Noam Chomsky Is A Soft Revolution
Foy Vance Lyrics


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Carl Perkins for the rock n roll
Dr. John for the jockamo
Little Richard for a Saturday night
James Brown if you're feelin outtasight
Willie Nelson if you're feelin low
Aretha Franklin if you need some soul

Play em loud but if you're quiet and you're brooding baby

Noam Chomsky is a soft revolution

Jean-Paul Sartre if it's all just so
Dostoyevsky if you're in the know
A bit of scripture for a little light
Baby Che Guevara for a full on bar fight
Alexander if you're feeling great
Charlie Darwin if you're thinking ‘bout apes

If you're quiet and you're looking for solution baby

Noam Chomsky is a soft revolution

Old Joe Lewis gonna wear you down
Ali Muhammad gonna do it loud
Marciano got a granite chin
Baby go get a rocket for a 147
Gotta bolt when you're feeling lighting
And that McGregor good lord he's frightenin'

If your quiet and you're sick of institution baby





Noam Chomsky is a soft revolution

Overall Meaning

In the song "Noam Chomsky is a Soft Revolution", Foy Vance is essentially giving us a playlist of various artists that can encapsulate our different moods and situations. He suggests various musical legends such as Carl Perkins for rock n roll, Little Richard for a Saturday night and Willie Nelson when you're feeling low. In each situation, Vance recommends to play these artists loud except for when "you're quiet and you're brooding baby". In situations like these, he suggests that Noam Chomsky is a soft revolution.


Chomsky is a renowned linguist and philosopher, whose contributions to psychology and cognitive science are significant. He has written extensively on the media's role in shaping public opinion and the criminal justice system's impact on society. In the song, Vance suggests that Chomsky's ideas and teachings can be a soft revolution in our lives, particularly if we are looking for a solution. Vance believes that Chomsky's teachings can be an inspiration for people to examine different ideas and philosophies that can foster change and progress.


Overall, the song is a commentary on the power of different cultural figures to inspire, challenge and provoke us in different situations, and highlights Chomsky's importance in this regard.


Line by Line Meaning

Carl Perkins for the rock n roll
If you want to listen to rock n roll music, listen to Carl Perkins


Dr. John for the jockamo
If you want to listen to jockamo music, listen to Dr. John


Little Richard for a Saturday night
If you want to enjoy a Saturday night, listen to Little Richard


James Brown if you're feelin outtasight
If you're feeling great, listen to James Brown


Willie Nelson if you're feelin low
If you're feeling low, listen to Willie Nelson


Aretha Franklin if you need some soul
If you need some soul, listen to Aretha Franklin


Play em loud but if you're quiet and you're brooding baby
You can play these songs loudly, but if you're quiet and reflective, listen to the next line


Noam Chomsky is a soft revolution
Noam Chomsky represents a peaceful way to inspire change and revolution


Jean-Paul Sartre if it's all just so
If life seems meaningless, listen to Jean-Paul Sartre


Dostoyevsky if you're in the know
If you have knowledge about a certain topic, listen to Dostoyevsky


A bit of scripture for a little light
Reading religious scripture can provide a source of enlightenment


Baby Che Guevara for a full on bar fight
If you're looking for a fight, Che Guevara would be a motivational figure


Alexander if you're feeling great
If you're feeling unstoppable, listen to Alexander


Charlie Darwin if you're thinking ‘bout apes
If you're contemplating the theory of evolution, listen to Charlie Darwin


If you're quiet and you're looking for solution baby
If you're reflective and searching for answers, listen to the next line


Noam Chomsky is a soft revolution
Noam Chomsky represents a peaceful way to inspire change and revolution


Old Joe Lewis gonna wear you down
If you're looking for a fighter who never gives up, listen to Old Joe Lewis


Ali Muhammad gonna do it loud
If you're looking for a loud and flashy fighter, listen to Ali Muhammad


Marciano got a granite chin
If you're looking for a fighter with a strong chin, listen to Marciano


Baby go get a rocket for a 147
If you want to watch an impressive feat, watch a 147 in snooker


Gotta bolt when you're feeling lighting
If you're feeling energized, make the most of it


And that McGregor good lord he's frightenin'
McGregor is an intimidating figure


If your quiet and you're sick of institution baby
If you're reflective and tired of the norms and rules of institutions, listen to the next line


Noam Chomsky is a soft revolution
Noam Chomsky represents a peaceful way to inspire change and revolution




Contributed by Gabriella V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@heshamelsingaby8868

Carl Perkins for the rock n roll
Dr. John for the jockamo
Little Richard for a Saturday night
James Brown if you’re feelin outtasight
Willie Nelson if you’re feelin low
Aretha Franklin if you need some soul
Play em loud but if you’re quiet and you’re brooding baby
Noam Chomsky is a soft revolution

Jean-Paul Sartre if it’s all just so
Dostoyevsky if you’re in the know
A bit of scripture for a little light
Baby Che Guevara for a full on bar fight
Alexander if you’re feeling great
Charlie Darwin if you’re thinking ‘bout apes
If you’re quiet and you’re looking for solution baby
Noam Chomsky is a soft revolution

Old Joe Lewis gonna wear you down
Ali Muhammad gonna do it loud
Marciano got a granite chin
Baby go get a rocket for a 147
Gotta bolt when you’re feeling lighting
And that McGregor good lord he’s frightenin’
If your quiet and you’re sick of institution baby
Noam Chomsky is a soft revolution



@leahcim3360

@Sagar Das

"Noam Chomsky Is A Soft Revolution"

Carl Perkins for the rock n roll
Dr. John for the jockamo
Little Richard for a Saturday night
James Brown if you’re feelin outtasight
Willie Nelson if you’re feelin low
Aretha Franklin if you need some soul
Play em loud but if you’re quiet and you’re brooding baby
Noam Chomsky is a soft revolution
Jean-Paul Sartre if it’s all just so
Dostoyevsky if you’re in the know
A bit of scripture for a little light
Baby Che Guevara for a full on bar fight
Alexander if you’re feeling great
Charlie Darwin if you’re thinking ‘bout apes
If you’re quiet and you’re looking for solution baby
Noam Chomsky is a soft revolution
Old Joe Lewis gonna wear you down
Ali Muhammad gonna do it loud
Marciano got a granite chin
Baby go get a rocket for a 147
Gotta bolt when you’re feeling lighting
And that McGregor good lord he’s frightenin’
If your quiet and you’re sick of institution baby
Noam Chomsky is a soft revolution



All comments from YouTube:

@alohacoach8002

I just discovered this song 20min ago, its been on repeat. Now it's my song for this next 2 months. Love this jam.

@paulb1994

i love Colm McClean's guitar playing here - sounds great!

@LJ-sp9jl

This concert was superb. Flew from Nova Scotia to see it, well with it!!!

@rhondacase7194

So glad this was featured on Amy Goodman's Democracy Now! today. (Along with the Noam himself.) My new favorite too!

@lrllrlrr5089

Rhonda Case ... Democracy Now brought me here too

@joshsteinbauer

me too. Thanks Amy.

@kathyg1660

I was familiar with this song before--saw him perform it live :)

@LorenzodiLaurent

That's where I first heard this song! it is awesome, just as Noam is.

@somerandomguywholikestopla8911

Was looking for a book referred by Noam Chomsky. But instead found this awesome song...

@mickemusik

Damn - this is fuckin good!

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