Song
The American Kid
by Carsie Blanton
Musician Carsie Blanton finds a spark of optimism amidst the slow burn of revolution
When contemplating America in the 21st century, I often think of this quote from Tom Atlee: "Things are getting better and better and worse and worse, faster and faster."
Because this is so deeply and absolutely true of this political moment, it's hard to reckon with questions like, "are you optimistic?" It depends on the day.
My most optimistic moments of this fresh and wild decade hit me while watching the massive protest movement unfold. We had more people in the streets this summer than in the heyday of the civil rights movement! If we can keep that up - millions of people not just THINKING about justice, but DOING it - there is hope for the American people.
And I love the American people.
Carsie at a protest in July. Photograph by Shawn Reid.
I love our music and our food and our senses of humor. I love the deep south and the lakes and Humboldt and those weathered little seafood shacks in New England. I have driven every corner of this place, and can confirm that by a huge margin, Americans are generous and funny and compassionate and love the heck outta their kids.
The American empire, however, has spent most of its resources destroying the lives of those people, and of other people all over the world. It's been doing that since minute one, and it's still doing that today. I don't have much love for that project, and I hope the millions in the streets will throw a serious wrench in that death machine. I think we could do a much better job of governing ourselves than we've been allowed to, so far.
My biggest hope is that we love each other so hard, we learn how to engage with each other, over the long haul, in the boring and tedious work of revolution.
For the official music video of “American Kid,” Carsie spent months driving across the country to capture moments and faces that represent America. Directed by Carsie Blanton, Elijah Blanton, and Andrew Rozario.
“American Kid”
Music and lyrics by Carsie Blanton
I was once an American kid
Growing up on hallowed ground
Rode to the river on a pretty red horse
In a pretty little country town
But I grew up fast, and I cast my vote
For the president
And I had my doubts, but I still had hope
Until I read the finer print
Don't look now, but it won't be long
They're gonna wonder what we did
And we'll have to admit that we done them wrong
God help the American kid
Oh, God help the American kid
Well I read the news and the paper too
And I see 'em on the TV screen
Maybe they know not what they do
But I wish they'd say what they mean
We stole this nation, fair and square
And a whole lot of people in chains
But it was all for the glory of God, I swear
And the glory of capital gains
Don't look now, but it won't be long
They're gonna wonder what we did
And we'll have to admit that we done them wrong
God help the American kid
Oh, God help the American kid
All the little kids all around the world
Some have and others don't
God loves all the boys and girls
God knows America won't
I hear them holler in my head
Can you hear that lonesome sound?
Well it may be true that we made our bed
But I ain't taking it lying down
Don't look now, but it won't be long
They're gonna wonder what we did
And we'll have to admit that we done them wrong
God help the American kid
Oh, God help the American kid
God help the American kid
Contributor
Carsie Blanton is an American singer-songwriter with a range encompassing jazz, pop, and punk. Her most recent album, BUCK UP, was released in 2019 and named one of NPR Fresh Air’s top 10 albums. She lives in New Orleans, where she is writing a new album during quarantine that listeners can follow along with here. Cover photograph by Bobby Bonsey.