Whenever I hear Baby Boomers complain that nobody writes good protest songs anymore, I force them to shut up while I recite this gem by my good friend and musical collaborator Guy Crundwell:

Thomas Paine
by Guy Crundwell

Hope said, “There she is — it’s Betty Crocker!”
Camped beside her morals, 50s high-school locker
But to cancel physics class
Bend the present toward the past
Wouldn’t hold much stock for today’s
Punk rocker

‘Cause in between the Sega naps
And loving Mother’s vegan snacks
The Peace Corps, beatnik, skateboard scene
Has no reason to get mean
‘Cause physics class is cancelled for tonight

Dropped ‘em at the mall to see “Malcolm X”
Sheltered them when they asked you what came next
Oh, yeah — still, you dress ‘em up like flowers
And try to make ‘em little Eisenhowers
Anything to make you look your best

And shows about the Bill of Rights
Are blocked on cable TV nights
So Suzy and Chad can go to sleep
Without Thomas Paine or counting sheep
‘Cause civics class is cancelled for tonight
It’s all right
tonight
It’s all right