7.1.1 US Values
A. Music that speaks to specific  US values
Maintaining a positive  outlook
A Cockeyed Optimist from the  musical comedySouth  Pacific by  Richard Rodgers and Oscar  Hammerstein.  Sung by Kiri Te  Kanawa
When the skies are brighter canary  yellow
I forget ev'ry cloud I've ever seen,
So they called me a cockeyed  optimist
Immature and incurably green.
I have heard people rant and rave  and bellow
That we're done and we might as  well be dead,
But I'm only a cockeyed optimist
And I can't get it into my head.
I hear the human race
Is fallin' on its face
And hasn't very far to go,
But ev'ry whippoorwill
Is sellin' me a bill,
And tellin' me it just ain't so.
I could say life is just a bowl of Jello
And appear more intelligent and  smart,
But I'm stuck like a dope
With a thing called hope,
And I can't get it out of my heart!
Not this heart...
 The American Dream
All the leaves are brown
and the sky is grey
I've been for a walk
on a winter's day
I'd be safe and warm
if I was in L.A
California Dreamin'
on such a winter's day
stopped into a church
I passed along the way
well, I got down on my knees
and I began to pray
you know the preacher likes the cold
he knows I'm gonna stay
California Dreamin'
on such a winter's day
if I didn't tell her
I could leave today
California Dreamin'
on a winter's day
Time is money

Cat's in the cradle, sung by Harry  Chapin
‘Time is money’ is well  illustrated in this song talking  bout a little boy and his father.  As things are going really fast,  this little boy is growing fast as  well. His father doesn’t have  time to see this evolution. He  often said to him: will see later.  But later is over… The little boy  learns to do thing by his own  and finally leaves home without his father had time to have good time with him. That is why we  have to follow the CARPE DIEM  principle. (Sophie Berger)

My child arrived just the other day;
Came to the world in the usually way
But there were planes to catch and  bills to pay.
He learned to walk while I was away.
He was talkin' 'fore I knew it.
And as he grew he said,
"I'm gonna be like you, Dad.
You know I'm gonna be like you."

Chorus :
And the cat's in the cradle and the  silver spoon,
Little boy blue and the man on the  moon.
"When you comin' home ?"
"Son, I don't know when.
We'll get together then.
You know we'll have a good time  then."

Well, my son turned ten just the  other day.
He said , "Thanks for the ball, Dad.  Come on, let's  play.
Could you teach me to throw ?" I  said, "Not today.
I got a lot to do." He said, "That's  okay."
And he walked away and he smiled  and he said,
"You know,
I'm gonna be like him, yeah.
You know I'm gonna be like him."

Well, he came from college just the  other day,
So much like a man I just had to say,
"I'm proud of you. Can you sit for a  while ?"
He shook his head and he said with  a smile,
"What I'd really like, Dad, is to  borrow the car keys.
See you later. Can I have them  please ?"

And the cat's in the cradle and the  silver spoon,
Little boy blue and the man on the  moon.
"When you comin' home, Son?"
"I don't know when.
We'll get together then.
You know we'll have a good time  then."

I've long since retired, my son's  moved away.
I called him up just the other day.
"I'd like to see you, if you don't  mind."
He said, "I'd love to, Dad, if I could  find the time.
You see my new job's a hassle and  the kids have the  flu,
But it's sure nice talkin' to you, Dad.
It's been sure nice talkin' to you."

And as I hung up the phone it  occurred to me,
He'd grown up just like me.
My boy was just like me.
(Yeah, yeah, yeah)
 Manifest Destiny--the  Chosen People
Democracy, sung by  Leonard Cohen
It's coming through a hole  in the air,
from those nights in  Tiananmen Square.
It's coming from the feel
that this ain't exactly real,
or it's real, but it ain't  exactly there.
From the wars against  disorder,
from the sirens night and  day,
from the fires of the  homeless,
from the ashes of the gay:
Democracy is coming to the  U.S.A.
It's coming through a crack  in the wall;
on a visionary flood of  alcohol;
from the staggering account
of the Sermon on the Mount
which I don't pretend to  understand at all.
It's coming from the silence
on the dock of the bay,
from the brave, the bold, the battered
heart of Chevrolet:
Democracy is coming to the  U.S.A.

