For generations of great American songwriters, the music and the message have been inextricably linked. Word and deed are one in the same, and the only thing more moving than the rousing call to action is the evocative melody that transports the words like a shell casing. These are fire-breathing poets of justice who sing about ordinary people in extraordinary ways, and can turn the world inside out with three chords and the truth. These are the tenets by which STATE RADIO’s Chad Stokes Urmston, Chuck Fay, and Mike “Mad Dog” Najarian are driven, and they once again flex that strength and sense of purpose on their third album, LET IT GO. But this is no soapbox symposium.
“It’s the only way I know how to do it,” says singer/guitarist Stokes about the band’s impassioned social consciousness. “It’s the only way State Radio has done it. This has always been an organic, grassroots thing. It’s about trying to be true to what we do.”
Like Rage Against The Machine and System Of A Down before them, State Radio roll up their sleeves as they practice what they preach, whether it’s riding bikes to gigs to support Bikes Not Bombs, hosting food drives in conjunction with Rock For A Remedy, or playing shows to raise money for the Learning Center for the Deaf. How’s Your News?, a film project created by Stokes while working at a camp for adults with disabilities, where the campers are the reporters, was just a way for Stokes and company to flip the standard interview format on its head with a different viewpoint before it was picked up by Trey Parker and Matt Stone for a run on HBO and MTV.
Action is hardly a new concept for all the members of State Radio. Before the band, Mad Dog volunteered as mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters, while Fay was and continues to be a powerful voice for Instant Runoff Voting and comprehensive election reform across the country. On tour, State Radio has joined with Amnesty International to expose the injustices and improprieties of the legal system by protesting the death penalty for Georgia’s Troy Davis. They’ve worked to minimize wildfire danger by removing invasive plants from areas in California, and have partnered with Oxfam America to organize home run derbies and 5K road races to raise money and awareness to help protect women against violence in Sudan. Most bands have touring schedules. State Radio have an Action Calendar.
During their sold out, 25-city tour this past February, the band performed service projects in every town they visited, from serving lunch at a homeless shelter in Houston to building a community garden at an inner city elementary school in Washington, D.C. Calling All Crows (callingallcrows.org), the group’s platform for social action started by Stokes and State Radio tour manager Sybil Gallagher, is committed to continuing the group’s socio-political dialogue once the music ends and the lights come up. In less than a year, State Radio and their fans have amassed over 1,800 hours of community service through projects that have local, national, and global impact.
“There are times when there’s a service project every morning at 9am—and we’d had a late night the night before—where it’s like, ‘Are we a service group that plays music, or are we a band that does service projects?’” Stokes laughs. “There’s a balance between the two things because they feed each other. I want to experience the stuff I’m writing about.”
That same mindset held true for Stokes’ previous band, the roots rock outfit Dispatch, who formed while Stokes was a student at Middlebury College in Vermont. Though the group disbanded in 2002, they’ve reunited three times, the most notable being a three-night, sold out run at Madison Square Garden in 2007 to raise funds and awareness for poverty-stricken Zimbabwe. It marked the first time in history an unsigned band had headlined the Garden, let alone sold it out.
“It was a progression,” says Stokes’ of the shift from Dispatch to State Radio, who formed in 2002. “I think had Dispatch stayed together, all these State Radio songs would have been Dispatch songs.”
State Radio’s first album, Us Against The Crown, introduced listeners to the band’s raw, pop-punk sound. Tracks like “Mr. Larkin” and “Black Cab Motorcade” had all the boundless energy of a vigorous protest, while “Right Me Up,” a personal account of a friend with a disability, showcased Stokes’ reggae harmonies.
Their second album, Year Of The Crow, was recorded in the UK and produced by Tchad Blake (Peter Gabriel, Pearl Jam, Soul Coughing). Featuring songs like “Sudan,” “Guantanamo,” and “Gang Of Thieves,” the album pushed the group’s socio-political motivations even further into the forefront. It also broadened their sonic palette with bigger guitars (“CIA”) and more diverse instrumentation (“The Story Of Benjamin Darling, Part 1”). But the bridge between both records has always been Stokes’ transcendental storytelling, which continues to mature and evolve on Let It Go.
The album kicks off with “Mansin Humanity,” a gripping song about the Armenian genocide, then slides into “Calling All Crows,” a one-drop groove that calls the band’s legion of fans to attention as Stokes beckons, “It’s gonna be a showdown, said the rebel to the revolutionary, come with me!” Elsewhere, State Radio invoke the spirit of the Clash on “Doctor Ron The Actor” and “Knights Of Bostonia,” a raise-yer-pints anthem to the band’s hometown. (After all, Stokes did meet Mad Dog while he was drumming on a bucket outside of the home of the Red Sox Fenway Park.) Another track, “Held Up By The Wires,” mixes classic Boston references and Civil War tales with nods to Jack London’s “The Road,” sailing pioneer Irving Johnson, and Stokes’ own time spent in Zimbabwe. The track has been in the band’s repertoire since the early days, but it wasn’t until now that it found it’s way onto an album, a fact Stokes attributes to the way in which Let It Go was recorded.
