Welcome to new subscribers and regular readers! Thank you for joining me for today’s song, “Everything Can Change” by David Rovics (2013). If you’d like to hear the song before you read about it, I’ve included a YouTube video below the article.
Below, you’ll find my interpretation of the lyrics which are written in italics. For Japanese students, vocabulary words in bold are provided in Japanese below. TOEIC (PBT) 450+, Eiken 2, CEFR B1.
(795 words)
David Rovics wrote this song in 2013 and added comments about it on his website. I’ve rewritten his comments so that students of English might find them a bit easier to understand.
People have told me this song teaches an important lesson. Things in the world can change very quickly, and history shows this over and over. Some important years when this happened were 1848, 1968, and 2011.
Why does Rovics mention these three years?
1848 was called “The Year of Revolutions.” All across Europe, people were demanding freedom, democracy, and better living conditions. In France, the people rose up against the king and created a new government called the Second Republic. They wanted more rights for workers and the poor. In Italy, citizens started fighting to create a united country and to get rid of foreign rulers. People in Ireland rose up. In Germany, people wanted to create a united country from many small German states and make their own constitution. In the United States, the women’s rights movement officially started. Even though most of these revolutions were not successful, they inspired future movements for freedom and democracy around the world.
First you have to have a problem
That part isn’t hard
The second step is everybody realizing
They’re like you — they’re holding the same card
Step three is finding there’s a tactic
When everyone believes it could be true
That if all the people work collectively
There just might be something we can do
Everything can change so quick
In 1968, all around the world, young people were standing up for peace, equality, and freedom. In the United States, people marched for civil rights and against the Vietnam War. In France, students demanded better education. Workers joined them and much of the country went on strike. During Prague Spring in Czechoslovakia, people demanded more freedoms, but the Soviet Union sent tanks to stop the movement. In Mexico, just before the Olympics, students protested for educational reforms, and many were killed.
Often, government leaders and the media will tell us that there is no problem or that we should blame certain groups for the problems we face.
Businessmen and Congressmen and TV sets
Will try hard to make sure it isn’t so
“You don’t have a problem, and if you do it’s not the SAME problem
“And if it is, well, there’s just nowhere you can go”
But it’s happened many times, the history is rich
Though we easily forget
How a meme can take hold and grab you
How it can spread out like a net
Everything can change so quick
In 2011, there were many events and movements that occurred around the world.
The “Arab Spring” protests and uprisings occurred in Middle Eastern countries such as Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya. Millions of people demonstrated and demanded democracy and an end to corruption and dictatorship.
“Occupy Wall Street” began in New York City. It was a movement against economic inequality, big banks, and corporate greed. The phrase “We are the 99%” became popular, showing that people were frustrated because wealth and power were controlled by the top 1%.
The Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami (March 11): A 9.0 earthquake caused an enormous tsunami. Thousands died, and the meltdowns of the Fukushima nuclear power plants created one of the worst nuclear disasters in history. These sparked weekly protests against the restart of nuclear power plants in Japan.
Again, we are told that we are wrong to think that the world could be a better and more equal place for everyone.
They’ll say that we are lost, or we’re dreaming
Or they’ll make a dream for us
They’ll try to come up with a good story
About why we belong at the back of the bus
About why we belong in this position
About how we don’t know what we meant
About how there most certainly isn’t any such thing
As the 99%
But everything can change so quick
Even the strictest governments need people’s support to stay in power. That support can come from a big part of the population. Leaders might seem strong and confident, but deep down, many of them are afraid that people will stop agreeing with them.
The smart leaders understand how quickly things can fall apart when people stop supporting them. That’s why it’s important for everyone to know how much power we really have, especially if we all realize it at the same time.
But those in power don’t want that to happen. They try to keep us from working together by dividing us in different ways. Still, in just one moment, everything can change, and the truth can be revealed.
Throughout history, people have risen up all over the world, calling for justice, fairness, and freedom.
Leaving a comment is a good way to practice your writing skills.
Vocabulary
revolution 革命
demand 要求
constitution 憲法
inspire 鼓舞する
tactic 戦術
collectively 共に
grab 奪取する
corruption 腐敗
dictatorship 独裁
greed 貪欲
melt through メルトスルー (see https://imidas.jp/hotkeyword/detail/k-00-412-11-06-h013.html)
spark 火をつける
fall apart 崩壊する
Sources:
Harman, C. (1999). A people’s history of the world. Bookmarks.
Manabe, N. (2016). The revolution will not be televised: Protest music after Fukushima. Oxford University Press.
. . . . . .
“Everything Can Change” first appeared on the Bandcamp album of the same name in 2013. https://www.davidrovics.com/songbook/everything-can-change/
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Those in power also try to separate us - give extreme viewpoints and try to make people believe in them. It’s hard to realize that people who look and sound different are not that different. Especially now, I think we need the courage to look past the superficial differences.
"The smart leaders understand how quickly things can fall apart when people stop supporting them. That’s why it’s important for everyone to know how much power we really have, especially if we all realize it at the same time."
So true, but Louise, are there any smart leaders left now? Or at least smart leaders that count? They should all count I know but I am so skeptical !