A Review of “Arm Yourselves” by Jordan Page
Jordan Page is a singer-songwriter who made a big splash in the liberty movement during the Ron Paul campaign. (Here’s an article on Page and his connection to the Ron Paul movement in the Baltimore Sun.)
I first saw Jordan perform at Porcfest (I think in 2011). Jason Osborne, the guy who walked me over to the pavilion where Jordan was going to play, told me, “He is the Bob Dylan of our times” (or words to that effect). I remember thinking that would be a tall order to fill, but Jordan won me over that night. During that particular performance, I was blown away by Jordan’s remake of a Pink Floyd classic into a song about our current political events.
This Thanksgiving, Jordan is releasing a new single, “Arm Yourselves,” with the accompanying instrumental “Act III” as the B-side (as it were). Apparently the Oathkeepers have adopted it as their national theme song, and I can see why.
With all of Jordan’s original material, “Arm Yourselves” sounds great–for those who don’t know, Jordan is able to show up at a house party and play for 2 hours holding everyone in rapt attention with his one-man concert. But it also has poignant lyrics, including these chilling opening lines:
Friends we gather round together
Holding tight our faith & guns
But in this room I feel something greater than ourselves
Now listen everyoneArms yourselves for the hammer’s crashing down
Arm yourselves all ye citizens
Arm yourselves with the ghost of a risen son
And lay your armor on
There’s no time left, the day has come
Of course, I’m a pacifist, so I don’t necessarily go along with the most obvious interpretation of the song. But Jordan is a solid Christian, and you’ll note the reference to faith and a “risen son.” The spiritual element is clearly seen in the song’s concluding words:
Arm yourselves for the veil has fallen down
Arm yourselves all ye sovereigns
Arm yourselves with the truth and believe
The stage is set, and I foresee a sold out show
Begin Act Three…
To the extent that we are all “arming ourselves” with the truth and an understanding of the economic and military calamities that our ruling elites have set in motion, Jordan’s message is critical.
I have often said that what the liberty movement urgently needs (on the margin) is not more theorists, but more entertainers, film makers, and other artists. Our ideas are clearly superior to those who pine for a stronger State to solve our social ills, but we need to do a better job of broadcasting these ideas to a wider audience. Jordan Page is an excellent example of what we need.
Wow, Jordan is talented on that guitar.
Here’s my vote for “the” libertarian theme song:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bs4y5si8DGs
A way better choice.
Is that “s” on the first “arms yourself” a typo? I was looking for significance in it.
The parts you quote could be taken as purely spiritual / religious. All the references could be about Christ and arming yourself with truth and faith. Act 3 would presumably be the second coming?
But if you look at the whole song, that cannot be the only interpretation.
“Arm yourselves to the teeth
And prepare your eyes for blood I do believe
The passive man won’t live to grieve”
It is interweaving guns, violence and religion in a way I find a very unpleasant.
I assumed a different typo, “rising sun”, and that this was a Japanese military anthem from the 1930s.
Well Harold, I guess now you know how the rest of us feel about the unpleasant interweaving of guns, violence and mindless government departments not even competent enough to keep backups of their email.
Let’s not get started on arming yourself with truth in the face of the even more unpleasant question of who ships guns to terrorists, and who buys stolen Syrian oil on the black market handing over wads of cash to pay for rape and murder (the that figurative “rape” so many libertarians waffle about either). Not as many Christians in the Middle East as there was a decade ago.
I would find lyrics celebrating the guns of the state opressing the masses and stealing their money, whilst exhorting them to do more of the same unpleasant, yes.
We get songs glorifying war, national anthems, oaths of allegiance, that sort of stuff.
Admittedly this example is not in song but how do you feel about this celebration?
http://www.governmentisgood.com/articles.php?aid=7
“Oaths of allegiance, that sort of stuff.” Exactly. Because all causes are the same and all forms of government are the same and fighting against Nazis or Boko Haram is exactly the same as fighting for them.
Who do you think made the claim that “all causes are the same and all forms of government are the same” ?
Harold mentioned “the guns of the state opressing the masses and stealing their money”, and yeah I linked to someone celebrating exactly that (not in song). National anthems do also celebrate the same, unless you know of a nation that has no tax.
Now getting to the question about which causes are better, and which are worse is an excellent question. Why we could go and consider which religions are better and which are worse along the same lines… perhaps even look at the pros and cons of various philosophical standpoints.
Of course Jordan Page is recommending the Christian & Libertarian philosophy, but Harold finds it unpleasant that anyone would want the capability to defend themselves and their own personal cause against forcible interference from others. I’m merely pointing out that every government on Earth (regardless of how likeable you find them) is also based around the idea of use of force.
I just listened to it on Tom Woods, pretty impressive, gosh there’s so much amazing tallent out there.
Reminds me a bit of Jethro Tull’s “Broadsword” with perhaps a bit of the Tea Party thrown in (the musicians, not the tax protestors) , and just a touch of country style, perhaps if you have listened to “The Honeymoon is Over” by Cruel Sea … that sort of not quite country style.