I only mention this because about a year and a half ago Naomi reviewed a uniquely poignant and sometimes bitterly ironic protest CD by Jefferson Pepper titled, coincidently or not, Christmas In Fallujah.

At the time, Slacker Country didn’t know that the song had been inspired by Jefferson Pepper’s neighbor, Army Medic David Maples.

After Billy Joel released his song/video, David’s mother Lisa put together a video of the original Christmas In Fallujah and posted it on YouTube.

I’m certainly not arguing that Billy Joel stole Jefferson Pepper’s idea here. I don’t know. Maybe he thought up the title and wrote a song about being stuck in Iraq for the holidays from a soldier’s perspective entirely on his own. I’m only posting this so the original song isn’t forgotten in all the fuss and furor…

Jefferson Pepper’s music ranges from folky to country rock to almost punk.  The melodies are insidiously appealing.  If you’re not paying close attention, you might miss the fact that it’s a scathing indictment of the current U.S. administration.  Yeah, right.  The lyrics are as sarcastic and pointedly critical as, I don’t know, Jon Stewart on The Daily Show.

The title track, in particular, brings home the misery that the people in Iraq are living with day after day as we “give the gift of freedom, through unprovoked attack.”  How’s that for bitter irony?  The line that sticks in my head is: “if we get it right half the time, that’s close enough.”  Talk about a casual attitude toward collateral damage.  And the violin the song starts with is so so sweet, providing dramatic contrast with the harshness of the lyrics and the story they tell.

Pepper asks the question that gets to the heart of what America seems to be all about these days —- “what’s wrong with me making a shitload of money on the side?”  That pretty much sums up the philosophy of our administration. 

Inside the CD, there’s a picture of a Christmas elf holding up a banner that says “It’s not about the oil.”  Of course it isn’t.

Other tracks deal with the way our culture grooms boys to go to war, the social implications of urban sprawl, our nationally short attention span, conspicuous disposable consumption, the economic depression, stuff like that.

The entire CD reeks of disillusionment.  Plus it sounds good.  It’s a debut album that is guaranteed to stay with you.