Link to the song
Lyrics to the song
The Artist: Frank Turner
Somewhere between folk and punk, Frank Turner often sings about love, personal shortcomings, and recovery. His music comes across as a confrontation between his internal pessimistic and optimistic impulses.
The Song: 1933 (Album: Be More Kind, 2018)
Key Lyric Section-
The first time it was a tragedy
The second time is a farce
Outside it's 1933 so I'm hitting the bar
[Chorus]
But I don't know what's going on anymore
The world outside is burning with a brand new light
But it isn't one that makes me feel warm
Don't go mistaking your house burning down for the dawn
Don't go mistaking your house burning down for the dawn
[Verse 2]
If I was of the greatest generation I'd be pissed
Surveying the world that I built slipping back into this
I'd be screaming at my grandkids: "We already did this"
Be suspicious of simple answers
That shit's for fascists and maybe teenagers
You can't fix the world if all you have is a hammer
1933 was the year that Nazis took control of Germany. This song was largely written in response to the growing ethno-nationalistic and authoritarian impulses that have shocked Europe and America in recent years. Frank Turner is saying we have seen these phenomena before, and that the last time they resulted in concentration camps and gas chambers. Early in Trump’s presidency there were figures who said that comparing the Trump administration to Nazi Germany was offensive and baseless. Given the revelations regarding concentration camps on the Southern border, the families ripped away from each other, and the recent U.S Capital putsch, it seems that comparing Trump to Hitler is more justified than ever.
Later in the song, Turner pushes back against naivete and nuanceless political decisions. The world is a messy and complicated place, and anyone who says they have it all figured out is likely trying to sell something (whether that is a commodity or idea).
I could write for months about all of the atrocities perpetrated by the Trump administration, but I will leave most of that to the historians. To bash the failings of that administration would be cathartic, but it would also be seeing the world solely through the eyes of a hammer. While this song focuses on the laments of those who see history repeating itself, I believe the core message is a constructive one. As Reggie Watts says in his song So Good Yeah:
Take down the structure but only take down the structures to show the structure how it can be restructured in the first place. Don’t just be taking shit down just to take shit down, you’re just a destroyer. A destroyer without reaffirmation and the rebuilding of an idea that is better than the first that was destroyed in the first place is just a failed attempt at something that doesn’t make sense.
We can only see a problem once it is named and identified. The next step is to explore and advocate solution-building. One sentiment building out from Covid and political strife can be summarized in “Where do we go from here?” While I refuse to give you any simple answers, I can lay out some ideas that may help facilitate at least some kind of healing.
First, recognize tribalistic and chauvenistic behaviors. For further reading, I recommend this piece on ingroup/outgroup psychology and this piece on the Milgrim Experiment.
Second, seek to understand those that you disagree with. It is sadly commonplace for people to reach adulthood without education on healthy interpersonal relationships, boundaries, and critical thinking skills. Spotting snake oil sellers and fearmongers requires skill. Carl Sagan’s book Demon Haunted World goes into these topics in great detail, and I highly recommend it. To be clear, we must still hold prejudicial and toxic people accountable, as an explanation for their behavior isn’t an excuse.
Third, question faith and conviction, even one’s own. Especially when emotions run high, its easy to go along with a crowd, a persuasive politician, or a smooth talking salesperson. Whether blind faith is in free markets, religious leaders, or political ideology, it has the potential to create immense harm.
Fourth, seek to facilitate learning and growth in yourself and others. Creating an environment in which you can admit to mistakes and allow others to admit to mistakes is one way to seek progress. Rather than spending endless time arguing, try to engage with people who are willing to be constructive.
Surely these points aren’t perfect, and they won’t fix the world tomorrow. Making a positive change in the world involves countless tiny decisions and interactions, and the world is a big place. While on a grand scale it may seem like our actions are a drop in a bucket, what we do has a far more clear impact on our personal experiences and on those close to us.
1933, by Frank Turner
I love this post. I like how you are using music to explore your thoughts, feelings and reactions to the world and yourself in the world. I agree that it is important to question, explore and stay curious!