This is the first time I've listened to this song since Jan 6, 2021. Yeah. America just might work. But if were aren't very careful, it might not. Never take democracy for granted. It needs to be fed and protected.
This song ought to be a national anthem. Since September 11, 2001, I have said, "Instead of saying 'God bless America,' I proclaim 'God help America.' "
Molly Bauckham I'm finding I've got to hear this every month now. If we get our country back from the greediest, most fragile rich people ever, maybe I won't need the reinforcement listening so much lol!
I can’t tell you how much I love this song, it is very close to a perfect representation of the cautious but hopeful optimism I have always had for this country and what has always made it great. With how much that optimism is being tested in the last few years, discovering this song and others by mr. Zimmerman was something I badly needed. I am playing this song a lot for my 10yr old son as part of the many things I am desperately doing to help him understand how to be patriotic in a positive way.
Roy has lots and lots of hilarious songs (Ted Haggard, Cheney, Marriage like they had in the bible, etc.), but THIS one is special. I don't know, even not being an American myself this gives me goosebumps. It's so sad, exhilarating, and TRUE at the same time. America is a dream dreamt by people all over the world and really could be something special if it weren't for the rotten apples at the top. God (even though I don't believe there is one ^^) bless America! :-)
I knew I'd revisit this song after November 4, but I couldn't be sure what sort of mood I'd be in. Well, my face hurts from so much smiling! It's as if a huge weight has been lifted from my shoulders. Thanks Roy. You've helped keep us sane these past years. Now more than ever I have to believe: it just might work!
"America is a Japanese fiddler in Branson, Missouri, doing Louis Armstrong." That's my country, and I like it that way! Great show in San Diego last Sunday, Roy. Many thanks for your enthusiasm and positive attitude, especially when dealing with pickup cables that sounded like a brush on a snare drum.
Nice this is one of the better songs on your albums and it's cool that you're showing it to people on RUclips. BTW There is more! He has 4 albums and almost none of them are on RUclips.
Cross between Tom Lehrer and Phil Ochs. Kind of a "Love Me I'm a Liberal" thing. Mr. Zimmerman, you're a patriot. Thanks for loving our country enough to ask it to be better.
Any song awesome enough to encompass the Gettysburg Address, Louis Armstrong, the Preamble to the Constitution and Janet Jackson's boob can only have come from the pen of Roy Zimmerman. Brilliant, inspiring, hilarious and beautiful. Why isn't this guy on SNL? Why isn't this guy FAMOUS?
It occurs to me that Roy's (in addition to being an amazing songwriter) a commedian / orator in the tradition of George Carlin. In other words, his jokes are a thinly disguised plea for decency by a person who deeply cares about the outcome, even if he doesn't always let on. A passionate comedian with a serious wit! If anything can get through to people, THAT just might work.
very creative lyrics and I am glad that I am old enough and pay enough attention to the new to know what the hell you are talking about. lol. Loved the "I got a meeting" part
I completely agree. I was always embarrassed to say I am American when traveling overseas. Luckily, my German accent is northern Germany, not American. I was able to, more or less, avoid that bullet. People like Roy make me proud to be American. GO ROY!
The one thing I love about America is that we, as a people, are a contradiction. Other countries seem to see only the radicals and the idiots, not the majority who believe in basic human rights and try to make the country work out for the best. People like Roy try and bring those people to light and get them out of the shadow of all the crazies.
April 2020 looks like we are done for. Major depression coming, food shortages and thousands dying. Trumps fault? He didn't cause the COVID-19, but he failed to do what was needed to corral it and keep Americans safe.
With apologies to JFK. “Ask not what the Corporations, Can do for you! Rather, Ask how you can Sacrifice your Life, The lives of your Children, Parents and Neighbors, To the GREED of the Corporations”
@jetpowercom nope. you veered to far to the right. going forward now just means you will run into a tree. and that tree is literally right in front of you now. you have mere seconds to react and turn the wheel to the left to avoid it. the car will stop, but at least you won't crash into the tree. And Biden? he wants you to keep driving straight. Trump wants you to avoid the tree by turning FURTHER right... over a cliff.
@@thomasneal9291 it doesn't matter. After covid, nigeria, yemen, iraq, lebanon, and iran you will have nothing to show for but a completely demolished economy, a defeted army, and nowhere to send these nukes. Rome is burning, jump the rat ship.
"A conspiracy of genius, in sweat stained waistcoats and powdered wigs." You manage to be sarcastic and funny while being so goddamned cheerful and upbeat. Dunno how you manage it, but between you and Barack Obama, I'm feeling, what is it? Hope? It's nice. I'd like to feel it a bit more often. Keep it up.
