2. History
• Folk songs
• Enthusiastic songs
• Change to critical songs
3. Johnny Cash
• Lived the American Dream
– Career
– Bad sides of the American
Dream
• American dream in his music
– Between criticism and faith
(belief in the American Dream)
4. Johnny Cash: A boy named Sue
Well, I hit left home when I was three
My daddy him hard right between the eyes He said: "Now manjust foughtme that awfulfight
And kill that you who gave one hell of a name.
And he went leave but to my surprise,
And he didn'tdown, much to ma and me And I know you hate me,in mid-July the right
Well, it was Gatlinburg and you got
He comeold guitar and an empty off a piece of my ear. To kill Ime now,townI and my throat was dry,you do.
Just this up with a knife and cut bottle of booze. And just hit and wouldn't blame you if
But I busted a chair right across his teeth But ya ought to thank me, before I die,
Now, I don't blame him cause he run and hid street
And we crashed through the wall and into the For the gravel stop and have the spitain ya eye
I thought I'd in ya guts and myself brew.
But the meanest thing that he ever did At an old saloon on a street of mud,
Kicking and a' gouging in the mud and the blood and Cause I'm the son-of-a-bitch that named you "Sue.'"
the beer. he left, he went and named me "Sue."
Was before There at a table, dealing stud,
I got all chokedmangy dog that down my gun
Sat the dirty, up and I threw named me "Sue."
I tell ya, I've fought tougher menquite a joke
Well, he must o' thought that is And I called him my pa, and he called me his son,
But I really can't remember when, And I came away with a different point of view.
And it got like aof laughs from a'like aof folk,
He kicked a lot mule and he bit lots crocodile. And I think about him, now and then, sweet dad
Well, I knew that snake was my own
Itheard him laughfight my whole lifehim cuss,
I seems I had to and then I heard through. Every time I try and every time my mother'd had,
From a worn-out picture that I win,
He went would giggle and I'd get red
Some galfor his gun and I pulled mine first, And if II knewhave scar on think I'm gonna nameeye.
And ever that a son, I his cheek and his evil him
He stood there lookin' and I'dand I sawhead,
And some guy'd laugh at me bust his him smile. Bill or George! Anything but Sue! I still hate that name!
He was big and bent and gray and old,
I tell ya, life ain't easy for a boy named "Sue." And I looked at him and my blood ran cold
And he said: "Son, this world is rough
And if a man's gonna make it, he's gotta be tough And I said: "My name is 'Sue!' How do you do!
Well,IIknew I wouldn't be Ithere to help ya along.
And grew up quick and grew up mean, Now your gonna die!!"
So give ya that and my wits got keen,
MyI fist got hard name and I said goodbye
I knew you'd have to get tough hide my shame.
I'd roam from town to town to or die
AndIit's thea vow to the moonto make you strong."
But made name that helped and stars
That I'd search the honky-tonks and bars
5. Pro American dream songs
• Stories of personal
success
• poor people with tough
biographies
• America is beautiful
• Songs about immigrants
6. Anti-American dream songs
• Drugs and dependency
• Complexity of modern life
• Naivety of the American
dream
• Flippancy of the American
dream
– Success for individuals
not for society
7. Madonna: American life
Do I have to change my name? Will it get me far? I gottried to stay ahead, I tried to stay on top
I a lawyer and a manager
Will it get mesome weight? Am I gonna be a star?
Should I lose far? An Iagent to play the part, but somehow I forgot
tried and a chef
Should I lose some weight? Three nannies, anit for and why I wanted more
Just what I did assistant
I'm drinking a Soy latte, And a driver and a jet
Am I gonna beshotte,
I get a double a star? A trainer and a modern life - Is it for me?
This type of butler
It goes through my body, And a bodyguard or fivelife - Is it for free?
This type of modern
IAnd you knowboy, I tried to be a girl
tried to be a I'm satisfied A gardener and a stylist
II tried to be a mess, I tried to be the best
drive my Mini Cooper DoDo I have to change my name? Will it get me far?
you think I'm satisfied?
IAnd I'm feeling super-dooper I wrote this song
guess I did it wrong, That's why I'd Shouldexpress my extreme point gonna be a star?
like to I lose some weight? Am I of view
Yo they tell I'm a trooper I'm not Christian and I'm not a Jew
This typeknow I'm satisfied it for me?
And you of modern life - Is I'm just living out the American dream
This yoga of modern life - Is it for free?
I do type and Pilates American life (American life)
And I just realised that nothing
And the room is full of hotties Is what it seems
I live the American dream (American dream)
So II'm checking out the bodies sympathy
So went in to a bar, looking for You are the best thing I've seen
A little company - Isatisfied find a friend
And you know I'm tried to DoYou areto change my name
I have not just a dream (American life X2)
I'm digging on the isotopes Am I gonna be a star
It's more easily said, it's dope been the same
This metaphysics shit is always
This type this can give me hope me
And if all of modern life is not for Do I have to change my name be a girl
I tried to be a boy, tried to
This knowof modern life is not for free
You type I'm satisfied tried to be a mess, tried to be the best
tried to find a friend, tried to stay ahead
American life (American life) I tried to stay on top ...
I live the American dream (American dream)
You are the best thing I've seen
You are not just a dream (American life)