❤️ 🎶 Rambling On with Brother Lefty Smith, S.O.B.* 🎶

Washed Away
Words and Music by Brother Lefty Smith, S.O.B*

The storms clouds were a-gathering
Some folks knew there'd be a day
That the levees of New Orleans would wash away.
For years, engineers voice their fears in vain
A killer hurricane would deal death and pain
And they cried "dam it"now
They'll just wash away
Wash away

But their voices went unheeded
Guess that money was needed someplace else
To buy tax cuts for the rich folks on the hill
And to buy more bombs and bullets
Send kids overseas
Chasing WMD's
And I'm on my knees

Crying damn it now

They just washed away

Washed away

And I don't like pointing fingers
But the question lingers on
What the hell went wrong
They knew this all along
And damn it now
Lives washed away
Washed away

So, the storm clouds finally gathered
And some folks had no choice but stay
As the levees washed away
If you were just too old
Or poor and black
No one had your back
It seems they just lost track
And damn it now
They just washed away
Washed away
Washed away

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My Humble Take on the Real Deal

I believe that the movement for peace, economic democracy and social justice is a Spiritual Quest. No mean feat, what is called for is a True Revolution of the Heart and Mind--and it starts with each of us.

This revolution has to be Peaceful. The Hippies (and Jesus and Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. King, et al) had it right. It really is all about Peace and Love. Besides being a total drag, violence just doesn't work. It keeps our wheels spinning in fear, anger and pain. Who needs that?

Besides some hard work, I think the Revolution also calls for dancing, plenty of laughter, and some sitting around just doing nothing. (Some folks call it meditation.)

As Stephen Gaskin, proclaimed years ago:

"We're out to raise Hell--in the Bodhisattvic* sense."

Doesn't that sound like some serious fun?

(*The Bodhisattva Vow is a set of commitments made in the Mahayana Buddhist tradition. It basically says I vow to get my act together and figure it out well enough to really help out--and I ain't gonna stop until everybody is covered.

I've found that doesn't necessarily have to happen in that order. It's best to try to help out even before you have it all together! Like right now.)

-----Brother Lefty Smith, Founding S.O.B*

"I think the hippies had it right. It IS all about Peace and Love. I came to realize, though, this is easier said than done. Living a life of kindness, clarity, and compassion takes effort, discipline and patience.

I also came to realize that, contrary to what we had been led to believe in a capitalist society, "rugged individualism" is a dangerous distortion of reality. It denies that fact that we are, each of us, connected to everyone and everything else. So, Peace and Love are relational, a collective experience. None of us can really get it together independently.

So, as Mahatma Gandhi and Dr King showed the world, finding others to work with, rolling up your sleeves, and engaging in non-violent political action is a freakin' no-brainer.

What else is there to do? "
--Brother Lefty