米トランプ政権による横暴な「移民取り締まり」に対し、ミネソタ州の最大都市ミネアポリスで大規模な反対運動が起きた。移民・税関捜査局（ICE）の捜査官による銃撃により二人の市民が殺害されるという事態に、米ロック界の大御所であるブルース・スプリングスティーン（1949年～）の批判が炸裂、ミネアポリス市民の抵抗に寄り添ったプロテストソング“Streets Of Minneapolis”を発表した。
Through the winter’s ice and cold Down Nicollet Avenue A city aflame fought fire and ice ‘Neath an occupier’s boots KingTrump’s private army from the DHS Guns belted to their coats Came to Minneapolis to enforce the law Or so their story goes Against smoke and rubber bullets By the dawn’s early light Citizens stood for justice Their voices ringing through the night And there were bloody footprints Where mercy should have stood And two dead left to die on snow-filled streets Alex Pretti and Renee Good
Oh our Minneapolis, I hear your voice Singing through the bloody mist We’ll take our stand for this land And the stranger in our midst Here in our home they killed and roamed In the winter of ’26 We’ll remember the names of those who died On the streets of Minneapolis
Trump’s federal thugs beat up on His face and his chest Then we heard the gunshots And Alex Pretti lay in the snow, dead Their claim was self defense, sir Just don’t believe your eyes It’s our blood and bones And these whistles and phones Against Miller and Noem’s dirty lies
Now they say they’re here to uphold the law But they trample on our rights If your skin is black or brown my friend You can be questioned or deported on sight
Oh our Minneapolis, I hear your voice Singing through the bloody mist Here in our home they killed and roamed In the winter of ’26 We’ll take our stand for this land And the stranger in our midst We’ll remember the names of those who died On the streets of Minneapolis We’ll remember the names of those who died On the streets of Minneapolis
この“Streets Of Minneapolis”も、いずれ近いうちにアルバム収録されるに違いない。それまでは過去のレコーディングを聴いてすごそうと、二種類のCDを引っ張り出した。わずか一年違いのものなので選曲に重なりが多いが、私にとって思い出深いアルバムだ。一方はスタジオ録音、もう一方はライブ。かつてクラシックを題材に、両者の違いがなんであるかを書いたことがあるが、ロックではどうだろうか。ぜひ聴きくらべてほしい。「反体制こそがロックだ」などと言うつもりはない。だがロックも人間の心の、魂の叫びであるのは確かだ。人は良心と悪意のどちらが勝っているものなのか。音楽という名の芸術にもそれがあらわれる。
１）Bruce Springsteen／We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions (2006)
収録曲 １．Old Dan Tucker ２．Jesse James ３．Mrs. McGrath ４．O Mary Don’t You Weep ５．John Henry ６．Erie Canal ７．Jacob’s Ladder ８．My Oklahoma Home ９．Eyes on the Prize 10．Shenandoah 11．Pay Me My Money Down 12．We Shall Overcome 13．Froggie Went A-Courtin 14．Buffalo Gals 15．How Can I Keep from Singing? 16．How Can a Poor Man Stand Such Times and Live? 17．Bring ‘Em Home 18．American Land
収録曲 CD 1 １．Atlantic City ２．Old Dan Tucker ３．Eyes on the Prize ４．Jesse James ５．Further On (Up The Road) ６．O Mary Don’t You Weep ７．Erie Canal ８．If I Should Fall Behind ９．My Oklahoma Home 10．Highway Patrolman 11．Mrs. McGrath 12．How Can a Poor Man Stand Such Times and Live? 13．Jacob’s Ladder
収録曲 CD 2 １．Long Time Comin ２．Open All Night ３．Pay Me My Money Down ４．Growin’ Up ５．When The Saints Go Marching In ６．This Little Light Of Mine ７．American Land ８．Blinded By The Light ９．Love Of The Common People (duet with Curtis King Jr.) 10．We Shall Overcome
