Current Event

Bad Religion has been one of my favorite bands for a very long time. They have been around for quite awhile now so I guess that means I'm getting old.

In light of the current events taking place in southern California, I am reminded of their song "Los Angeles Is Burning" from the CD "The Empire Strikes First". The social commentary in Bad Religion's lyrics has always been relevant and poignant.

Los Angeles Is Burning:

Somewhere high in the desert near a curtain of blue
St. Anne's skirts are billowing
But down here in the city of limelights
The fans of Santa Anna are withering
And you can't deny the living is easy
If you never look behind the scenery
It's show-time for dry climes
And bedlam is dreaming of rain
When the hills of Los Angeles are burning
Palm trees are candles in the murder-wind
So many lives are on the breeze
Even the stars are ill at ease
And Los Angeles is burning
This is not a test of the Emergency Broadcast System
Where Malibu fires and radio towers conspire to dance again
And I cannot believe the media Mecca
They're only trying to peddle reality
Catch it on prime-time, story at nine:
The whole world is going insane
When the hills of Los Angeles are burning
Palm trees are candles in the murder-wind
So many lives are on the breeze
Even the stars are ill at ease
And Los Angeles is burning
A placard reads, "the end of days"
Jacaranda boughs are bending in the haze
More a question than a curse:
How could hell be any worse?
The flames are stunning
The camera's running
So take warning
When the hills of Los Angeles are burning
Palm trees are candles in the murder-wind
So many lives are on the breeze
Even the stars are ill at ease
And Los Angeles is burning