Unamerican Way

from Floodplain (2000) by Shaun Belcher

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about

Included in the original Floodplain Demos but an outlier to main theme as political. Here included as a bonus extra.

The photo is Dashiell Hammett the author being arrested by McCarthys goon squad for unamerican activities.

After he gave his testimony, he was held in contempt of court, and arrested. He was fifty-seven years old.

Hammett served five months in a penitentiary in West Virginia, where he was assigned to clean the toilets.

lyrics

UNAMERICAN WAY
for Dashiell Hammett

Did you hear the guns a rattling out on the Kentucky hills
As mud spattered up from your prison truck's wheels
Did you smile every day as you washed the days away
Imprisoned for having nothing to say?

Did you dream in an un-American way?
Of diamonds and furs and long limousines in the rain
Is that the un-American way?

Now the Campsfield* wire fences are rattling in the wind
And there are stranger's faces pressed against the panes
What did they dream they'd find beyond the ghost of empire
Were they dreaming of a world of American stars and bars

Did they dream in an un-American way

Now the holy walls are dripping with the blood of men
As guns crackle like whips above their heads
And that prison truck is busy carrying away those who're caught
Dreaming in an un-American way of diamond rings and furs

*Campsfield Immigration Camp, Oxford was closed recently

credits

from Floodplain (2000), released January 1, 2000

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Shaun Belcher Nottingham, UK

If you’ve ever dreamt of Daniel Johnston doing an impression of Conor Oberst singing Jeff Tweedy songs,
then you must listen to this.

Bill Kerry III

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