TO KILL THE CHILD / LEAVING BEIRUT

More of Roger Waters politically-driven (drivel?) music in the form of a 2-song 'single' was offered out to his loyal fans just prior to the 2004 US election. He was (and still is) a vocal opponent of Messrs. Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld et al.

For a limited time you could order the 2 songs online on a CD from a Japanese music publisher OR download them from Roger Waters' official site (for a nominal fee). I chose the latter. (The Download is no longer available, but the songs are floating around pretty freely on various other download sites)

The music on the two songs is almost of secondary importance to the lyrics, something that Waters is becoming more and more guilty of as he advances in years. Message > Medium.

'To Kill The Child' is an anti-war rant against US involvement in Iraq, and quickly forgettable in its bleeding-heartedness. 'Leaving Beirut' is more intriguing, as Waters portrays a somewhat sympathetic view of Arabic society. It is less of a song, and more of a 'story' (as Waters continues his familiar tradition of narrating songs, rather than singing them). All 12+ minutes of 'Leaving Beirut' seems like it would fit quite nicely on "Amused To Death".

Musically, these songs are pretty devoid of anything memorable. But at least Waters' message is honourable and he is still trying to create new music, and so he gets 2/5 stars.

"Oh George, oh George, that Texas education must have [%*!#]ed you up when you were very small."

Wow! If song lyrics could be taken into consideration for the Nobel prize (literature or peace), "Leaving Beirut" would at least be nominated, with good chance of winning. And if you consider that Mr. Waters now lives in New York city, it's not easy to dismiss his politically-driven music as left-wing, against-US bull[&*!#]. I think he loves America, and can't stand such a great country being spoiled by the silliest and OIL-minded politician in the world.

"Leaving Beirut" is more than a song, is quite a small-scale theatrical piece, which tells the story of a seventeen years old Waters being helped by an Arab family in Lebanon. That's why he asks himself "Are these the people that we should bomb?".

Waters is partially tone-deaf and probably an heavy-smoker, but here is broken voice really makes the song more moving and dramatic. Great bluesy guitar, too.

"To kill the child", however, if far below all expectation. The song is marred by such flat and silly lyrics as "prosciutto, risotto, falafel and ham", or recycled ones: "safe in the glow of his Donald Duck light", from "The tide is turning" (Radio Kaos, 1987).

All in all, I give this single four stars because "Leaving Beirut" is simply outstanding and carries a very strong message of peace.