While touring Year Of The Crow, State Radio enlisted Tchad Blake’s assistant, Dom Monks, as their front-of-house engineer; a critical position for a band with such a large live audience. When it came time to seek out producers for Let It Go, Monks threw his hat in the ring. He also suggested that the band record the songs in the same manner as they were performed: live off the floor, with all the instruments buzzing and howling at once.
“He has a great ear and he’s worked with the best guy,” says Stokes of his producer and friend. “He knew all our songs and he did an amazing job.”
Two-thirds of the album were recorded at Q-Division in Boston, while the remaining parts were tracked at the famous Long View Farm Studio, the preferred practice space of the Rolling Stones before all their US tours, and a location that houses just as much livestock as it does vintage pre-amps. The rustic setting provided the perfect atmosphere with which to coalesce the band’s trademark live energy, while recording straight to tape with limited tracks allowed them to be more succinct with the musical message they wanted to convey.
“We’ll take the long way around, we gather on the wall on the wrong side of town. We’ll surprise them all,” sings Stokes on “Evolution.” After years of social action and political awareness—not to mention playing in front of thousands upon thousands of fans with very little support by the mainstream—the 33-year-old Stokes knows a thing or two about how to serve up lighting in a bottle. Sometimes quiet persistence is the best way. Like when he and 15 other peers spent 28 days walking a headstone 433 miles from Sherborn, Massachusetts to Arlington National Cemetery to honor unknown civilians killed in war. (Alas, they were stopped at the bridge and not allowed to enter.) But after you’ve done the backstroke in the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and shaken hands with the Prime Minister of Zimbabwe, what do you do next?
“I think the dream would be to jump freights to each city,” says Stokes of their upcoming tour to support Let It Go. “Going out to the Democratic National Convention last year, my brother and I jumped freights from Massachusetts to Denver, then from Denver to California, opening up for Rage in the middle there.”
And have someone drive the gear?
“Or just get back line everywhere we go,” Stokes smiles, “and hit the rails that night.”
State Radio’s Let It Go is out September 29, 2009.
Gunship Politico
State Radio Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If you skirt disaster.
On the day they told her
But she want stay stay.
On they saw ya
Witnesses of goya.
Elected to serve ya
I hope you don't get what your after.
To whom it may concern
I'm writing of behalf of a brother
Twiced burned
I know
Just a product of your mind.
But when you continue
To let loose on a runnin man.
You send him crashing to the edge of the pavement
You're doing something you don't quite understand
Makin' like he's a lesser man.
In your
Gunship Gunship Gunship Politico.
I hope you don't get what your after.
I know
Just a product of your mind
... Off to the commissioner as fast as you can
With your smoking gun in hand.
Six men on their knees Eye's shinin in the
Highbeams of the search light
Cop's shadows on the wall, several stories tall
Instilling whoa such a fright
One's kicked in the gut, He's all cut up by the corner cop.
One stands in defense in a broken sentence
Ask not to be shot
If you please
Men of authority
We do not speak your language see
Please act accordingly.
He wasn't beggin
He was just keeping time with his cup
You go on and believe that
You keep your eyes straight up
I was just looking
I had no intention to touch
But I know when I'm not welcome
So I thank you very much.
See A, See A, see the women there demonstrate
See A, See A, see them know but they will not say
See A, See A, see them set the trial date
See A, See A, see the confidence on the DA's face.
Watch out for the politicos
Don't mess mess with the down downpressure way
They got it down pat, they got it down to a Tee
No one gets through the lockstep jaw.
You ain't guilty but you did get caught.
So lack for a better suspect we nominate you.
To ride this one out to see this one through.
See A, See A,
Arms thrown up in a ever fearful protest
As the firing squad would ever think to notice
As if you could summon the likes of moses
To put blood back in his friends veins.
And if your one step faster
You can skirt disaster
But if it's not you, it'll be the next guy
Who's the wrong color at the wrong time.
Another days over and the discision still stands
His honor in his chambers still washin' his hands
You know he's been fiddlin in his room all day
Just trying to wash all his conscience away.
No one's asking for hangman's tree
They just looking for something true to believe
See A, See A
See them know but will not say.
He wasn't beggin...
The lyrics of the song 'Gunship Politico' by State Radio are characterized by using cryptic and enigmatic language to convey a critical message. The main theme of the song is social and political responsibility, and how the abuse of power can lead to the oppression of individuals. The first verse describes a person who is playing with danger, but still hopes to get what he/she wants. The second verse is a protest note written on behalf of someone who has been mistreated. The lyrics describe how the authorities are quick to judge, and how they lack understanding and sensitivity towards the oppressed.
