Among the hundreds of artists he's worked with include Phil Ochs, Tim Buckley, Haruomi Hosono, The Byrds, Rufus Wainwright, Harry Nilsson, Randy Newman, Ry Cooder, U2, Joanna Newsom, Inara George, Keith Moon, Frank Zappa, Harpers Bizarre, Little Feat, Ringo Starr, Silverchair, and Skrillex.
In addition to producing, Parks has released seven studio albums of his own recordings: Song Cycle, Discover America, Clang of the Yankee Reaper, Jump!, Tokyo Rose, Songs Cycled, and with Brian Wilson, Orange Crate Art. He has also released a live album, Moonlighting: Live at the Ash Grove. His first official release was the 1966 single Number Nine, a modernized version of Beethoven's 9th backed with Do What You Wanta.
Parks has also established himself in film scores, and over the years has directed, arranged, produced, and composed soundtracks for a great number of motion pictures and television shows.
During his childhood, Parks became extremely fond of old-style American music, most notably the sounds of Tin Pan Alley. This interest in Depression-era songwriting would correlate heavily with his artistic goals and interests during the 1960s and beyond. He was also deeply affected by musicians Spike Jones and Les Paul, which led him to develop an interest with studio experimentation in the form of pop music.
Trade War
Van Dyke Parks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mister Ford sez to Mister Firestone
When they meet at the old campground
"We will send out the news by wire and
Tell all the people what we have found
We can ask Thomas Alva Edison
Telephone Alexander Graham Bell
Just make yourself clear and tell him to go straight to hell
Trade war!
For your peace and our protection
Give us speed and new direction
Someone needs to mind the store
Trade war!
As is mentioned in the Bible
Nations tend to what is tribal
Across the ocean white with foam
Spend your dollars here at home"
Mister Ford turns to MisterFirestone
"Well the nation has gotta roll
Time has come for the Yanks to load up the tanks
If a victory is our goal
To show the world all about free enterprize
Cut the competition down to size
We must make it a date to participate in cooperation
We are a nation at war
Trade war!
We are thinking of survival
At the brink with each new rival
Here to even up the score
Trade war!
Competition now is global
Give your country what is noble
If you're an eagle you must soar
We are a nation as at war!
There's a bomber up in the sky tonight
'Cause the two brothers Wright took flight
Man has gone to the air to keep the world fair
Show the others where might makes right
When you look up in the wild blue yonder now
And see a star or a satellite
On a Yankee's invention it may depend
So lend us your spirit bright!
Trade war!
Don't sell land to the invader
Tell him come back maybe later
We don't do that anymore
Trade war!
Thanks to our man Ronald Reagan
He is gone and we are begging
For just the interest on the loan
And calamity unknown
Trade war!
For our lands and independence
For our children and descendants
We must hold them at the door
Trade war!
And the sparks have started flying
Though your heart says you're denying
Our love for all humanity
It's what keeps us breathing free
Trade war!
Make it legal make it tender
May our nation not surrender oh no!
For just one race to rule the world
Keep that battle flag unfurled!"
Van Dyke Parks's song Trade War is a complex commentary on the politics of protectionism and the inherent dangers of nationalism. The song's opening verse sees Mister Ford and Mister Firestone discussing the merits of American-made product and the need to promote domestic business. The second verse reflects a sense of fear and urgency for survival as Parks sings about a world in which competition is global, and nations are forced to play to their strengths to stay afloat. The third verse feels almost like a call to arms, boasting of the Wright brothers' pioneering aviation feats and the US as the champion of innovation and industry. The final verses draw a parallel between the dangers of war and the global economic competition that threatens American values and independence.
Overall, Trade War is a song that explores both the benefits and drawbacks of protectionism and nationalism. Parks seems to suggest that while inward-looking policies can help protect certain jobs and industries, they can also create more significant problems in the long run. The song is a call to remember America's history of openness, innovation, and global engagement and to resist the urge to retreat into isolationism and xenophobia.
Line by Line Meaning
Mister Ford sez to Mister Firestone
Ford talks to Firestone
When they meet at the old campground
While they are meeting up
"We will send out the news by wire and
"We will inform the people through telegraph and
Tell all the people what we have found
Share the discovery with everyone
We can ask Thomas Alva Edison
We can ask Edison
Telephone Alexander Graham Bell
Call Bell
And if someone comes here with something to sell
If someone comes to sell something
Just make yourself clear and tell him to go straight to hell
Reject them outright
Trade war!
Trade war!
For your peace and our protection
To safeguard everyone
Give us speed and new direction
Revitalize us
Someone needs to mind the store
We need to be cautious
Trade war!
Trade war!
As is mentioned in the Bible
Just like the Bible says
Nations tend to what is tribal
Nations look after their own
Across the ocean white with foam
Over the sea
Spend your dollars here at home"
Invest in the home market
Mister Ford turns to MisterFirestone
Ford tells Firestone
"Well the nation has gotta roll
"Our nation must succeed
Time has come for the Yanks to load up the tanks
It's time to mobilize
If a victory is our goal
If victory is what we want
To show the world all about free enterprize
To showcase free enterprise
Cut the competition down to size
Eliminate competition
We must make it a date to participate in cooperation
We must work together
We are a nation at war
We are at war
Trade war!
Trade war!
We are thinking of survival
We are prioritizing survival
At the brink with each new rival
On the brink with new competition
Here to even up the score
To level the playing field
Trade war!
Trade war!
Competition now is global
Competition is worldwide
Give your country what is noble
Be patriotic
If you're an eagle you must soar
If you want to succeed, you need to aim high
We are a nation as at war!
We are a nation at war!
There's a bomber up in the sky tonight
A bomber is flying overhead tonight
'Cause the two brothers Wright took flight
Because the Wright Brothers invented flight
Man has gone to the air to keep the world fair
Flight maintains a level playing field
Show the others where might makes right
Demonstrate power and might
When you look up in the wild blue yonder now
When you look up at the sky now
And see a star or a satellite
And see a celestial body or a man-made satellite
On a Yankee's invention it may depend
It may depend on an invention from the USA
So lend us your spirit bright!
So support us!
Trade war!
Trade war!
Don't sell land to the invader
Don't sell land to outsiders
Tell him come back maybe later
Tell them to come back later
We don't do that anymore
We don't do that now
Trade war!
Trade war!
Thanks to our man Ronald Reagan
Thanks to Reagan
He is gone and we are begging
He is gone and we are asking
For just the interest on the loan
For just the loan interest
And calamity unknown
And unforeseen disaster
Trade war!
National economics at war!
For our lands and independence
For our country and autonomy
For our children and descendants
For future generations
We must hold them at the door
We must stand our ground
Trade war!
Trade war!
And the sparks have started flying
And tensions are rising
Though your heart says you're denying
Though you feel hesitant
Our love for all humanity
Our love for people everywhere
It's what keeps us breathing free
It's what keeps us free
Trade war!
Trade war!
Make it legal make it tender
Make it legal and valuable
May our nation not surrender oh no!
May our country never give up!
For just one race to rule the world
For one race to dominate globally
Keep that battle flag unfurled!"
Never let up the fight
Contributed by Samuel J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.