Love Me, I'm a Liberal, 2022, new words by Ben Grosscup

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"Love Me, I'm a Liberal"
Re-written by Ben Grosscup, 2022
• "Love me, I'm a Libera...
I mourned the Tiananmen martyrs
Whose protests were brutally quelled
And I cheered when Mandela walked freely
After so many years in a cell
But mister Assange can die in prison
Those secrets were not his to tell
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal
I attend diversity trainings
And I leave feeling so reassured
I love Oprah and Magic and Foreman
It’s great to see blacks become entrepreneurs
But don’t go and join a new party
That’s not the way to be heard
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal
I cheered when Obama was chosen
My faith in the system restored
And I'll never forgive Ralph Nader
For the election he stole from Al Gore
And my neighborhood welcomes all races
Of people with high credit scores
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal
Voters need more education
To achieve Democracy’s aims
Our enemies spread memes in their news feeds
Sowing division and national shame
But if you want socialized healthcare
You really must be insane
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal
I listen to All Things Considered
I’d consider anyone’s views
You know I’ve read DiAngelo and Kendi
And I’m probably more woke than you
But when time came to take out Gaddafi
There was no one more red, white and blue
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal
I vote for the Democratic Party
They’re strengthening NATO command
I support Bono’s benefit concerts
And buy whatever’s endorsed by his brand
We’re gonna make poverty history!
I’m on Facebook taking a stand
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal
Sure once I was young and impulsive
I wore every conceivable pin
I fought for a socialist future,
Which I actually thought we might win
Ah, but I've grown older and wiser
And that's why I'm turning you in
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal

[@16tonw8]

"My neighborhood welcomes all races... of people with high credit scores" might just be your best one yet, it so perfectly captures the exact people the original line mocked in their modern-day form

[@BenGrosscup]

I appreciate you picking up on this new line. This was my favorite new line I wrote.

[@alyson6075]

This line got me, too!

[@willkay9679]

What are your thoughts on upzoning neighborhoods zoned for single family housing?

[@Vydio]

I have to come up with a version for my previous residence. The next town over was very involved in getting Habitat for Humanity homes built for the poor .... though those homes were never built in their town.😏

[@Goldenbear87]

​@@VydioGood NIMBY's

[@Sticky1254]

Anyone who wants to know what leftists think of liberals, think of this song. Great cover!

[@justaghostinthesea]

I really need to take a course on this stuff, because I genuinely didn't know those weren't synonyms

[@alexanderangelo7284]

I'm a center left Democrat whose worked in politics, so believe me when I say this: They used to be synonymous. There has been a shift within the left. Liberals are now considered the center left. Progressives are considered leftists, or the hard left. ​@justaghostinthesea

[@capital_of_texas]

@@justaghostinthesea Liberalism encompasses the center-left to the center-right. It is often viewed as part of the Left only because they too share progressive values. Differences are found through application, as Leftists aim to dismantle the system (ranging from peaceful reform to violent revolt), while liberals just want to retain the system while simultaneously reforming it. It's more complex than this, but this is a simple way of defining them

[@richardjarrell3585]

I burned draft cards in ‘66 and ‘67, went to several Phil Ochs concerts and he signed my copy of I AIN’T MARCHING ANYMORE “Good left-wing luck”. Merci bien for this ept and apt update.

[@16tonw8]

2023 version should have "But why won't the cops tear down tent cities / The property values are down!" with everything happening in San Francisco and other major cities

[@PuissantAlgernon]

Absolutely fantastic. Very tempted to do a rewrite for British politics now that the liberals have wrenched the Opposition back off the actual Left.

[@BenGrosscup]

Please do that. And then share it with me.

[@PuissantAlgernon]

@@BenGrosscup Challenge accepted! That'll be my project for the next few weeks!

