Iris Dement "Living in the wasteland of the free"

I've listened to a lot of songs....and i have to say none moves me more than iris dement's 1996 "living in the wasteland of the free" which gives me mega-loads of goosebumps...it represents so much what i believe...i think thats why it moves me so much.. because someone made a beautiful song with my feelings.... recorded during the clinton years its become particularly fitting- sadly- in the bush presidency....its an unbelievable song.. curiously enough after this album, "the way i should", was released- an album that remains an underrated classic- iris dropped from sight.. i did catch her on tour with john prine a few years ago (at the birchmere).. i also saw her briefly in memphis way back when.. i know i talked to her manager by a pool table but can't remember if i actually talked to iris..... well iris is back after 8 or 9 years with a new album of cover songs.. i'll have to check it out.. she is an absolute phenomenal interpreter, performer and songwriter... she is up there with lucinda williams in my book..


Living in the wasteland of the free


We got preachers dealin' in politics and diamond mines
And their speech is growing increasingly unkind
They say they are Christ's disciples --They don't look like Jesus to me
And it feels like I am living in the wasteland of the free

We got politicians runnin' races on corporate cash
Now don't tell me they don't turn around and kiss them peoples' ass
You may call me old fashioned --That don't fit my picture of a true democracy
And it feels like I am living in the wasteland of the free

We got CEOs makin' 200 times the worker's pay
And they fight like hell against raisin' the minimum wage
If you don't like it, mister,They'll ship your job to some Third World country 'cross the sea
And it feels like I am living in the wasteland of the free

Living in the wasteland of the free
Where the poor have now become the enemy
Let's blame our problems on the weak ones -- Sounds like some kind of Hitler remedy
And it feels like I am living in the wasteland of the free

We got kids fighting inner-city wars
And what do we do, we put these little kids behind prison doors
And they say we're the advanced civilization --That sounds like crap to me
And it feels like I am living in the wasteland of the free

We got high-school kids wearin' Calvin Klein and Guess
Who cannot pass a fifth grade written test
But if you ask them, they can tell you
The name of every crotch on MTV
And it feels like I am living in the wasteland of the free

We kill for oil, then throw a party when we win
Some guy refuses to fight and we call that the sin
He's standing up for what he believes in --That sounds pretty damned American to me
And it feels like I am living in the wasteland of the free

While we stand gloating in our greatness
Justice is sinking towards the bottom of the sea
And it feels like I am living in the wasteland of the free
Living in the wasteland of the free