That Debate

Last night I saw an archeological wonder
On the Espn of war and lies
Cnn’s death rattle
an ancient species battled
Two fossils tryna poke each others eyes
Mom and dad are fighting in Atlanta
Im online pricing lobotomies
I don’t wanna get no dumber
But it’s better than this bummer
Of believing in a false dichotomy
They open up their mouths
And nothing comes out
It’s gonna take a lot more than the speed
I can’t discern Verne
I can’t perceive Steve
I don’t understand, Jan
I don’t know Joe
I don’t know Joe
Last night I took a trip to the museum
I sat and stared at wax figurines
They gummed for about an hour
fighting over power
Pathetic old and sad as they could be
Last night I saw the circle close around us
as I sat and thought about deja vu
And the sound that met my ears
made all hope disappear
Jus what constitutes elder abuse
I can’t discern Verne
I can’t percieve Steve
I don’t understand Jan
I don’t know Joe
I don’t know Joe

[@TheMaykarLocomotive]

I've experienced a lot of emotions from Jesse songs, but "two fossils poking at each other's eye" is the biggest laugh I've gotten so far

[@JebidiahKrackedyetagain-xv9hc]

Uhh...The comment about "elder abuse" hit MY funny bone pretty hard! 🤣🤣🤣

[@MondayTurtle]

brilliant and accurate lyric that for sure

[@Yes-hf6cw]

There's nothing funny about it. Our reality is terrifying.

[@pezcore2142]

150 million people eligible to be president and they give us these fucks... its incredible.

[@MarkCliffeIsGay]

Fuck it. I'm throwing my name in. Mark Cliffe 2024

[@6ic6ic6ic]

It's time to stop waiting for what's given and take what's not. The system is gargantuan and stacked against but that doesn't seperate you from your accountability to the apathy that has allowed it to reach this state. Oligarchs are going to oligarch. Vigilance is a must they won't simple stop because things are alright for a while. I'm not sure that the system isn't so far gone that it can't be recovered but complaining about a lack of agency is simply illogical. A two party system is as egregious as a dictatorship. In fact it might well be worse. With a dictator there is a focal point for action a direction that clearly states you need to move in another way. 2 party politics will forever bounce 1 against the other. It makes muddy the water. It allows beauracratical philandering and constantly enables division. Boots on the ground simply can not see the scope. The mountains for the peaks. Bring on the borg. Until then you're accountable.

[@illuminotmereloaded6896]

4,000 restaurants in the downtown area. I pick the one my father goes to.

[@hen.5136]

Ladies and gentlemen, the greatest songwriter of our generation!

[@HenryAvery-qg1hd]

Not the greatest he’s more like the south park of music able to get songs out very fast

[@Rowen_elliott]

Real

[@Stevewatson3]

I’m starting to believe it! ❤

[@OhYouDontKnowMe]

🙌🏻

[@NORATECHNOLOGIES]

Actual

[@75hilmar]

It's the geriatric narcissistic oligarch olympics

[@peterorsak3521]

this should be top comment.

[@samuraicode4264]

sung to the tune of "flying purple people eater"

[@SwampDonkey64]

@@75hilmar Have you had your Geritol today 🤣😂

[@odiumimbues]

you guys do realize that both options are utter crap right? this song isnt political. its anti dumb.

[@BoarhideGaming]

I hate how people today seem to think "political" is somehow a bad thing. This is folk rock. This is Woody Guthrie's kinda music. It has ALWAYS been political, and good job too. People only ever cry "Why does everything have to be so political?!?!?" when they don't like the type of politic opinion being display, and that particular crying usually coming from the American right

[@odiumimbues]

@@BoarhideGaming when you follow one our presidential candidates blindly and you go around on videos trying to box people into a dems vs reps... youre a moron. its just obvious. go read the comments.

[@MaximusWMartin]

this guy works fast

[@glenbbqdavidson7131]

Stay strong Americans. This isn't the beginning of the end of your story. In 20 years you'll all be sitting around saying, " man, those 2020's where crazy". Or come live in Australia, we'd love to have ya...well, about half of ya...I going to go out on a limb and say everyone who listens to Mr Welles

[@misswiddershins]

Me! Take Me! 😂

[@Oreantear96]

Me 2nd!