One of the things I love about America is that everyone is entitled to their opinions. One of mine is that both trolling and responding to trolls is a waste of time. NB: The best way to end a conversation is not to deliver a crushing retort, but to say nothing. Unfortunately, those who would most promote domestic tranquility by reading and heeding this message are unlikely to do so, but that's how it goes; the risk of expressing an opinion is that it will be ignored. Live long and prosper.
SO very true, no matter what we think. We are, have been and will always be two sides of the same coin. You can't have right without left. We are all in this together! And united there is no one else on the globe like us! Hurray America! (No offense to other nations, your cool too. Just that good ol' american pride coming out. First time in a long time too.)
Roy, is it possible to get a DVD of your entire Skeptics Society gig? I for one would buy it and get a bunch for my friends--it's such a terrific performance. Maybe you're worried about the occasional glitches (i.e. "continent" instead of "nation"--no big deal) but the energy of these performances and the terrific audience response more than make up for any teeny weeny imperfections. Think about it. I'll be checking in here and at your website for more info. Best wishes.
Hi Roy, I've just discovered you on youtube..really like your songs. I think "to be a liberal" is my favourite. What is your guitar make & model? it's got a lovely crisp rich tone. Thanks for your musical offerings
I'd say we've LURCHED TOO the right, Roy... what do you think? Still my favorite song! My German friend Markus says we'll have Warren/Sanders in 2020 in reaction to TheRUMP. It just might work...
Mr. Zimmerman, hehe loved how you introduced with the 3 quotes. I have a satirical piece i want to write, does anyone know what that exact quote Ari Fleischer said was (or was it just zimmerman's summary of Fleischer's views)?
The entire point of the song is to say that here in America, we have such amazing freedoms, that you can claim to be something extremely contradictory and ironic. According to myth/folklore, vampires must drink blood to live, making them obligate carnivores. There are Americans who will say outright that they are vampires, and I imagine there's at least one who is also vegitarian. His freedom to do so is our highest law, and Roy is celebrating that in this song.
am i the only one that finds this song really inspiring?
This is the first time I've listened to this song since Jan 6, 2021. Yeah. America just might work. But if were aren't very careful, it might not. Never take democracy for granted. It needs to be fed and protected.
Hah.
This song ought to be a national anthem. Since September 11, 2001, I have said, "Instead of saying 'God bless America,' I proclaim 'God help America.' "
This is the only song in the world that makes me feel patriotic.
The first time I heard this I was 13 and it still comes back to me all the time. So good, I hope he's doing alright
Roy how are you not the biggest star ever?
This is my 4th of July tradition. The most patriotic song I know.
Molly Bauckham I'm finding I've got to hear this every month now. If we get our country back from the greediest, most fragile rich people ever, maybe I won't need the reinforcement listening so much lol!
My very favorite patriotic song.
I’m quite fond of one of his other songs called My TV. It’s pretty patriotic too.
Happy 4th! This is still relevant...
I love this man so much ! 💜💙💚
As many problems as America's got, I love it here. This song brought me to tears. Thanks, Roy!
+Kennita Watson Yeah, let's not run or become apathetic, but keep the dream alive... it's worth the fight.
Ken Kressin 🎶 I think so😎
One of the best protest singers of the last 30 years.
This is too good to be real. I must be hallucinating.
This song makes me tear up every time I hear it. I genuinely love this song and the way Roy Zimmerman performs it.
Where are you, Roy?! We need you now, more than ever.
YES!
Well, he's back with a new song in case you missed it...
I can’t tell you how much I love this song, it is very close to a perfect representation of the cautious but hopeful optimism I have always had for this country and what has always made it great. With how much that optimism is being tested in the last few years, discovering this song and others by mr. Zimmerman was something I badly needed. I am playing this song a lot for my 10yr old son as part of the many things I am desperately doing to help him understand how to be patriotic in a positive way.
Shades of Alanis Morisette, Jane's Addiction, and ROY ZIMMERMAN. GREAT song!
Roy has lots and lots of hilarious songs (Ted Haggard, Cheney, Marriage like they had in the bible, etc.), but THIS one is special. I don't know, even not being an American myself this gives me goosebumps. It's so sad, exhilarating, and TRUE at the same time. America is a dream dreamt by people all over the world and really could be something special if it weren't for the rotten apples at the top.
God (even though I don't believe there is one ^^) bless America! :-)
"recorded at the national conference of the Skeptic Society"
How cool can you get!
One Nation with Liberty and Justice for all. It just might work.
Seen this guy twice and got to meet him in person because my dad is good friends with him. He's an awesome dude =).
This was the first song of yours I ever heard, on Dr. Demento.
Good to hear it again, and keep up the great work!
"America is a Japanese Fiddler in Branson, Missouri, doing Louis Armstrong". RIP, Shoji Tabuchi. You lived the American dream.
