Student Demonstration Time
Song ratings
| Rating | Comments | Author | Date |
 |
Most Beach Boys fans absolutely abominate this song. Mike Love, wishing to create the sort of hardcase 'agitprop' song with which John Lennon filled his Sometime In New York City album, takes the old Leiber/Stoller song "Riot in Cell Block Nine", and adds his own lyrics which discuss the recent rash of college riots, particularly in Kent State University. Added to the angry vocal performance are background sounds of sirens blaring, and overall it's sort of shocking to listen to this sort of sound coming from a Beach Boys record! I stand apart from 99% of the Beach Boys fans, as I rather enjoy this song, and it's interesting that although Mike Love sounds angry and partisan in the song, he actually creates a lyric that doesn't seem to defend either side in the conflicts. | Bruce Beatlefan | November 17, 2008 |
Lyrics
[Based on "Riot in Cell Block Number 9" by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller]
Starting out with Berkeley Free Speech
And later on at People's Park
The winds of change fanned into flames
Student demonstrations spark
Down to Isla Vista where police felt so harassed
They called the special riot squad of the L. A. County Sheriff
Well there's a riot going on
There's a riot going on
There's a riot going on
Student demonstration time
The violence spread down South to where Jackson State brothers
Learned not to say nasty things about Southern policemen's mothers
Nothing much was said about it and really next to nothing done
The pen is mightier than the sword, but no match for a gun
Well there's a riot going on
There's a riot going on
Well there's a riot going on
'Cause it's student demonstration time
America was stunned on May 4, 1970
When rally turned to riot up at Kent State University
They said the students scared the Guard
Though the troops were battle dressed
Four martyrs earned a new degree
The Bachelor of Bullets
I know we're all fed up with useless wars and racial strife
But next time there's a riot, well, you best stay out of sight
Well there's a riot going on
There's a riot going on
Well there's a riot going on
Student demonstration time
Stay away when there's a riot going on
Student demonstration
Stay away when there's a riot going on
Student demonstration
Stay away when there's a riot going on
Student demonstration
Stay away when there's a riot going on
It's student demonstration
Stay away when there's a riot going on
Student demonstration
Stay away when there's a riot going on
Student demonstration
Stay away when there's a riot going on
It's student demonstration
Stay away when there's a riot going on
Student demonstration
Starting out with Berkeley Free Speech
And later on at People's Park
The winds of change fanned into flames
Student demonstrations spark
Down to Isla Vista where police felt so harassed
They called the special riot squad of the L. A. County Sheriff
Well there's a riot going on
There's a riot going on
There's a riot going on
Student demonstration time
The violence spread down South to where Jackson State brothers
Learned not to say nasty things about Southern policemen's mothers
Nothing much was said about it and really next to nothing done
The pen is mightier than the sword, but no match for a gun
Well there's a riot going on
There's a riot going on
Well there's a riot going on
'Cause it's student demonstration time
America was stunned on May 4, 1970
When rally turned to riot up at Kent State University
They said the students scared the Guard
Though the troops were battle dressed
Four martyrs earned a new degree
The Bachelor of Bullets
I know we're all fed up with useless wars and racial strife
But next time there's a riot, well, you best stay out of sight
Well there's a riot going on
There's a riot going on
Well there's a riot going on
Student demonstration time
Stay away when there's a riot going on
Student demonstration
Stay away when there's a riot going on
Student demonstration
Stay away when there's a riot going on
Student demonstration
Stay away when there's a riot going on
It's student demonstration
Stay away when there's a riot going on
Student demonstration
Stay away when there's a riot going on
Student demonstration
Stay away when there's a riot going on
It's student demonstration
Stay away when there's a riot going on
Student demonstration
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