[@glenbbqdavidson7131]

@@misswiddershins Gladly 🤣

[@glenbbqdavidson7131]

@@Oreantear96 your on the list! 👍

[@PatrickTrent]

Probably wouldn’t since I’m not leftist but we both have similar critiques.

[@RedZeshinX]

One was lying, the other was dying, one was hell no, the other was oh no.

[@planeswalking]

my feelings exactly

[@swagkillayolonoscopesgg]

Nah trumps great your trippin

[@KarklinPumpkin]

​@@swagkillayolonoscopesggGreat if you like liars. Well, both are liars. Look at wages and cost of living charts. No party has affected them and here you are picking sides. Sad.

[@IDoThings490]

@@swagkillayolonoscopesgg Trump is going to roll the country back decades if he wins, he can suck it honestly

[@swagkillayolonoscopesgg]

🤥

[@jonhughes7264]

"Believin' in a false dichotomy." Getting that rhyme in is pure skill.

[@JebidiahKrackedyetagain-xv9hc]

Even Jessie was having trouble NOT cracking up at his own joke about "elder abuse"🤣🤣🤣

[@johnietaylor1817]

its a joke but no ones laughing

[@playchiseltip4454]

This song is reflective of just how tired and fatigued of the bullshit we all are. Our politicians lost the plot long long ago.

[@tonycampy3310]

was watching it last night and all I could think was “I wonder what Jesse’s gonna say about all this” Thank you sir

[@davidhick4303]

You sir are a gift. And too smart for 98 percent of the population. Either way I don’t know how you whip that good of a song together in short notice!?!

[@timsmy-pr9sw]

I sat down to write the same thing. I’m grateful for you and your songs.

[@IbHustln]

"I'm online pricing lobotomies" lmao, that's about right...

[@SantinoDeluxe]

when it all crumbles... can i come sit by your camp fire for a while?

[@JeremyWard101]

I call seconds!

[@NicholasCrowson]

To have these two "things" as our only option is criminal. We could pick two random 5th graders and we would be so much better off. At least we would not have to hear about the golf handicaps!

[@musicisbrilliant]

False Dichotomy: "false dichotomy, false binary, and “either-or” fallacy. It is the fallacy of presenting only two choices, outcomes, or sides to an argument as the only possibilities, when more are available." Aint that the truth!!!

[@Justus8]

Please educate me. I'm not an American. What are the options other than Biden and Trump?

[@misfitmanic]

@@Justus8there are at least 10 other people running for President of the USA in 2024. You will have to research for info on them because mainstream media is pretending they do not exist (as they are paid to do by the D and R dinosaurs).

[@dufflitplaysgames7406]

@@Justus8moot bc if you vote for other it’s a wasted vote bc the two main political party’s are virtually guaranteed to be the top two. First past the post voting blows, you choose old man, old man, or a throw away vote to some other old man

[@redshift912]

@@musicisbrilliant if trump really wanted to do something nice for the country he would have ran independent. Would have had a decent chance of winning and showed that a third party does have the chance of winning

[@user-vv7ze9ii1t]

What constitutes ELDER ABUSE!!! Greatest Line I've heard regarding Elections!!! WooHoo

[@nathansmith5578]

The whole thing is abuse to the ordinary citizen in my opinion. Shouldn't the most competent person in the nation get the job? There should be a rigorous test to pass before being a candidate.

[@CorbanConversations]

This is better than the debate.

[@jonschroedinger8360]

Pretty low bar you're setting there.

[@sarapalaskas194]

You are truly the voice of America’s sad, sad soul. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

[@Lisarata]

Protest music is BACK and it's going to put a subtle influence in our souls to help us let go of the illusions they want us to have, in favor of our own souls' expressions, like Donovan did.

[@diannerobinson7858]

What an insightful young man! I watched that debate for a little while and shut it off wondering how their handlers could be so cruel. You said it right, "just what constitutes elder abuse," Poignant. I am certain that the "circle has closed around us." I would very much like a seat at your camp fire.

