Fahrenheit Moore or Less

Michael Moore has been making some claims – mentioning me by name - which I believe distort the truth.

He says – among other things – that I refused to allow him to use my song WON’T GET FOOLED AGAIN in his latest film, because I support the war, and that at the last minute I recanted, but he turned me down. I have never hidden the fact that at the beginning of the war in Iraq I was a supporter. But now, like millions of others, I am less sure we did the right thing.

When first approached I knew nothing about the content of his film FAHRENHEIT 911. My publisher informed me they had already refused the use of my song in principle because MIRAMAX the producers offered well below what the song normally commands for use in a movie. They asked me if I wanted to ask for more money, I told them no.

Nevertheless, as a result of my refusal to consider the use, Harvey Weinstein – a good friend of mine, and my manager Bill Curbishley – interceded personally, explained in more detail to Bill what the movie was about, and offered to raise the bid very substantially indeed. This brought the issue directly to me for the first time. Bill emailed me and told me how keen Harvey and Michael Moore were to use my song.

At this point I emailed Bill (and he may have passed the essence of what I said to Harvey Weinstein) that I had not really been convinced by BOWLING FOR COLUMBINE, and had been worried about its accuracy; it felt to me like a bullying film. Out of courtesy to Harvey I suggested that if he and Moore were determined to have me reconsider, I should at least get a chance to see a copy of the new film. I knew that with Cannes on the horizon, time was running short for them, and this might not be possible. I never received a copy of the film to view. At no time did I ask Moore or Miramax to reconsider anything. Once I had an idea what the film was about I was 90% certain my song was not right for them.

I believe that in the same email to my publisher and manager that contained this request to see the film I pointed out that WGFA is not an unconditionally anti-war song, or a song for or against revolution. It actually questions the heart of democracy: we vote heartily for leaders who we subsequently always seem to find wanting. (WGFA is a song sung by a fictional character from my 1971 script called LIFEHOUSE. The character is someone who is frightened by the slick way in which truth can be twisted by clever politicians and revolutionaries alike). I suggested in the email that they might use something by Neil Young, who I knew had written several songs of a more precise political nature, and is as accessible as I am. Moore himself takes credit for this idea, and I have no idea whether my suggestion reached him, but it was the right thing to do.

I have nothing against Michael Moore personally, and I know Roger Daltrey is a friend and fan of his, but I greatly resent being bullied and slurred by him in interviews just because he didn’t get what he wanted from me. It seems to me that this aspect of his nature is not unlike that of the powerful and wilful man at the centre of his new documentary. I wish him all the best with the movie, which I know is popular, and which I still haven’t seen. But he’ll have to work very, very hard to convince me that a man with a camera is going to change the world more effectively than a man with a guitar.

We’ll be fighting in the streets
We’ll be fighting in the streets
With our children at our feet
With our children at our feet
And the morals that they worship will be gone
And the morals that they worship will be gone
And the men who spurred us on
And the men who spurred us on
Sit in judgement of all wrong
Sit in judgement of all wrong
They decide and the shotgun sings the song
They decide and the shotgun sings the song

I’ll tip my hat to the new constitution
I’ll tip my hat to the new constitution
Take a bow for the new revolution
Take a bow for the new revolution
Smile and grin at the change all around
Smile and grin at the change all around
Pick up my guitar and play
Pick up my guitar and play
Just like yesterday
Just like yesterday
Then I’ll get on my knees and pray
Then I’ll get on my knees and pray
We don’t get fooled again
We don’t get fooled again

The change, it had to come
The change, it had to come
We knew it all along
We knew it all along
We were liberated from the fold, that’s all
We were liberated from the fold, that’s all
And the world looks just the same
And the world looks just the same
And history ain’t changed
And history ain’t changed
’cause the banners, they are flown in the next war
’cause the banners, they are flown in the next war

I’ll tip my hat to the new constitution
I’ll tip my hat to the new constitution
Take a bow for the new revolution
Take a bow for the new revolution
Smile and grin at the change all around
Smile and grin at the change all around
Pick up my guitar and play
Pick up my guitar and play
Just like yesterday
Just like yesterday
Then I’ll get on my knees and pray
Then I’ll get on my knees and pray
We don’t get fooled again
We don’t get fooled again
No, no!
No, no!

I’ll move myself and my family aside
I’ll move myself and my family aside
If we happen to be left half alive
If we happen to be left half alive
I’ll get all my papers and smile at the sky
I’ll get all my papers and smile at the sky
Though I know that the hypnotized never lie
Though I know that the hypnotized never lie
Do ya?
Do ya?

There’s nothing in the streets
There’s nothing in the streets
Looks any different to me
Looks any different to me
And the slogans are replaced, by-the-bye
And the slogans are replaced, by-the-bye
And the parting on the left
And the parting on the left
Are now parting on the right
Are now parting on the right
And the beards have all grown longer overnight
And the beards have all grown longer overnight

I’ll tip my hat to the new constitution
I’ll tip my hat to the new constitution
Take a bow for the new revolution
Take a bow for the new revolution
Smile and grin at the change all around
Smile and grin at the change all around
Pick up my guitar and play
Pick up my guitar and play
Just like yesterday
Just like yesterday
Then I’ll get on my knees and pray
Then I’ll get on my knees and pray
We don’t get fooled again
We don’t get fooled again
Don’t get fooled again
Don’t get fooled again
No, no!
No, no!

Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!
Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

Meet the new boss
Meet the new boss
Same as the old boss
Same as the old boss

I have watched as our so-called `fellow countrymen` have taken treason to new lows. Trying to make us fail the most important test of our time; Freedom in the Middle East.

I have watched as our nation has grown weary of the fight from constant bombardment of negative liberal press even though it has been the single greatest and most important military victory of our time. Not to mention the incredibly low casualty rate compared to other fights of freedom. (not to diminish a single life)

I have watched as our `Political correctness run-a-muck` society beats itself up over slightly rough interrogation of terrorist murderers who laugh at our weakness.

I have watched as if I had no stake in it all. But then I watch my children playing and realize that they also are the so-called infidels that these animals want to kill.

I have watched enough. I created the image below to combat the propaganda offered by the left. If they don`t want to help with the problem then let them get out of the way.

And lest we forget what we are dealing with:

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