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

2. 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

3. 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

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

5. 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”

6. 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.”

7. 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”

8. 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”

9. 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.

10. 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”

11. 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

12. 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