[@terrapinflyer273]

Same here. Watched the first 2 segments and finally realized the debate was worthless. And despite them muting the mics and having no audience was still obviously for entertainment purposes only. No solutions, just one blaming the other and ocassionally spiraling into blatant and spiteful insults. What a waste of time. I could have been doing the dishes or playing a video game instead of watching that garbage. Now if they would have allowed RFK Jr to participate (as they very well should have), now that would have been something.

[@e4rth_beats551]

Im telling my kids this is Bob Dylan

[@guidosarducci]

OUT-STINKING-STANDING!!! Thank you young man for paying attention to your plight... 👍👍👏👏👏👏

[@tplummer217]

I hope people remember this guy when he’s gone.

[@willdabeast567]

putting aside the very real and depressing themes, this is an absolute banger and you dropped it within a day of that shit show

[@nickb3164]

Capturing the way we all feel yet again. These lyrics are spot on, and, considering they must have been written within a short time frame, its clear this guy has got some real talent.

[@ajcraft-hello]

Thanks Jesse! Keep calling it as you see it, we need your voice.

[@SamScanlan-vu1pb]

Yes yes yes lad….. can’t remember the last time I was so confident of liking a song before I’ve hit ‘play’ 🙌🏼

[@postmusic8082]

I know Joe. But I' think this country has had enough of him and Donald. We need someone else, someone without worms in their brain.

[@scatered1]

Yeah Trump must have worms for brains because he wants a secure country with a booming economy. Who would want that?

[@Showmedacarfax]

Jesse’s on the pulse songwriting combined with a genuine working class charm and spirit is the most endearing thing I’ve seen come out of any genre of music in a long time. I hope the best for his career and for more people to hear his beautiful words. I love Jesse Welles.

[@AuthenticChronicVision]

Outstanding lyrics, and the tune sticks in my mind. I play music in my head like a playlist. Came in handy in boot camp and prison. I can't seem to shut the outside world off any more.

[@if5566]

Keep it up, dude. Dont let the comments go to your head, but definitely let them go to your success!! You are very talented and it shows.

[@jimburkett9799]

I’ve watched this over and over.. How you can write and arrange this so quickly, yet so profound, absolutely boggles my mind. You’re supremely talented!

[@Yes-hf6cw]

Jesse is the only source of hope I have left. His existence is a proof that there are still people who are real and able to think.

[@sitindogmas]

it's not a stretch for me to start comparing this dude to Bob Dylay

[@handlemonium]

Can totally remix this with Peter Paul and Mary

[@leethompson8451]

My 19 yr. son introduced me to this young man. Said he is the new Bob Dylan...I agree.

[@colleenofficialmusic]

He better then Bob!

[@cullenbohannon1408]

​​@@colleenofficialmusicYou obviously haven't listened to much Bob Dylan than. Let me guess Like a Rolling Stone. And Knocking on heaven's door.

[@zaosin9185]

@@colleenofficialmusic better than bob???? what the F? hahahah, hes great dont get me wrong but dylan is a legend

[@JDB61698]

Will he sell out like Bob?

[@TheIhavenot2]

"THE IDEA..." that you came up with those lyrics in under 24 hours is AMAZING! you're an excellent writer 👍

[@phillipnunes8568]

This man is on fire. And he's right about a lot. The citizens deserve more but almost all of our power is being given up to individuals that WE don't know and who do not know US. That seems like a big problem to me no matter who holds office in any land. We are giving away our votes and decisions to representatives who are deciding for us and every four years they act like your best friend and like they care about you... for a few months. I am not necessarily knocking any candidate out there with this particular comment, but more so saying that we have been put into a bad position by giving up a majority of our power to any one person.

[@Greatoutdoorsandtravel]

I just found your page and went down a rabbit hole. Kuddos to you my friend for saying what needs to be said and doing it with amazing style. Keep it up.

[@jasonharrison2434]

It's a small thing, but I love the fact that you often don't finish a set of four bars before jumping into the next section. Makes the songs seem relaxed but also urgent in a way.

