a mantra of a damaged heart i pray for you because of you many deaths may come true what can i do but love love love and speak my truth democracy at the point of a gun my city was 5 million strong it doesn't really matter who holds the gun there's another one gone another one gone Jason Luckett, © Lucky Masala Head
2.
The Art of Jerry Boykin 02:07
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You’ve lost your morals You’ve lost your values…and My God is bigger than yours My God is bigger than yours! My God is real Yours is an idol We are Christians and Jews The enemy’s a guy called Satan They hate us because we’re a Christian nation One nation under God On crusade to stamp out all Evil Let’s roll, let’s roll, let’s roll I’ve no trouble saying I’m born again And you’re with me or you’re against me Not men, but God, put this man in power We’ll win in the name of the Lord (Jesus) (Jesus, we’ll win in your name) We’re in the Army of God In the house of God In the kingdom of God And we… Have been raised for times like these. Jason Luckett, © Lucky Masala Head
3.
Sand, No Ocean 03:22
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"Look at all this sand and there’s no ocean— I guess we’ll have to surf in the sand, guys!" Pause in silence La Cañada It wasn’t supposed to happen this way I always ask my children their wishes Before they head out overseas The soil of Arlington holds honorable remains And we felt that he deserved that "Look at all this sand and there’s no ocean—" Duty is the family business He played football He played tuba for the band West Point wanted him like his sister before And we felt that he deserved that 'Look at all this sand and there’s no ocean—" He was just driving through Fallujah On the day of his fate They say the bomb was improvised He was one of six local lives "Look at all this sand and there’s no ocean—" Jason Luckett, © Lucky Masala Head
4.
...Children 03:17
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wake me up from the soundest sleep with strength enough to stand and sing my heart is breaking to hear the truth and we are missing 6000 children and we know why yet they dare not say why some men think it's an even trade my heart is breaking to hear the truth and they are missing 6000 children an eye for an eye and an eye for that eye 'cause that man thought you just weren't right an eye for an eye and the blind fight the blind enraging youth caught in the fire my heart is breaking to hear the truth and we are missing too many children Jason Luckett © Lucky Masala Head

about

Released some time in 2006, I think....

These songs were my attempt to stay sane as the Iraq war began. I'd posted roughly a song a day from 1/19/03 until 3/24/03 just trying to engage in a dialogue, and it encouraged some surprising conversations, for which I'm very grateful. Now in 2022, witnessing Russian atrocities, I feel the same horror as I did witnessing the "shock and awe" of 2003. Peace is complicated, but it's what we must achieve.

"Democracy at the Point of a Gun" was featured in Dawn Westlake's film, "68 & Clear." Wonder where she go that title...? :)

Original Liner Notes (2006):

Watching the Abu Ghraib prison abuse hearings, I got sick to my stomach. The images, the grandstanding, all cast me into a sense of despair. The words "plausible deniability" kept coming into my head. That week I also read an article in the LA Times discussing Stephen Cambone, the Under-Secretary for Intelligence, which mentioned his Deputy Under-Secretary, Army Lieutenant General William G. (Jerry) Boykin. Remembering his artful words it frightened me. I need to write about this stuff as it happens or I'll go mad. So I've been keeping my own sort of song journal. That's what these pieces represent.


I try to get into the head of the participants to understand what I'm feeling. That's where "Democracy at the Point of a Gun" comes from. I imagined these secular kids who've been heavily influenced by Western music and what they thought of nations that created their heroes coming to drop bombs on them. The kids I imagined were probably more influenced by Morrissey than Britney, but you know there is a diversity out there....

I even tried to get into the head of Jerry Boykin. Really, though, this was more in the performance than the words. The words are nearly all quotes from Boykin or GWBush, or at least my paraphrasing them as I imagine someone could interpret them out of (or in) context. (I recently had a discussion with a friend who called Bush and his cronies "evil" and I don't think even in that context it's useful to use words of religious connotation. From my own Christian indoctrination I've never lost the belief that everyone can be forgiven, saved, or whatever terminology you may use. And only God can judge that. Which is why I oppose the death penalty in all circumstances, and have a real tough time with the issue of "just wars"...another idea that is religious in its overtone. But this is another discussion...)

"Sand, No Ocean" is a piece of reportage where I read the story of a young man killed on Halloween last year in Fallujah. He was a moral leader of the troops, making surf from sand to bring his guys back to thoughts of their Southern California homes.

"Children" is from the APFH disc and was my first reaction to September 11, written that afternoon. I just can't see how the eye for an eye will ever really work in bringing about a real peace. And what amazed me so much was that our response to terrorism was a campaign that began with "shock and awe." What is the purpose of shock and awe other than to terrorize? Just another strange choice in the (semantic) world of GWBush.

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released October 21, 2022

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Jason Luckett Los Angeles, California

Jason’s performed music and read his work worldwide from the LA Library to the Glastonbury Festival. Joyfully obliterating his own comfort level, he writes, sings, and plays to break down barriers between cultures and genders with compassionate honesty. His new album is Document:Freedom:Spring (Live). ... more

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