[@BenGrosscup]

@@PuissantAlgernon OK, go ahead and do it and try it out. Maybe you can bring a draft to this peer session for songwriters that I'm invovled with, although most of the participants are in the US peoplesmusic.org/event-5219721

[@fearofmusic1312]

So a friend of mine and I talked about liberal bigotry today and I remembered the Phil Ochs song and also that you made an updated version of the song which I've found in 2019 or so. I already thought that it would be cool if someone made an even more contemporary version and decided to give it a search. And voila.... you're delivering again. You're awesome!

[@BenGrosscup]

Well, that warms my heart. Thank you!

[@s.a.e.fernandez2474]

I think it's kinda a point in itself that revolution and actual radicalism is never even mentioned in this version. The average liberal today has no connection to the actual left, and the "left wing" of capitalism and basic anti-imperialist points are too far left for them

[@dfw9724]

I've heard some other rewrites of this classic, but none have actually carried forward the spirit of the song and phil's politics like this one. Well done.

[@BenGrosscup]

Thanks for noticing!

[@johnkayoss5422]

Jello Biafra Mojo Nixon and the Toadliquors' version on Prairie Home Invasion. (Before Jello went shitlib).

[@nathandorsey9145]

​@@johnkayoss5422 did Hello go shitlib? Do you understanding I had was that the rest of the band did and he was pretty pissed off about it.

[@johnkayoss5422]

@@nathandorsey9145 i have stopped paying him attention since I saw him giving a tongue bath to Biden on his channel. I sat in the front row in New Orleans on his I Blow Minds For A Living tour. To see him swap minds for politicians disgusts me to no end. He somehow failed to notice that Trump was little different than Obama, if anything, by provoking visceral disgust amongst a large segment of the population in a way not seen since Nixon, he was kept in check and was less harmful on a policy level. He didn't even come close to Obama's record for deportations, new wars, handouts to banks, or fossil fuel infrastructure.

[@trevorlambert4226]

I like that you left the final line unchanged. That one is timeless.

[@mo_rocksteady]

"and that's why I'm turning you iiin.." 😂 good job!

[@BenGrosscup]

Thanks! In fairness, the line you quoted came from the original version of this song by Phil Ochs -- one of the new lines I left entirely unchanged in my version.

[@mo_rocksteady]

@@BenGrosscup the rest is great (and funny) too. I don't actually know the original, but I love the idea of the song being updated with the times. The material is definitely out there!

[@BenGrosscup]

@@mo_rocksteady I think my version stands on its own. But look up the original and I think you'll enjoy my version even more: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zp-pp5ueeNqfl9k

[@maybeitsneato]

Nailed it! There's Phil Ochs, Jello Biafra and now you.

[@devonglennon3548]

Long live Phil. Thank you.

[@devonglennon3548]

Also, commenting from Amherst. Shout out Greenfield and the 413, I'll have to come to a concert!

[@Fregward]

I live for every new update you make of this song! First heard it in 2018 - have been listening ever since. My favourite Grosscup songs are 'This Changes Everything' and 'No More Sacrifice Zones'. Keep it up, Ben!

[@seanriley9961]

fantastic update

[@BenGrosscup]

Thanks for the comment!

[@RedWanderer26]

Is it just me or this song gets updated literally every year?

[@bobweiss8682]

Liberals get more hypocritical every year.....

[@Vydio]

There is a continuous supply of liberal behavior that provides material for endless updates.

[@y4mtim3]

well written and sung comrade

[@JMarinelli]

Well done, sir.

[@akumaking1]

Still relevant as ever. Thank you.

[@196cupcake]

well written, it's always fun to check if anyone has make good updates to the lyrics every so many years.

[@algfourty9185]

Thankyou for updating this, actually hadn't heard it until someone recited the lyrics on Second Thought's latest video. Love your take and new lyrics✊

[@CocoanutVA]

I'm still really salty they got assange in the end

[@ledhed86]

Love this version, and all your content. Keep it up!

[@farawaythoughts6845]

This is fantastic!