The song's chorus, ‘Gunship Gunship Gunship Politico,’ is an ironic reference to the government's cruel and violent exercise of power. The bridge of the song draws attention to the issue of police brutality, describing the violence inflicted on a man who is running for his life. It highlights how a person who stands against authority is seen as a lesser being. The lyrics also criticize the failure of the justice system to protect individuals and seek the truth. In conclusion, the song is making the point that the state and the people in power are responsible for the plight of the oppressed, and demand accountability from those in charge.
Line by Line Meaning
On the one they'll catch ya
If you are careless, you may end up getting caught
If you skirt disaster.
Avoiding danger by a hair's breadth is not enough, you must be vigilant
On the day they told her
Refers to receiving bad news
But she want stay stay.
The person is not willing to accept the news and move on
On they saw ya
They caught you committing an act
Witnesses of goya.
People who have seen the act but are hesitant to speak up or get involved
Elected to serve ya
Politicians or people in power who are supposed to serve the citizens
Til your dying day.
Until the day of your death
I hope you don't get what your after.
You may not get what you are aiming for, especially if your actions are questionable
To whom it may concern
A formal start to a letter or message aimed at an unknown recipient
I'm writing of behalf of a brother
Refers to someone in need of support or help, probably from someone in a position of authority
Twiced burned
Someone who has been cheated or deceived twice
Just a product of your mind.
The problems or conflicts faced by the person may be a result of their own mentality or decisions
But when you continue
Refers to persisting in a particular action
To let loose on a runnin man.
Pursuing someone relentlessly and trying to harm them physically or emotionally
You send him crashing to the edge of the pavement
The person's actions may have serious consequences on others
You're doing something you don't quite understand
The person may not fully comprehend the severity of their actions
Makin' like he's a lesser man.
The person being pursued or harmed is not being treated with dignity and respect
In your Gunship Gunship Gunship Politico.
Refers to an individual in a position of power using their authority to harm others
I know Just a product of your mind
Reiterating that the problems and conflicts are self-created
... Off to the commissioner as fast as you can
Refers to seeking help from someone in authority, probably with evidence that supports their case
With your smoking gun in hand.
Refers to having irrefutable evidence supporting their claim
Six men on their knees Eye's shinin in the
Refers to people who are being persecuted and tortured
Highbeams of the search light
Refers to the intense scrutiny and search for something that people in power believe is wrong
Cop's shadows on the wall, several stories tall
Portrays the oppressiveness and abuse of power by people in authority
Instilling whoa such a fright
Portrays how people in power use fear and intimidation to maintain their status quo
One's kicked in the gut, He's all cut up by the corner cop.
Refers to a violent and brutal use of force by the police or authority figures
One stands in defense in a broken sentence
Refers to someone who is standing up for their rights and trying to assert themselves, albeit hesitantly
Ask not to be shot
The person is trying to reason with the authorities and avoid being harmed
Men of authority
People in positions of power
We do not speak your language see
The people in authority and those at the receiving end do not understand each other, leading to misunderstandings and suppression
Please act accordingly.
The person is urging the people in power to act fairly and justly
He wasn't beggin
Refers to someone who is not causing any harm, but is being perceived as a threat by the authorities
He was just keeping time with his cup
Refers to someone who is just passing time, not causing any trouble
You go on and believe that
The authorities are stubborn and unwilling to understand the situation
You keep your eyes straight up
The authorities are instructed to stay alert and not let their guard down
I was just looking
The person is trying to assert their innocence and justify their actions
I had no intention to touch
The person was not trying to harm or cause any trouble
But I know when I'm not welcome
The person is aware that their presence is causing discomfort or suspicion
So I thank you very much.
The person is being sarcastic and expressing their displeasure with the situation
See A, See A, see the women there demonstrate
Refers to a group of women protesting against something or speaking up against injustice
See A, See A, see them know but they will not say
Refers to people who have knowledge about something, but are unwilling to speak up or get involved
See A, See A, see them set the trial date
Refers to people who are involved in legal proceedings and are waiting for a verdict to be passed
See A, See A, see the confidence on the DA's face.
Refers to an individual in power who is confident and assured of their position, despite the odds against them
Watch out for the politicos
Refers to people in power who are manipulative and scheming
Don't mess mess with the down downpressure way
Warnings against messing with the 'system' or those in power
They got it down pat, they got it down to a Tee
Refers to people in power who have mastered the art of suppressing dissent and maintaining their status quo
No one gets through the lockstep jaw.
Refers to how difficult it is to break free from the control of those in power
You ain't guilty but you did get caught.
