“Welcome to the Future” Brad Paisley Sociology Unit 2 Music & American Culture Assignment Example

Song Lyrics When I was ten years old, I remember thinkin’ how cool it would be, When we were goin’ on an eight hour drive, If I could just watch T.V. And I’d have given anything To have my own PacMan game at home I used to have to get a ride down to the arcade Now I’ve got it on my phone. He-e-ey …. Glory glory hallelujah Welcome to the future My grandpa was in World War II, He fought against the Japanese. He wrote a hundred letters to my grandma Mailed em from his base in the Philippines I wish they could see this now, Where they say this change can go Cause I was on a video chat this morning With a company in Tokyo

He-e-ey …. Everyday is a revolution. Welcome to the future. He-e-ey …. Look around it’s all so clear He-e-ey …. Wherever we would go and well we… He-e-ey …. So many things I never thought I’d see… Happening right in front of me I had a friend in school, Running-back on a football team, They burned a cross in his front yard For asking out the home-coming queen I thought about him today, Everybody who’s seen what he’s seen, From a woman on a bus To a man with a dream He-e-ey …. Wake up Martin Luther Welcome to the future He-e-ey … Glory glory hallelujah Welcome to the future

American Values Progress Efficiency and Practicality Science Material Comfort Racism & Group Superiority Equal Opportunities

Progress “Hey ….Glory glory hallelujah Welcome to the future” The title “Welcome to the Future” illustrates the concept of Progress Americans are optimistic about the future and believe that the future will be better than the present We associate the words glory & hallelujah with good things “Hey ….Glory glory hallelujah Welcome to the future”

Progress (continued) Americans see progress as having the latest & greatest thing “And I’d have given anything To have my own PacMan game at home I used to have to get a ride down to the arcade Now I’ve got it on my phone.”

Efficiency and Practicality Americans value activity that gets things done in the least amount of time and most efficient way Better technology allows us to do more in more places in a more expedient manner “He wrote a hundred letters to my grandma Mailed them from his base in the Philippines Cause I was on a video chat this morning With a company in Tokyo”

Science American look for new technology to improve our lives Video chats allow us to communicate real time; no waiting for news or time with our loved ones “He wrote a hundred letters to my grandma Mailed them from his base in the Philippines I wish they could see this now, Where they say this change can go Cause I was on a video chat this morning With a company in Tokyo”

Material Comfort Americans value material things and how these things entertain us We define ourselves by the things we have Portable tv and dvd players Cell phones with game applications When we were goin’ on an eight hour drive, If I could just watch T.V. And I’d have given anything To have my own PacMan game at home I used to have to get a ride down to the arcade Now I’ve got it on my phone.

Racism & Group Superiority The song discusses how a black American was discriminated against for asking out a white girl “I had a friend in school, Running-back on a football team, They burned a cross in his front yard For asking out the home-coming queen”

Equal Opportunities The song explains how the actions Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks have moved the United States toward equality Their actions have resulted in the United States currently having a Black President I thought about him today, Everybody who’s seen what he’s seen, From a woman on a bus To a man with a dream He-e-ey …. Wake up Martin Luther Welcome to the future He-e-ey … Glory glory hallelujah Welcome to the future

Meaning of the Song Americans look to the future optimistically with hope We believe that tomorrow will always be better The song gives examples of how things have changed for the better New technology, more equality