By Douglas John Imbrogno | As we get down to it and the hours tick relentlessly toward an epochal election that will determine whether retribution or principled politics rule America, I ponder what’s best to say in these last days before Nov. 5.
NoteBeforeYouVote.com has showcased: severe condemnation of Donald Trump by some who worked closely with him ; profiled the value-free, billionaire sock-puppet politics of JD Vance; pondered Donold’s’s obvious, increasing mental deterioration; considered TrumpWorld’s terrifying denial and refusal to come to grips with the climate crisis; and even lifted up an op-ed anti-Trump limerick or two.
But what about a song or two concerning what’s at stake, America? We already featured the fabulous Stevie Nicks and her stirring musical sermon “The Lighthouse” from a recent ‘Saturday Night Live.’ Yet with EPISODE 9, we commence a new ‘Election Season Song Series’ that is closer to home.
My home, at least. Paul Callicoat is a fabulous West Virginia singer-songwriter and one of the state’s finest lyricists and turners-of-musical-phrases. Paul’s soulfulness and heart is all over his music. The song featured above, ‘Only Up (Election Day)’ is no different.
Also, should you be within striking distance of Barboursville, W.Va., Paul is co-owner of Route 60 Music, longtime purveyor of instruments, strings, musical lessons, harmonic inspiration and mojo to generations of the region’s playerd and annabe players. (Myself included — it’s like crack, that shop. They dole out some low-cost items to you like picks and strings, then you find yourself buying Martins, Taylors, and Fishman amps …)
Free subcribe to ‘NotesBeforeYouVote.com,’ as we will post regularly up to Election Day eve. On deck in our ‘Election Season Song’ series are: Chet Lowther, with a great and evocative song called ‘The Anchor,’ and Steve Payne’s on-point “Cheap Seats at the Circus.” I will be adding my ‘America the Beautiful: Alt. Version.’
LYRICS: ‘Only Up (Election Day)’ by Paul N. Callicoat
An election referendum is just around the bend,
And if we can upend them, we can start to heal again.
If we organize and rise and vow to persevere,
Then hope might spring eternal when it’s only up from here.
Emerging from the darkness will be a glorious day,
Make no mistake an army is standing in our way.
And it’s a gloomy proposition, to live our lives in fear.
So, let’s take a breath and let’s fix this mess, so it’s only up from here.
Seems our barter system feeds arrogance and greed.
And now they hold the power to exploit our every need.
If the greater good can shed their hoods and start to see things clear,
We can wake up to a brighter day, where it’s only up from here.
So, listen to the tempest that’s tearing up your heart.
We must face the devil down and right the righteous cart.
Snide lies, deception, bring agony and tears.
So, let’s crush their coalition, ‘cause it’s only up from here.
So, yeah, I’m drawing lines that separate the sides.
We can’t ride the fence, we can’t run and hide.
If we ask of ourselves: What is it we hold dear?
Most of us will agree it’s only up from here.
So let’s lift our eyes to an angry sky
to see the light appear.
And let’s rise with grace to a better place
that’s only up from here.
CHECK OUT PREVIOUS EPISODES AT: ‘NotesBeforeYouVote.com’
ELECTION SEASON SONGS: 'Only Up (Election Day)'