Something tells me that this may offend some. To others this is music to their ears.I first became aware of Jack Loyd Gish from my Facebook Page and the Idaho Songwriters Association. It was by accident that I heard this song.
To the Lunatic Fringe is the perfect song for this time as the flags fly at half-staff honoring the victims of the worst mass murder in US history: the Las Vegas Massacre.
As expected, there is a renewed push for gun control and there are millions of Americans pushing back to protect the Right of law abiding citizens to keep and bear arms.
What I love most about Americans, especially Country/Folk songwriters, is their ability to create songs that comfort and encourage, but also to lighten a truly heinous event with sardonic humor. We are angry. Stories in song can express the anger and communicate the inner unspoken thoughts of the silent frustrated masses. I love the stories and the storytellers.
Enter Idaho Singer-Songwriter, Jack Loyd Gish.
Born in Cottonwood, Idaho and raised north of there in Boner’s Ferry and Craigmont, Jack Loyd Gish is a born songwriter with an old-time fiddler for a father. At sixteen, Jack got his first guitar. He left the US Army as a Lieutenant and has been active in the Boise music scene since the 1970s. He is a father of four and sings from the heart.
We can enjoy Jack Loyd Gish in performance on October 24th at the Riverside Hotel located at 2900 West Chinden Blvd. in Boise. On stage in the Sapphire Room, will be a celebritory CD release event. The doors open at 6:00 and the show begins and 7:00. Tickets are priced at $13 general and $17 preferred. ($18/$22 at the door).
For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.
Here are the words to the song that Jack wrote that captured my attention.
To the Lunatic Fringe
Words and music by Jack Loyd Gish copyright 2017
I been hearing talk of Armageddon,
Apocalypse, Rapture, end of the world:
Doomsday prophecies been around for centuries;
That don’t mean they’re meant to be fulfilled;
When you’re hearing voices; God is callin’ your name
Says, “Son, put this bomb in your underwear
and get yourself on that plane.”
Shoot yourself first, you crazy bastard,
Shoot yourself first, you fanatical fool
Shoot yourself first, stay away from my kid,
Shoot yourself first, stay away from my school
When you pull the trigger, do the world a favor,
Make it better instead of worse – Shoot yourself first.
I can see, you been feeling threatened
by that young black man down the street
Dirt and paranoia got you sweating,
talking to your self and packing’ heat
You started watching’ your neighbor,
following’ him around,
Waiting’ for him to trip and stumble,
so you can stand your ground.
Shoot yourself first, you crazy bastard,
Shoot yourself first, you fanatical fool
Shoot yourself first, stay away from my kid,
Shoot yourself first, stay away from my school
When you pull the trigger, do the world a favor,
Make it better instead f worse – Shoot yourself first.
You say it’s written in our Constitution,
We all have a Right to own a gun,
I don’t wanna take that gun away from you,
I just want you to put it down,
You got your AK47, Uzzi and your tommy-gun
You’re headed down to the kindergarten
just to watch the children run.
Shoot yourself first, you crazy bastard,
Shoot yourself first, you fanatical fool
Shoot yourself first, stay away from my kid,
Shoot yourself first, stay away from my school
Put the muzzle in your mouth and pull the trigger
It’ll be the best thought you ever had.
Shoot yourself first!
