Johnny 'Guitar' Watson Stands In Solidarity Against The Robot Workers
Anti-Computer 80s Electro-Funk Audio Beef Today. Johnny Guitar Watson stands in solidarity with the workers of the world, against our new computer masters.
'Strike On Computers' by Johnny 'Guitar' Watson from his 1984 album Strike On Computers
(This is a weird one, alright.)
I confess that I've been feeling a love-hate relationship with my computer lately. On the one hand it's the most powerful tool a curious person could have. On the other hand it ciphers my entire life into something both beautiful and dreadful.
Johnny 'Guitar' Watson captured this computexistential horror perfectly in this electro-funkin' rant, circa 1984. The groove is thick and Johnny sure knows how to express himself on the microphone and the guitar.
I can't improve on the lyrics (and I can't find them anywhere else online) so here's a complete transcription. Copyright belongs to Johnny or whoever ganked his rights. Emphasis is mine.Mmm mmm mmm
Home computers
TV Game computers
Pac Man.. Mr. AND Mrs.
They done got married
Ain't that somethin?I'm talkin' 'bout
Boy, this computer thing is ROUGH!Help me!
For the benefit of you
Who thought that I was through
Cause you haven't been hearing Guitar too much
I can understand it
Uh.. something was wrong
And that's why your pal been gone
And just for you I did some research!Now listen
As my research will show
The music business and all the businesses were slow
And one thing I didn't realize
All them regular jobs
That you and I do
Have all become computerized!
Help me!CHORUS
We need to strike on computers!
People, I ain't lyin'!
We need to strike on computers!
Before there ain't no jobs to find!
Now there is a computer
That is connected
To the nose of a missile
That will seek out a target
And blow it up anywhereBut dig!
There's a brand new missile
That's got a computer that'll
Seek that missile out and
Blow that sucker up in midairI think you better help me!
CHORUS
Owww! Listen!
Unemployment is at an all-time high
And you wondering how you lost your jobWell let the Guitar lip (?)
You might think it's funny
But the computer gonna save the company money
And it's gonna be done your job before you start!
Help me!Now let me talk to your kids
Listen, all you kids in school
Everybody that got a teacher
I'm gonna tell you what to do
When the bell ring for lunchNow you grab that teacher by the arm
And you rush to the cafeteria and buy
All the food that you can and say hey
Teacher, would you teach me something about
T punch?Help me!
Now listen!
Just the other day I had to go down to the music store
Because I didn't have any more guitar strings left
The salesman said:
"Awww Hey Guitar! I got just the guitar you need to see"
People.. the damn thing played by itself!Awww! Help me!
CHORUS
(I have no idea what he means by 'T Punch' either. We just report it, it's up to you to get confused.)
Comments
Exactly. You know how you go to some people's houses, & they have like this dog that's clearly the alpha male & the owner is his slave? That's how I feel about my computer
Posted by: jeff | October 7, 2004 07:36 PM