Refers to how systems of power target and convict individuals who may not necessarily be guilty of any crime
So lack for a better suspect we nominate you.
Refers to how people in power frame innocent individuals to ensure that the system is in their control
To ride this one out to see this one through.
Refers to how people in power ensure that the system continues to work in their favour, even if it means suppressing dissent or targeting innocent people
Arms thrown up in a ever fearful protest
Refers to how people react when they are at the receiving end of injustice or oppression
As the firing squad would ever think to notice
Refers to how people in power are often oblivious to the plight of those who are being oppressed
As if you could summon the likes of moses
Refers to the possibility of divine intervention to right the wrongs being committed
To put blood back in his friends veins.
Refers to the possibility of resurrection or restoration of life to those who have been oppressed or harmed
And if your one step faster
Refers to the need to be careful and aware, and always stay one step ahead of those who seek to oppress or harm you
You can skirt disaster
Refers to avoiding danger or trouble by being vigilant and aware
But if it's not you, it'll be the next guy
Illustrates how a system of oppression ensures that someone will always be oppressed or targeted, even if it's not you
Who's the wrong color at the wrong time.
Illustrates the cost of being a minority or being different in a system of oppression
Another days over and the discision still stands
Refers to how the system of oppression continues to work, despite the efforts of those seeking change
His honor in his chambers still washin' his hands
Refers to how those in positions of authority often absolve themselves of responsibility or blame for their actions
You know he's been fiddlin in his room all day
Refers to how those in positions of authority are often corrupt or unethical
Just trying to wash all his conscience away.
Refers to how people in power may try to justify or ignore their actions, in order to avoid any guilt or responsibility
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Host47
On the one they'll catch ya
If you skirt disaster
On the day they told her
But she want stay stay
On the one they saw ya
Witnesses of goya
Elected to serve ya
Til your dying day
I hope you don't get what you're after
I hope you don't get what you're after
To whom it may concern
I'm writing on behalf of brother
Twice burned
Do you be reachin your time
Just a product of your mind
But when you continue let loose on the running man
You send him crashing to edge of the pavement
You're doing something you don't quite understand
Makin' like he's a lesser man
So be gone be gone to plea
You got your vehicle to ride on
Off to the comissioner as fast as you can
With your smokin' gun in hand
In your gunship gunship
Gunship politico
I hope you don't get what you're after
In your gunship gunship
Gunship politico
I hope you don't get what you're after
In your gunship gunship
Gunship gunship
In your gunship gunship
Gunship gunship
Six men on their knees
Eyes shinin' in the highbeams of the search light
Cop's shadows on the wall several stories tall
Instilling whoa such a fright
One's kicked in the gut
He's all cut up by the corner cop
One stands in defense in a broken sentence
Asks not to be shot
If you please
You men of authority
We do not speak your language see
Please act accordingly
He was't beggin
He was just keepin time with his cup
You go on and believe that
You keep your eyes staight up
I was just lookin
I had no intention to touch
But i know when i'm not welcome
So i thank you very much
See a see a
See the woman there demonstrate
See a see a
See them know but they will not say
See a see a
See them set the trial date
See a see a
The confidence on the DA's face
Watch out for them politicos
Watch out for them politicos
Watch out for them politicos
Watch out for them politicos
Don't mess mess with the down downpresser way
They got it down pat they got it down to a tee
Noone gets thru the lockstep jaw
You ain't guilty but you did get caught
So for lack of a better suspect we nominate you
To ride this one out to see this one thru
See a see a see a see a
Arms thrown up in an ever fearful protest
As the firing squad would ever think to notice
As if he could summon the likes of moses
To put the blood back in his friends veins
And if you one step faster
You can skirt disaster
But if its not you it'll be the next guy
Who's the wrong color at the wrong time
Another day's over and the decision still stands
His honor in his chambers still washin' his hands
You know he been fiddlin in his room all day
Just tryin to wash all his conscience away
Noone's askin for hangman's tree
They just looking for something true to believe
See a see a
See them know but they will not say
He wasn't beggin
He was just keepin time with him cup
He wasn't beggin
He was just keepin time with him cup
He wasn't beggin
He was just keepin time with him cup
You go on and believe that
And you keep your ash tray up
I was just lookin
I had no intention to touch
But i know when i'm not welcome
So i thank you very much
Nicole M
never heard of them until I saw them live and loved them ever since
Edmund Satkiewicz
Relevant and powerful.
N S
Right.
Brandon Pratt
These guys make things happen, period
Fintan McKahey
Absolitely brilliant song!
miguel jones
That bass work. So sick.
evan voght
2018 and still jammin to SR, love you guys!
MrPorkchops
2021 now
chill music
2020 its a bad year but the music makes it all better
L Phinizy
2020 😎