[@billwhite1966]

Now folks this is what the radio should be playing...its called natural talent. Great job Jesse.

[@rajmathew6220]

They should play this as the intro to the next debate

[@jonnycollins2771]

I share your despair. Thanks Jesse.

[@nikolaykopernik9124]

I think Jesse should launch a Patreon or something - there are many people out there (myself included) who would love to support his music.

[@TheWizardofLimes]

Thanks for putting the lyrics in the description. Always nice when musicians do that

[@bluupadoop]

The only music artist I immediately click onto every video for, love ya brother

[@daviddunnihoo8414]

Keep speaking your mind, Jesse. You put it to song so well!

[@nickweidemann3113]

How the hell did you write this masterpiece in such a short amount of time? Jesse you are a damn musical savant man. Never ever stop making music brother. 🔥

[@UntetheredBanshee]

Honestly, he could have written this ahead of time because I think we all knew what we were facing. 😂 A positive outcome was highly unlikely, if not impossible, given the fact that their whole job is basically population panic management And stewardship of a super corrupt and inherently evil system. Still going to vote blue though. Even if it is like tossing a wishing coin into a chasm. We're so fucked. I'm glad the soundtrack is good.

[@nickweidemann3113]

@@UntetheredBanshee 😂😂😂 Yeah man I live over in South Africa, but like most I consistently keep up with US politics and truthfully it breaks my heart to see what's happening. It's as if you guys have to choose between the lesser of two evils. You would think the most powerful country on earth would have better options. But even as an SA citizen I have so much passion for the world and the US and I truly hope you guys will come right and restore that beautiful country you have. It's terrible to see so much division and hate within a country that has so much beauty. You have achieved so much as a country but focus so much on tiny negatives that you seem to often create in your own heads. Love each other once again and open your eyes; you all live in arguably the greatest nation to ever exist. Sending only love and support from SA. 🇿🇦

[@Kevin-vi6iz]

Theres like 1000 of us listening to this rn

[@Flinkler79]

Thank you once again Jesse for a song that sticks in my head for days. For the right wingers that stumbled upon this, I really want you to ask yourselves why you're so angry/offended by it. This isn't a song that's pro-biden at all, you just gotta call a spade a spade sometimes. They're both senile old crooks who don't give a shit about any of us. You have so much more in common with any other person you meet on the street than you do with rich old guys in suits. We're all angry, how about we direct that anger at the people who actually make our lives hell? The working class of this country need to come together, set aside your anger for a moment and listen to your neighbors. We don't have to be enemies just because the 1% tell us to be. I hope that any hate in yalls hearts dulls with time and you realize one day it was a waste of your precious time on this earth.

[@jfortier48]

I think the issue is that a Republic can not function if the people do not participate in the process no matter how flawed it is. The 1% would love to have a populous that is so demoralized, so nihilistic, that they don’t bother to vote. What little voice the people do have would be snuffed out. You may not see the differences in the two candidates, but other people do. That is what people are pushing back on. Doesn’t mean we are not fans of Jesse and his music its just the message of this song people are pushing back on.

[@ryanjones4877]

@@jfortier48 not only CAN a country function like that, the elites actually prefer it that way.

[@Flinkler79]

@@jfortier48 People already have no voice in this "republic", though. I never said there aren't differences, there are. But in the end it's pick your poison until people realize that we can't ask for our liberation and the liberation of our loved ones. Doesn't matter if it's red blue or green, we're never gonna be able to vote ourselves free. The issue is that people aren't thinking about it beyond a knee-jerk reaction and basing their emotional response on a feeling of being personally attacked while listening to a message telling people that we need to do something other than pick which corporate sponsor we want running our lives.

[@auntymarushkafah]

@@jfortier48 Exactly.

[@auntymarushkafah]

Believe it when people tell you who they are. They tell you with their words AND behavior. Listen. They mean it.

[@BornAgainJeeper]

Just spectacular song writing. Quickly and still unreal. You may never see world fame, but you are as good as any Dylan, prine or newman

[@rhouser1280]

Little mix of them all

[@shannonardo]

I laughed so hard at the “pricing lobotomies” especially!!!! That was a great surprise line hahah but seriously, Jesse, it was all *AWESOME* thank you!!!!!

