Drone music, sorta

November 19, 2011 4:06 PM

Throughout time immemorial, songs of patriotism, such as Darryl Worley's "Have You Forgotten?" are a staple of countries at war. Our ballads root for our soldiers to come back safe and sound to families and sweethearts, but who sings the tale about the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, the autonomous drone that pines for the vending machine it left at home? Only the evil ghost of Johnny Cash does.

As performed by UCB's Matt Besser.

posted by Blazecock Pileon (37 comments total)

This isn't the first music about a piece of military equipment.
posted by tomswift at 4:24 PM on November 19, 2011 [3 favorites]

this is just fabulous
posted by Bwithh at 4:30 PM on November 19, 2011

This isn't the first music about a piece of military equipment .

No indeed.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 4:35 PM on November 19, 2011 [2 favorites]

It's no Lili Marlene, that's for sure.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 4:48 PM on November 19, 2011 [1 favorite]

That's an interesting comment. Why doesn't a machine (or the people controlling it) that does what a human soldier or pilot does but without endangering that soldier's life and, theoretically, fewer civillian lives earn the people's adoration? Were people ever behind the purpose of wars, or was the only accessible understanding of that war through the people they knew or perceived a relation to that physically fought that war? Is the only difference between hawks and doves whether one relates to the killer or the killed?
posted by cmoj at 4:50 PM on November 19, 2011

Is the only difference between hawks and doves whether one relates to the killer or the killed?

That's not enough?
posted by Trurl at 4:54 PM on November 19, 2011 [2 favorites]

Is the only difference between hawks and doves whether one relates to the killer or the killed?

It's funny because the robot death machine is in love with a Coke machine, and then there's a patriotic country song about it, on top of that.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 5:00 PM on November 19, 2011

That's not enough?

Not for hawks, anyway.
posted by clarknova at 5:03 PM on November 19, 2011

That's an interesting comment. Why doesn't a machine (or the people controlling it) that does what a human soldier or pilot does but without endangering that soldier's life and, theoretically, fewer civillian lives earn the people's adoration? Were people ever behind the purpose of wars, or was the only accessible understanding of that war through the people they knew or perceived a relation to that physically fought that war? Is the only difference between hawks and doves whether one relates to the killer or the killed?

I believe there's been some cognitive dissonance for decades now, in the US anyway, on the part of people who were pretty sure they didn't like what their leadership was doing overseas, but still saw the soldiers as pawns (or collateral victims) rather than collaborators. Machines don't get this human-level sympathy and are simply seen as tools of a government out of control.
posted by Bokononist at 5:07 PM on November 19, 2011

Big fan of Besser, but this isn't really landing for me. IMHO, this is one of the best contemporary anti-war songs I've heard in a decade:

"Do not bother with Congress, with the rich or with the rest.
I fought their battles in this war; I'll not fight for them in the next.
Do not find me justice. Just find me a grave.
And bury me far from my uniform, so that God might remember my face."
- Joe Pug
posted by The White Hat at 5:30 PM on November 19, 2011 [2 favorites]

*fought their battles in this world, that is.
posted by The White Hat at 5:30 PM on November 19, 2011

“The object of war is not to die for your country but to make the other bastard die for his.” - General George S. Patton
posted by oneswellfoop at 6:19 PM on November 19, 2011

Oh, OK, we're posting "best anti-war songs"? I'm voting for Phil.
posted by tomswift at 7:05 PM on November 19, 2011

Blood thought he knew the native mind;
He said you must be firm, but kind.
A mutiny resulted.
I shall never forget the way
That Blood stood upon this awful day
Preserved us all from death.
He stood upon a little mound
Cast his lethargic eyes around,
And said beneath his breath:
'Whatever happens, we have got
The Maxim Gun, and they have not.'
posted by A Thousand Baited Hooks at 7:10 PM on November 19, 2011 [2 favorites]

...we're posting "best anti-war songs"?

The Fiddle and the Drum

Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye

Last Train To Clarksville
posted by flapjax at midnite at 7:28 PM on November 19, 2011

Here's a nice ditty about a piece of equipment...
posted by Renoroc at 7:53 PM on November 19, 2011 [1 favorite]

I've listened to "Last train to Clarksville" a million times... and I never connected it with Nam... wow...
posted by tomswift at 7:59 PM on November 19, 2011

Sort of about a piece of military equipment. I don't even know what's going on here.
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 8:07 PM on November 19, 2011

Predator Drone Court-Martialed For Afghani Civilian Deaths.
posted by Apropos of Something at 8:14 PM on November 19, 2011 [1 favorite]

Many vets have joined the OWS movement, this drone could do the same.
posted by homunculus at 8:30 PM on November 19, 2011

The Monkees weren't about music, tomswift. They were about rebellion, about political and social upheaval!
posted by Sweetmag at 8:53 PM on November 19, 2011 [4 favorites]

They were about rebellion, about political and social upheaval!

So true. But people said they Monkee'd around.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 8:57 PM on November 19, 2011 [1 favorite]

Another song about a piece of military equipment (and its operator)
posted by hattifattener at 11:54 PM on November 19, 2011

Machines don't get this human-level sympathy and are simply seen as tools of a government out of control.

Hence the importance of dehumanizing soldiers as a part of training for maximum effectiveness in battle.
posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing at 11:58 PM on November 19, 2011

Naming of Parts (at steef's Henry Reed site)
posted by pracowity at 12:32 AM on November 20, 2011

...we're posting "best anti-war songs"?

Shout out for Eric Bogle (via the Pogues)
posted by PeterMcDermott at 2:21 AM on November 20, 2011 [2 favorites]

Sassoon is revolving in his grave.
posted by GallonOfAlan at 2:24 AM on November 20, 2011

Vidal's dead? Say it ain't so!
posted by PeterMcDermott at 2:46 AM on November 20, 2011

Shout out for Eric Bogle (via the Pogues)

And let's not forget what Arthur McBride had to say to the sergeant and corporal who tried to recruit them for their foreign wars!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 4:07 AM on November 20, 2011

Love Dylan's version, too.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 4:10 AM on November 20, 2011

Don't forget Springsteen's version of Mrs McGrath.
posted by ZsigE at 7:42 AM on November 20, 2011 [2 favorites]

I've always liked 'With God On Their Side.'
posted by box at 9:39 AM on November 20, 2011

I Was Only Nineteen - John Schumann
posted by the man of twists and turns at 10:27 AM on November 20, 2011

Peter Watts has a fine story about drones at war, "Malak".

Heck, it's on Ask MeFi.
posted by doctornemo at 2:56 PM on November 20, 2011

Either Michael Jackson sang a shit load of anti war songs, or wikipedia is lying to me.

Unrelated to Jackson, but on the anti-war theme, here's a bit of 80's nostalgia for you.
posted by seanyboy at 4:58 PM on November 20, 2011

The Pogues
posted by Mental Wimp at 9:21 PM on November 20, 2011

Sorry, my bad, PeterMcDermott.
posted by Mental Wimp at 9:24 PM on November 20, 2011