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bolanrox t1_iuxnzra wrote

well it is a no nuke protest song..

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Hypertension123456 t1_iuxu2ut wrote

What better way to protest against the proliferation of devastating nuclear weapons than purchasing a Ford and signing up for the U.S. Army?

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Jk2two t1_iuxwfsk wrote

Other than “I study nuclear science…” where is the anti nuke protest in the lyrics? Or is this what the band has said?

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bolanrox t1_iuxy6l7 wrote

he has said the future was so bright because of nuclear holocausts. and the scientists are in high demand to make more bombs.

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Jk2two t1_iuxyy2l wrote

Ha! Well, I know art can be abstract but… it’s hard to make a powerful statement if they’re being that vague.

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bolanrox t1_iuxzevu wrote

they cut a bunch of the really dark stuff for being too obvious. though there are some versions out there (according to the wiki page).

Other not so obvious ones being: Everybody walk the Dinosaur, 99 Luft Balloons, and Melt with You.

They cannot all be as straight shooting with their message as Sun Ra.

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Jk2two t1_iuy1hek wrote

Sure, but with the exception of anyone reading up on the song, everyone thinks it’s an upbeat song about graduation, world is your oyster kind of stuff. And while I appreciate their clout in denying the sellout now, they sold out long ago when they cut the more controversial stuff in order to be more radio-friendly…

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TrowAway2736 t1_iuzc7ee wrote

No clue why you're getting downvoted; your points seem pretty valid to me.

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Jk2two t1_iv0xedf wrote

It’s probably all of the guys in Timbuk 3

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attorneyatslaw t1_iuxy59f wrote

They wound up cutting all the lyrics that made it clear what it was actually about.

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JauntyTurtle t1_iuxy2qy wrote

It's what the writer of the song said. It's about a smart guy who studies physics and ends up building a bomb that wipes out humanity. (Most of that doesn't come out in the song, I'll grant you.) The thing that's so bright is the bomb going off.

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