[@coldlava101]

Modern day Bob Dylan 🤔

[@dlwseattle]

Except Dylan is a sellout and class traitor

[@dommidavros2211]

I was thinking the same thing!

[@dlwseattle]

​@@dommidavros2211Amen. Then yer a good thinker✌️❤️

[@RBWales]

To Jesse & all Americans, my heart goes out to you all that those are your candidates for President. One of the lowest points in your history I think - at least from an outsiders perspective. God bless from the UK.

[@calebbasile2219]

The UK ain’t in too well of shape either

[@drinkclintons2058]

@@calebbasile2219The U.S. is worse. As an American citizen, I am embarrassed to call this toilet home.

[@essentialjudge2279]

The entire social economic system across the planet is the cause of confusion and violence.

[@navara5040]

😂😂 right and you are choosing between sunak or starmer...

[@z.t.1793]

Our choices are between a slick fox and a senile wolf. Most of us know what's going on our cities are blue our land is red

[@the.dirt.man.]

END THE GERIOCRACY😤😤 beautiful as always jesse

[@PhantomSavage]

There are few people that convinced me to subscribe in just two videos. You're one of them.

[@joshbuie]

“All political lives, unless they are cut off in midstream at a happy juncture, end in failure, because that is the nature of politics and of human affairs.” - Enoch Powell

[@yaakarkad1]

“Of believing in a false dichotomy” YEEESSSHHH

[@lambo_drives]

Now that's timely. 🇺🇸

[@timmiller1]

It’s all a con, Don.

[@glowstickless]

oh yes, adding this line when I cover.

[@jayswizzle57]

It’s a hustle, Russel.

[@grassfireu]

Sorry you don't realize Don is fighting Satanists and globalists.

[@LagmasterB]

Nice

[@kevincrawford9119]

It’s a fugazi baby.

[@mrnobody3276]

Your best song yet Jesse. This one's up there with the greatest songwriters brother.

[@AE-pv9vc]

Anybody else reminded of the rooster bard from the robinhood cartoon?

[@brooketeague4985]

Left vs right…two wings on the same bird! No president is going to change where the US is headed. Prepare for impact folks!

[@donHooligan]

US has two right wing parties, in *fact.*

[@celestialowl8865]

@@donHooligan It makes sense when you realize we've been flying in circles for years. Looking at the gay moral panic these days like we haven't seen this before.

[@donHooligan]

@@celestialowl8865 Convict # 9653 For President (100 yrs ago) ...and the last thing Joe Hill said was "Fire!"

[@jorgenepedersen]

I would love to hear your interpretation of the Woody Guthrie classic "This Land is Your Land" - massive fan of all your work!

[@rickrobinson8417]

Best breakdown of the debate I've heard and catchy too

[@taylorrod156]

Watching the debate felt like a psychic attack, thanks for rewashing my brain.💛

[@pcatful]

I knew it would be horrible. So I avoided it. This is all the commentary I need. I think I'll avoid the coming decade too." Pathetic old and sad as they could be." Without even seeing it, this is the first time I've felt that even little ol' me could do a better job at a presidential debate.

[@PurplePartyMusic]

Thank you for writing meaningful songs. It’s so refreshing. Love this reflection on last night’s disaster. 💜

[@jimrebr]

Jesse is solid gold, he is a beacon of light, he turns an impeccable phrase, his lyrics are intelligent and well thought out. He is our 3 son’s generation, he is honest and unwavering as he explodes truth bombs. Great guitar picker too, I really believe he is the breakout star 🌟 of 2024. He’s payed his dues, with all of his former bands.

[@metal_stars]

I wanna cry but like, I'm like too sad

[@Hazed64]

Crazy how many people hear this and just use it to back up their ideals. This isnt a somg promoting either side 😂

[@nate7778]

Wow. You're so smart. The rest of us were just simply too dumb to understand this wasn't a partisan song. Thanks for chiming in for us idiots.

[@FandangoJon]

All I got is a sigh of sadness, here in this nation of madness and malice.