Roy Zimmerman, you are a hero.
Just heard this for the first time and I love it! THANK YOU!
My favorite of the many great Zimmerman songs.
I knew I'd revisit this song after November 4, but I couldn't be sure what sort of mood I'd be in.
Well, my face hurts from so much smiling! It's as if a huge weight has been lifted from my shoulders.
Thanks Roy. You've helped keep us sane these past years.
Now more than ever I have to believe: it just might work!
How are you feeling nowadays?
Sir, you are a true patriot. Please keep it up.
This guy is a genius with a great voice.
I TOTALLY JUST SAW HIM! This guy rocks!!!!! I love the "Vegetatian Vampire" line.... so wonderful!!!! Great work!
Perfect for the 4th of July. Perfect for any day. Thanks, Roy.
This song makes itself a perfect anthem.
Wow, Roy, all your songs are amazing but I think this is my favorite. Great job.
"America is a Japanese fiddler in Branson, Missouri, doing Louis Armstrong." That's my country, and I like it that way! Great show in San Diego last Sunday, Roy. Many thanks for your enthusiasm and positive attitude, especially when dealing with pickup cables that sounded like a brush on a snare drum.
Thank you Mr. Zimmerman! Wonderful!
Beautiful Song always loved it. Relistening
I can't say enough good about you Roy. Thanks for all your hard work!
One of your best songs.
Fantastic Roy! This is one of my favorite songs on the Faulty Intelligence album. The lyrics are pure poetry.
This is beautiful, beautiful.
Da Zim should have his own TV show...or AT LEAST TV station...
XD
Absolutely sensational!!!
This was great. More! More!
'cause America is seconds . . . 'n' thirds!
Fantastic! Please keep 'em coming!
Words to live by today!
Nice this is one of the better songs on your albums and it's cool that you're showing it to people on RUclips.
BTW There is more! He has 4 albums and almost none of them are on RUclips.
Wow, exellent song.
A formidable and honest singer!
This is awesome, it's lyrics are great and it's a song I'd quite happily listen to in the background too :)
A conspiracy of geniuses, in sweatstained waistcoats, and powdered wigs. Greatest line ever.
Cross between Tom Lehrer and Phil Ochs. Kind of a "Love Me I'm a Liberal" thing. Mr. Zimmerman, you're a patriot. Thanks for loving our country enough to ask it to be better.
Very good words Roy!!
Fantastic! This is a funny but serious summing up of so many things thatmake us who and what we are, for better or worse.
Talent... just talent!
You are brilliant!!! 5 stars!!!
Such an awesome song
So crazy...it just might work. Right on; good luck with that to us all!
More relevant than ever.
I really like this one Roy.
It may not rhyme, but this is def. one of his best songs.
absolutely fantastic!
your talent knows no bounds. ^^
Any song awesome enough to encompass the Gettysburg Address, Louis Armstrong, the Preamble to the Constitution and Janet Jackson's boob can only have come from the pen of Roy Zimmerman. Brilliant, inspiring, hilarious and beautiful. Why isn't this guy on SNL? Why isn't this guy FAMOUS?
It occurs to me that Roy's (in addition to being an amazing songwriter) a commedian / orator in the tradition of George Carlin. In other words, his jokes are a thinly disguised plea for decency by a person who deeply cares about the outcome, even if he doesn't always let on.
A passionate comedian with a serious wit! If anything can get through to people, THAT just might work.
yay i was hoping that you would post a new vid soon. this made my day :) brilliant work roy, as always.
very creative lyrics and I am glad that I am old enough and pay enough attention to the new to know what the hell you are talking about. lol. Loved the "I got a meeting" part
I completely agree. I was always embarrassed to say I am American when traveling overseas. Luckily, my German accent is northern Germany, not American. I was able to, more or less, avoid that bullet.
People like Roy make me proud to be American. GO ROY!
LOVE IT!!!!!!!!
You are ridiculously handsome. And funny. This was great.
The one thing I love about America is that we, as a people, are a contradiction. Other countries seem to see only the radicals and the idiots, not the majority who believe in basic human rights and try to make the country work out for the best. People like Roy try and bring those people to light and get them out of the shadow of all the crazies.
Perfect, Roy! It says it all, soooooooo well. :-)
Moosie
Awesome song :)
I just heard that moth that buzzed in time with the song. It even stopped at "I've got a meeting."
"Veers to the left and lurches to the right" is ingenious. Hopefully this most recent lurch doesn't send the states careening into oblivion.
One year on it isn't looking good
a MORE recent lurch, Jan 2020.
It's getting curiously curiouser.
April 2020 looks like we are done for. Major depression coming, food shortages and thousands dying. Trumps fault? He didn't cause the COVID-19, but he failed to do what was needed to corral it and keep Americans safe.