[@masonpressler5900]

Stumbled upon your prior songs and the original earlier this year, great stuff, keep up the great work!

[@Albremen]

Yes. This one is on point.

[@salaama9]

Love your work, Ben!

[@teresathomley3703]

Mighty fine, sir. 👍👏 A proper update of Phil Ochs- great honest lyrics. Thank you.

[@griffithsethan]

Fantastic.

[@Indyhannabones]

Great job. I wanted to write my own lyrics to this song, but I don't think I could top this

[@BenGrosscup]

Thanks!!

[@ampere11]

Folk music (especially leftist folk music) is supposed to be rewritten by everyone who is singing so they can make it personal to their audience. This gentleman has done a great job, but your version is just as valuable. Please, write it and perform it.

[@user-rx162r]

​@@BenGrosscupHow can you have socialism if your invite the whole world to come eat your lunch?

[@SovietCat]

Excellent rendition Ben!

[@fakecountry9407]

It’s my belief, in the original song and the rewrites, that the verses that work best really drive home the hypocrisy of liberals that is set up by the first two stanzas of the verse. Line about credit scores is a great example. Great stuff as always

[@daisystylli5284]

Well fucking done.

[@user-vh5dk9is8f]

This is wonderful! When I first heard this song a few months ago, I thought about how great an updated version would be. Thank you for putting the time, effort and thought into this. : )

[@buixote]

I've been waiting for this. Glad I found it! Thank you!

[@francescamar06]

Thank you for always updating the song, comrade!

[@justicebeske5704]

my neighborhood invites all races, of people with high credit scores is genius. great line friend.

[@jpg52382]

Bravo 👏

[@Turdfergusen382]

Hahahaha. I was hoping someone had updated this gem. Thank you

[@deangulberry1876]

So true

[@jordanscott2041]

You are great! Been inspiring me for a decade now!

[@Shamrocks847]

BASED, I LOVE LIBERALISM

[@Sha-Ayo]

I love this ❤️

[@charlietheron8947]

Love ya work man♥️♥️ keep updating this beautiful song

[@tvviewer4500]

very cool that you did this

[@koushiksen1239]

Thanks for the first New Year gift! :)

[@sebastianfinch6611]

Hell yeah ❤❤

[@Quarter_Turn]

Great stuff, as always!

[@Sha-Ayo]

Please continue updating the song over the years although this version will probably be relevant for the next 10+ years

[@torreyjohnson250]

Instant sub

[@Noah-sugar-pan]

Fucking art.

[@brentchaffin9603]

Tank man lived tho

[@nibob1051]

You could have changed Obama to Biden, apart from that I think you really nailed it

[@BenGrosscup]

Thanks for the comment! I think liberals were more genuinely enthused about Obama than Biden, but it also depends on which ones we're talking about. Biden was amazingly unpopular. But it would feel more up to date in a way with "Biden."

[@mhuzzell]

Updated for 2012, cool.

[@196cupcake]

"... I'm on Facebook and Instagram, so love me love me love ..." ... "studio notes" .. maybe I should batch them ...

[@fakecountry9407]

🔥

[@spookbusterstirner5865]

"And my neighborhood welcomes all races... of people with high credit scores" is such an awesome line. I feel like Phil Ochs' lyrics need yet another rewrite about how tone deaf and dismissive liberals are about the situation in Gaza. I can imagine if you had done a rewrite even 15-20 months after you did this, there's probably at least a line that comes out of it. "But when it comes to bombing toddlers in Gaza, there was no one more red, white and blue" or something like that.

[@landcmg]

This **might** be Phil reincarnated

[@VirindiUO]

hell ya ben lol god damn lol

[@milascave2]

Jerllobiafrq did an update of this song too, but this one is more up to date.

[@hustler3of4culture3]

👍

[@joshuasamson1860]

An AOC lyric wouldve topped it off

[@JPJPR]

This is great! :) Keep on trucking!

