Th… Read Full Bio ↴Just some random guy, recording singsongs for mysterious reasons.
There are two artists by this name. One records strange folk songs (also known tentatively as Spiral Pine), the other is a DJ.
Strange folk songs, etc: http://thelandnexttothesea.bandcamp.com/
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John S Lyrics
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Standing in front of the tanks that
Rolled on Tianamin Square
He just stood there
I heard the Red Guard went door to door and
They found him hiding under the floorboards
They yanked him out
No he was never caught,
They smuggled him out to America
He doesn't want to talk about it
He's got a new name
He lives in Maclean, Virginia
Do you remember the man
Who blocked the caravan
Trying to talk sense to
The machine gunner
He held the ranks
No he was never caught,
They smuggled him out to America
He doesn't want to talk about it
He's got a new name
He lives in Maclean, Virginia
John S's song is a poignant reminder of two instances in history where individuals bravely stood up against oppressive forces. The first verse refers to the iconic Tank Man who became the symbol of the 1989 pro-democracy protests in Beijing's Tiananmen Square. The image of him standing alone in front of a line of tanks has become one of the most recognizable photographs of the 20th century. The song mentions how he was never caught and was smuggled out of China to America. It's clear that even after all these years, he still doesn't want to talk about what happened in Tiananmen Square.
The second verse refers to a lesser-known event, where a man tried to block a caravan of military vehicles during the 2011 Arab Spring protests in Egypt. This man refused to run away or give up even when facing a machine gunner. The lyrics indicate that he was never caught and was also smuggled out to America. The song suggests that he too has a new name and lives in Maclean, Virginia.
It's interesting how the song connects these two seemingly random events across decades and continents. Both of these men were willing to take a stand, even if it meant risking their own lives. The lyrics express a sense of admiration for such bravery but also highlight the tragic reality of oppressive regimes that repress dissent and threaten the lives of those who stand up to them.
Line by Line Meaning
Do you remember the man?
Do you remember the brave individual who stood up against injustice?
Standing in front of the tanks that
Taking a stand against an oppressive force by standing directly in front of it.
Rolled on Tiananmen Square
The location where the oppressive force was notably present.
He just stood there
Despite the threat to his life, he did not back down and bravely stood his ground.
I heard the Red Guard went door to door and
It was rumored that the oppressive force searched tirelessly for their target, going as far as checking individual homes.
They found him hiding under the floorboards
The target went to great lengths to evade the oppressive force and was eventually found in a hidden space beneath the floor.
They yanked him out
The oppressive force forcibly removed the target from his hiding spot.
And shot him twice in the head
The oppressive force executed the target in a brutal and violent manner.
No he was never caught,
In reality, the target was able to evade the oppressive force and escape their grasp.
They smuggled him out to America
The target was able to flee to a safe location in another country.
He doesn't want to talk about it
The target likely experienced trauma from their experience and chooses not to speak about it.
He's got a new name
The target had to change their identity to keep themselves safe and protected.
He lives in Maclean, Virginia
The target settled in a new location, where they were able to start a new life and continue to live in safety.
Do you remember the man
Bringing the listener's attention back to the individual who showed tremendous bravery.
Who blocked the caravan
The individual took another strong stand against an oppressive force, this time by blocking their means of transportation.
Trying to talk sense to
Despite the danger, the individual tried to communicate with the oppressors in hopes of reaching a peaceful resolution.
The machine gunner
The individual was effective in disrupting the efforts of the oppressive force and took a stand against even those holding the ultimate power.
He held the ranks
Despite overwhelming odds, the individual was able to succeed in stalling the oppressive force's progress.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., ZELLS MUSIC COMPANY
Written by: John Vanderslice
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind