https://youtu.be/GpAUDOI24Oo
Oh no, not a Kamala Harris song. Isn’t she the world’s greatest Supertramp?
Well the FBI “Took the long way home”.
And sadly it seems despite a galliant effort...
“Rudy’s on a train to nowhere.”
One of the greatest bands of the last century.
Now they're planning the crime of the century
Well, what will it be?
Read all about their schemes and adventuring
Yes, it's well worth a fee
So roll up and see
How they rape the universe
How they've gone from bad to worse
Who are these men of lust, greed and glory?
Rip off the masks and let's see
But that's not right, oh, no, what's the story?
But there's you and there's me
That can't be
You bloody well right!
Many of the lyrics can be used by those of us Patriots who wonder where our country went>
Early in the song, after an excerpt from crowds cheering an Adolph Hitler speech, there is the ringing of Big Ben and several short excerpts from Sir Winston Churchill's June 4, 1940 'Never Surrender' speech. ("...we shall fight on the seas and oceans..., we shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be..., we shall never surrender...")
The lyrics then begin:
History recalls how great the fall can be
While everybody's sleeping, the boats put out to sea
Borne on the wings of time
It seemed the answers were so easy to find
"To late, " the prophets (profits) cry The island's sinking, let's take to the sky
Called the man a fool, striped him of his pride
Everyone was laughing up until the day he died
And though the wound went deep
Still he's calling us out of our sleep
My friends, we're not alone
He waits in silence to lead us all home
To me, the song, as recorded, speaks of how the British people, soon after the end of WWII, tossed aside one of their greatest leaders in history, the man who, almost single handedly, through sheer force of willpower, kept them in the battle, alone (except for the colonies and former colonies) against the Nazis, until finally the US joined the fray.
The parallels to the current situation with PDJT are so many. Against incredible odds, almost through sheer willpower alone, he brought the US back to greatness, a shining city on a hill. Tossed aside, like yesterday's burger, ridiculed for speaking truth, he's STILL calling American citizens to MAGA. Like the UK in 1940 and 1941, they faced alone, an enemy that seemed insurmountable (like the 'deep state's' control of voting machines and the levers of power). Still, PDJT is, as the song says, 'he's calling us out of our sleep'
To me, though this song is about Churchill, THIS is the PDJT Supertramp song!
You just had to do that...now I have to go dig out my cd...which is in the car dammit...
Crime of the Century is one of my all time favorite albums, Even in the Quietest Moments very close behind. Not a weak song on either.
My band has recently been playing “ Downstream” the rare occasions we play these days. Just keyboards and guitar, I transposed the piano solo to guitar an octave lower. We had “Breakfast in America” going pretty well and did it onstage at least 20 times but my voice just can’t handle the Roger Hodgson stuff any more. We love his song “Had A Dream (Sleeping with the Enemy)”, but way too much for 3 guys and I can’t even get close to his vocals any more.
We’ve tinkered with a few other songs too, Take the Long Way Home, Logical Song, Give A Little Bit and another I can’t remember. I can sing the Richard Davies songs but forget the Hodgson stuff like Babaji and Dreamer. 30 years ago I could do those too. Not any more.
I’ve had to drop several Eagles and America songs too, including a couple I’d love to keep. How many bands even attempt things like Seven Bridges Road, In the City or New Kid in Town? We put those and plenty more on our set list. Still doing the Doobies song “Black Water”. Not easy for a 3 piece to do a song they did with 6 people and no telling how many overdubs. Dropped Ukiah and Captain and Me a while back too.
I’m mostly retired now, they get me to drag out my gear about 3 times a year or so. Tube amps are not light. After pneumonia 2 1/2 years ago I’m not in great shape, COPD kicking my butt, can’t breathe well enough to sing much.
I’ve been a big fan of Supertramp since 76, first time I heard “Bloody Well Right”. Friend had the album, one listen and I grabbed a copy. I have the exact same Wurlitzer Electric piano used on that song and most of their stuff. Some was a grand piano too, both Hodgson and Davies are two of my favorite piano players, Davies is probably one of the very best anywhere. Hodgson can play piano, Davies is a piano player. Don’t know if that makes sense but...
Everything on “Crime” is just great, especially the title track. “Rudy” is phenomenal. I listened to the whole album literally every day for several years, still have most of the lyrics to both albums memorized.
OK now I gotta go listen to Crime of the Century...here goes an hour I’ll never get back...or want to...