[@lavendermatt]

I'll vote for the Democratic Party They seem to care about trans rights I think Biden deserves a second term Even though there's nobody who's more senile But when it comes to Palestine There's no one more red, white and blue So love me, love me, I'm a liberal

[@capital_of_texas]

I vote for the Democratic Party They want all trans voices to be heard, Joe Biden deserves a second term, his opponents sure are absurd. And I'll attend every Free Palestine rally, those Zionists will sure be deterred! So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal. Fixed it up for ya :D

[@alamedavigilante]

How about some verses about the Covid pandemic?

[@johnkayoss5422]

Or supporting Azov? Or siding with railroad tycoons over the workers? Or choosing to fundraise rather than legislate after roe v Wade. It needs a permanent verse about being unable to do basic math, which has been a prerequisite if Liberalism since Nader?

[@quakefan8810]

Love me I’m a Branch Covidian!

[@sabrinat6838]

Honestly not as hard hitting or as overtly red as the original. Including socialized health care thing is a little too broad and can be liberal. Try to keep the more radical spirit of the original.

[@BenGrosscup]

I agree that socialized healthcare alone doesn't make a socialist society. Nonetheless, a universal single payer/ improved medicare for all healthcare system is an important short term demand for any kind of socialist project in the US. As a songwriter, I think highlighting the liberal distaste for single payer (as evidenced by the Obamacare fiasco) helps advance the point. It is not particularly controversial claim to say that the US healthcare system is a completely shameful mess. In that 4th verse, the obvious shame of our healthcare system is juxtaposed with the projection of shame by the liberal intelligentsia onto "voters" for their supposed embrace of social-media induced "division," which leaves some room for imagination and interpretation. Part of my songwriting goal here is to dramatize the hypocrisy of the liberal intelligentsia. But please feel free to write your own version of this song or post specific edits you think would strengthen the message.

[@kalashnikovman]

I click on this because my English teacher has the same name as you and you kind of look like you and he plays the guitar so I was like WTF

[@scottmatznick3140]

"voters need more education" to know we're a republic, not a democracy.

[@astralseaslug546]

🤓

[@politicallyambiguous8424]

Unless you're advocating for a republic based on autocracy or oligarchy, a republic is a form of democracy. Take your own advice.

[@filipsacirovic1776]

Great one, but shouldn't there be something about supporting Nazis in the Ukraine and conflating all things Russian with Putin?

[@niesluchowska]

This song would be 15 minutes long if we included only a few things of what's going on. It's universal and literally endless....

[@filipsacirovic1776]

@@niesluchowska i get that, but this is a 2022 version and the Ukrainian war is kinda the biggest deal there currently is.

[@BenGrosscup]

Hi Filip, the list of complaints about today's liberalism is vast, and liberals have been terrible on NATO and the Ukraine war. My attempt in this song was to adhere closely to the political logic and verse structure of the original song Phil Ochs wrote in 1965. The biggest thing in 1965 was the Vietnam War, but interestingly the original song makes no direct mention of the Vietnam war. I can imagine Phil writing that in 1965 and not knowing how things would settle out in Vietnam. In my re-write, tended to comment on issues that are at least 5-10 years old.

[@filipsacirovic1776]

@@BenGrosscup Fair enough. Didn't see it that way. Thank you for taking the time to answer. I've been a fan for a while now. Keep up the great work! :)

[@niesluchowska]

Here's a new stanza for you. You're welcome.... "We're cops of the world there's no question, We choose your candidate's names, Our guns keep you ready and willing, to play our democracy game. But when the wrong person gets power, there's always the Russians to blame, so love me......"

[@googlesucks662]

According to Wikileaks released cables, the then US ambassador in Beijing saw no evidence of a massacre in Tiananmen Square. Otherwise, awesome update.

[@Jcaeser187]

The american taliban will really messs you up.

[@Bossman-mu6qe]

A//E IWW