@@lrllrlrr5089 Yep
America Dead. Cause: Excessive lurching. Let’s avoid that headline...everyone out of the car and push to the left.... ;)
Dude you rock my socks off...will you make a vid showing how to play this?
hot damn roy zimmerman is awesome.
You go Zimmerman, thank you.
Wow! Thank you.
With apologies to JFK.
“Ask not what the Corporations,
Can do for you!
Rather,
Ask how you can Sacrifice your Life,
The lives of your Children, Parents and Neighbors,
To the GREED of the Corporations”
"It just might work." Well, we sorta tried that for about 8 years and tossed it aside for pure destructive insanity.
@jetpowercom
nope. you veered to far to the right. going forward now just means you will run into a tree.
and that tree is literally right in front of you now. you have mere seconds to react and turn the wheel to the left to avoid it. the car will stop, but at least you won't crash into the tree. And Biden? he wants you to keep driving straight. Trump wants you to avoid the tree by turning FURTHER right... over a cliff.
@@thomasneal9291 it doesn't matter. After covid, nigeria, yemen, iraq, lebanon, and iran you will have nothing to show for but a completely demolished economy, a defeted army, and nowhere to send these nukes.
Rome is burning, jump the rat ship.
jetpowercom Thomas is correct. We have some serious veering to do if we’re gonna fulfill this nation’s promise.
"A conspiracy of genius, in sweat stained waistcoats and powdered wigs."
You manage to be sarcastic and funny while being so goddamned cheerful and upbeat. Dunno how you manage it, but between you and Barack Obama, I'm feeling, what is it? Hope? It's nice. I'd like to feel it a bit more often.
Keep it up.
One of the things I love about America is that everyone is entitled to their opinions. One of mine is that both trolling and responding to trolls is a waste of time. NB: The best way to end a conversation is not to deliver a crushing retort, but to say nothing. Unfortunately, those who would most promote domestic tranquility by reading and heeding this message are unlikely to do so, but that's how it goes; the risk of expressing an opinion is that it will be ignored. Live long and prosper.
it'll only work if we just keep working!
I've watched this video so often, it sometimes appears in the 'related videos' to my grand mal seizure. LOL!
Wonderful. Thank you. I'm subbing..
I love you!
Happy Birthday, America!!
SO very true, no matter what we think. We are, have been and will always be two sides of the same coin. You can't have right without left. We are all in this together! And united there is no one else on the globe like us! Hurray America! (No offense to other nations, your cool too. Just that good ol' american pride coming out. First time in a long time too.)
E pluribus unum? It just might work!
Love this song. Proud to be American.
Roy, is it possible to get a DVD of your entire Skeptics Society gig? I for one would buy it and get a bunch for my friends--it's such a terrific performance. Maybe you're worried about the occasional glitches (i.e. "continent" instead of "nation"--no big deal) but the energy of these performances and the terrific audience response more than make up for any teeny weeny imperfections.
Think about it. I'll be checking in here and at your website for more info.
Best wishes.
my favorite part is the, "America is a '57 Chevy, that veers to the left, and lurches to the right" lol
What version of Microsoft Windows is he
Amen!
Hi Roy,
I've just discovered you on youtube..really like your songs.
I think "to be a liberal" is my favourite.
What is your guitar make & model? it's got a lovely crisp rich tone.
Thanks for your musical offerings
I'd say we've LURCHED TOO the right, Roy... what do you think?
Still my favorite song!
My German friend Markus says we'll have Warren/Sanders in 2020 in reaction to TheRUMP.
It just might work...
nope. we got Biden instead.
complete and utter failure.
Brilliant song, My belief in the notion that "it just might work"' has taken a bit of a hit lately, but who knows, maybe .... it just might work
(Three years later) I had the same thought. I will ask him when I see in Seatle in a few weeks.
If anyone's interested this is the speech he got the Wesley Clark quote from. www.gwu.edu/~action/2004/clark/clark021104sp.html
Mr. Zimmerman, hehe loved how you introduced with the 3 quotes. I have a satirical piece i want to write, does anyone know what that exact quote Ari Fleischer said was (or was it just zimmerman's summary of Fleischer's views)?
"I gotta meeting." You tell 'em (us)!
The entire point of the song is to say that here in America, we have such amazing freedoms, that you can claim to be something extremely contradictory and ironic.
According to myth/folklore, vampires must drink blood to live, making them obligate carnivores. There are Americans who will say outright that they are vampires, and I imagine there's at least one who is also vegitarian. His freedom to do so is our highest law, and Roy is celebrating that in this song.
He should get some kind of reward for that intro :)
Amen. Zimmerman for Education Secretary? Imagine what kids would learn from his programs! ;D
There is grounds for hope:-)
What's a video clerk?