It's coming from the sorrow  in the street,
the holy places where the  races meet;
from the homicidal bitchin'
that goes down in every  kitchen
to determine who will serve  and who will eat.
From the wells of  disappointment
where the women kneel to  pray
for the grace of God in the  desert here
and the desert far away:
Democracy is coming to the  U.S.A.

Sail on, sail on
O mighty Ship of State!
To the Shores of Need
Past the Reefs of Greed
Through the Squalls of Hate
Sail on, sail on, sail on, sail on.

It's coming to America first,
the cradle of the best and of the worst.
It's here they got the range
and the machinery for  change
and it's here they got the  spiritual thirst.
It's here the family's broken
and it's here the lonely say
that the heart has got to  open
in a fundamental way:
Democracy is coming to the  U.S.A.

It's coming from the women  and the men.
O baby, we'll be making  love again.
We'll be going down so deep
the river's going to weep,
and the mountain's going to shout Amen!
It's coming like the tidal  flood
beneath the lunar sway,
imperial, mysterious,
in amorous array:
Democracy is coming to the  U.S.A.

Sail on, sail on ...

I'm sentimental, if you know what I mean
I love the country but I can't stand the scene.
And I'm neither left or right
I'm just staying home  tonight,
getting lost in that hopeless  little screen.
But I'm stubborn as those  garbage bags
that Time cannot decay,
I'm junk but I'm still holding up
this little wild bouquet:
Democracy is coming to the  U.S.A.
The American Dream
America, sung by Neil Diamond,
This song is representative of  the American dream. Even if we  don’t have anything (no home,  no money…), there is still a  hope and it is called USA. Over  there, everything becomes  possible. These characters have  been led by a star to come up to  the place where their dreams  will be granted. (Sophie Berger)
Far
We've been traveling far
Without a home
But not without a star
Free
Only want to be free
We huddle close
Hang on to a dream
On the boats and on the planes
They're coming to America
Never looking back again.
They're coming to America

Home, don't it seem so far away
Oh, we're traveling light today
In the eye of the storm
In the eye of the storm

Home, to a new and a shiny place
Make our bed, and we'll say our  grace
Freedom's light burning warm
Freedom's light burning warm

Everywhere around the world
They're coming to America
Every time that flag's unfurled
They're coming to America

Got a dream to take them there
They're coming to America
Got a dream they've come to share
They're coming to America

They're coming to America
They're coming to America
They're coming to America
They're coming to America
Today, today, today, today, today

My country 'tis of thee
Today
Sweet land of liberty
Today
Of thee I sing
Today
Of thee I sing
Today
 The American Dream
American Life,sung by  Madonna
Here is a really good  example of the  American dream and its  drawbacks. Even if the  American dream is  something that  everybody s looking for,  we also have to consider  that things are not only  black or white.  Moreover, another US  values is self reliance; It  is not enough to reach  the top, you also have to  fight for it, and it is up to  you to succeed. (Sophie  Berger)
I live the American dream
You are the best thing I've  seen,
You are not just a dream
I tried to stay ahead,
I tried to stay on top
I tried to play the part,
But somehow I forgot
Just what I did it for
And why I wanted more
This type of modern life - Is  it for me?
This type of modern life - Is  it for free?
Do I have to change my  name?
Will it get me far?
Should I lose some weight?
Am I gonna be a star?
I tried to be a boy,
I tried to be a girl
I tried to be a mess,
I tried to be the best
I tried to find a friend,
I tried to stay ahead
I tried to stay on top...
Fuck it...
I'm drinking a Soy latte
I get a double shot
It goes right through my  body
And you know
I'm satisfied,
I drive my mini cooper
And I'm feeling super-  dooper
Yo they tell I'm a trooper
And you know I'm satisfied
I do yoga and pilates
And the room is full of  hotties
So I'm checking out the  bodies
And you know I'm satisfied
I'm digging on the isotopes
This metaphysic's shit is  dope
And if all this can give me  hope
You know I'm satisfied
I got a lawyer and a  manager
An agent and a chef
Three nannies, an assistant
And a driver and a jet
A trainer and a butler
And a bodyguard or five
A gardener and a stylist
Do you think I'm satisfied?
I'd like to express my  extreme point of view
I'm not Christian and I'm  not a Jew
I'm just living out the  American dream
And I just realized that  nothing Is what it seems
The American Dream failed...
Born in the USA, sung by Bruce  Springsteen
This song is about the drawbacks of the American dream. Some of us may reach it, others can't. Not  because they were not fighting  enough for it, but because of  the reality of the world. This  song illustrates the hard reality  of war and its consequences on  people’s life.  Sometimes you  may have a lot of dream but you  don't have the tool to achieve  it… even if you leave in America,  the place where dream comes  true.  (Sophie Berger)
Born down in a dead man's town
The first kick I took was when I hit  the ground
You end up like a dog that's been  beat too much
'Til you spend half your life just  covering up
Born in the U.S.A. 4x
I got in a little hometown jam
And so they put a rifle in my hands
Sent me off to Vietnam
To go and kill the yellow man
Come back home to the refinery
Hiring man says "Son if it was up to  me"
I go down to see the V.A. man
He said "Son don't you understand"
I had a buddy at Khe Sahn
Fighting off the Viet Cong
They're still there, he's all gone
He had a little girl in Saigon
I got a picture of him in her arms
Down in the shadow of the  penitentiary
Out by the gas fires of the refinery
I'm ten years down the road
Nowhere to run, ain't got nowhere to go
I'm a long gone Daddy in the U.S.A.
Born in the U.S.A.
I'm a cool rocking Daddy in the U.S.A.
Born in the U.S.A.
Capitalism
30 best songs about money.
 