[@SamB502]

Thank you Jesse! Can you write a song about Ranked Choice Voting? Please! It’s our best chance of creating an opportunity for more than just 2 awful candidates to pick between.

[@svviftghost]

Dude really wrote this in less than a day?

[@terrapinflyer273]

That's how it goes sometimes! With some people. I haven't played or written lyrics in some years now, but once in a while I'd catch a spark of creativity, and be pen to paper and fingers to guitar writing chords and lyrics for a complete song within an hour or two.

[@abe8435]

Maybe not. The debate was definitely worse than I expected, but not that much worse

[@thebeltingbalaclava4798]

dude this guy is a psyop, but I think we all knew how the debate was gonna be so very well could have just written a head of time

[@svviftghost]

@thebeltingbalaclava4798 Explain reasoning on why it's a psyop

[@thebeltingbalaclava4798]

@@svviftghost Comes out of nowhere, tons of views, highly produced but meant to look like he isn't. Rough around the edges disatisfied White man in the woods. All his songs are somewhat political but mostly the same message; "things are bad, corporations are corrupt, big pharma is bad, etc..." I think it is the elite wanting to move people back to the "we are the 99 percent" unfocused leftist populism and away from nationalism/social conservatism. Notice how he will never mention immigration (which is the real reason wages are down and housing prices up). Of course, I could be wrong, but that is my gut instinct.

[@soberskater]

Did you ever find out? How much for the lobotomy? 😂...

[@aick]

Well said. You remind me of the greatest American folk musicians, Phil Ochs et al. Thank you and keep it up, please. La lucha continua siempre.

[@laylac72]

this is so accurate 💯 thanks for your gift, mr welles✌🏽🔥👍🏽

[@anderswickstrom3201]

That's a dang good song brother I hope you go far.

[@xa9590]

There must be 50 ways to leave your lover

[@MsVshizzle]

Two fossils trying to poke each other's eyes 😭

[@hounoki]

Just found my new favorite artist

[@tarheel777100]

The fact that he wrote this is less than a day…….🤯

[@fewpoundcory]

proof not all his songs were written months ago..... although this one could have been knowing who would be on stage hahaha

[@isaacmalown7003]

i was thinking mayb chatgpt...

[@outsidersview9827]

@@isaacmalown7003 Feels too human to be chatgpt.

[@existentialgourd5677]

@@isaacmalown7003 jesse feels like the last person to use chatgpt to write a song

[@peezy-wheezy]

Man that was perfect. Exactly how I felt about the debates. False dichotomy is exactly right.

[@eliaslyman9256]

Thank you for the conversations your music is attempting to provoke. Another great piece of music.

[@lucasowen9990]

Thank you for your songs!! They are beautiful

[@mollydooker9636]

Just brilliant. Thank you.

[@islandonlinenews]

I thought he said “two foxes poking at each other’s eyes” which I thought was a great line.

[@s33ur3lv3lvly]

He said two fossils which is funnier.

[@islandonlinenews]

@@s33ur3lv3lvly two foxes is more poetic imo.

[@s33ur3lv3lvly]

@@islandonlinenews it’s doesn’t make sense, cuz it was about the trump and Biden, neither one of them are foxes. lol. But they are ancient.

[@702KingofVegas]

Thanks for recording history in your songs

[@bencovey3061]

"Mom and dad are fighting in Atlanta, I'm online pricing lobotomies" is maybe my favorite Jesse Welles line

[@rhouser1280]

🎶Just what constitutes elder abuse?🎶 😂

[@judyjetson686]

You aren’t real. You literally may be the most talented person I’ve ever seen. Every single one of your songs is a Banger.

[@longhaulpaulmusic4028]

Stellar piece of writing . Well done.

[@Ethan-fh9lq]

Our man with the guitar. Keep em coming brother.

[@jayedgardyson1920]

A beautifully poetic troubadour.❤❤❤

[@tokyovibes6576]

Welles is amazing from his old band music to his new singles are all amazing

[@jwolfbear]

Always look forward to you're musical creativity. Never disappointed.

[@rezkat6]

never stops being fantastic..