 The Individual Spirit  Triumphs
Time of My Life  sung by David Cook 
I’ve been waiting for my  dreams
To turn into something
I could believe in
And looking for that
Magic rainbow
On the horizon
I couldn't see it
Until I let go
Gave into love and watched  all the bitterness burn
Now I’m coming alive
Body and soul
And feelin’ my world start to turn
And I’ll taste every moment
And live it out loud
I know this is the time,
This is the time
To be more than a name
Or a face in the crowd
I know this is the time
This is the time of my life
Time of my life
Holding onto things that  vanished
Into the air
Left me in pieces
But now I’m rising from the  ashes
Finding my wings
And all that I needed
Was there all along
Within my reach
As close as the beat of my  heart
So I’ll taste every moment
And live it out loud
I know this is the time,
This is the time to be
More than a name
Or a face in the crowd
I know this is the time
This is the time of my life
Time of my life
And I’m out on the edge of  forever
Ready to run
I’m keeping my feet on the  ground
My arms open wide
My face to the sun
I’ll taste every moment
And live it out loud
I know this is the time,
This is the time to be
More than a name
Or a face in the crowd
I know this is the time
This is the time of my life
Time of my life
More than a name
Or a face in the crowd
This is the time
This is the time of my life.
This is the time of my life.
Heard 'Em Say sung by  Kanye West
And I heard 'em say
Nothin's ever promised  tomorrow, today
From the Chi, Like Tim, it's a  Hardaway
till this is in the name of  love, like Robert say
Before you ask me to go get  a job today,
can I at least get a raise on  the minimum wage?
And I know the government  administer aids,
So I guess we just pray like  the minister say
allah hu akbar be throwin'  some hot cause
things we seein' on the  screen not ours
but these niggas from the  hood, so these dreams not  far
where I'm from the dope  boys is the rock stars
but they can't cop cars  without seein' cop cars
I guess they want us all  behind bars, I know it, uh
Chorus:
And I heard 'em say,  nothin's ever promised  tomorrow, today
And I heard 'em say,  nothin's ever promised  tomorrow today
But we'll find a way
(Adam Levine)
And nothin' lasts forever,  but be honest babe
Hurts, but it might be the  only way
(Kanye)
They say people in your life  for seasons
And anything that happen is for a reason
And niggas gun-clappin'  and keep to squeezin'
And gran' keep prayin' and  keep believin'
In Jesus, and one day that  she'll see him
Till then in walk his  footsteps and try to be him,
The devil is alive, I feel him  breathin'
Claimin' money is the key,  so keep on dreamin'
And put them lottery tickets  just to tease us
My Aunt Pam can't put them cigarettes down,
So now my lil' cousin  smokin' them cigarettes now
His job try to claim that he  too niggerish now
Is it cuz his skin blacker  than licorice now?
I can't figure it out, sick of it now,
Chorus
(Adam Levine)
With every worthless word  we get more far away
And nothin's ever promised  tomorrow, today
And nothin lasts forever,  but be honest, babe
Hurts, but it may be the only way    
 
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