Chicago's 7

Annotation

Born Earl Walter Rodden on 6 January 1936 in Taloga, Oklahoma, USA he died 13 September 2013 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA. He was a member of the Nashville Songwriter’s Association and Country Music Association (CMA).1 His song "Chicago's 7" (Phils Records # 1025) referred to the arrest of high profile activists outside the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. There is no date on this record, but the copyright was filed on 6 April 1970: "CHICAGO SEVEN; w & m Walt Wilder, pseud. of Earl W. Rodden, & Tom Greco, pseud. of Tom Saris. 2 p.© Earl W. Rodden & Tom Saris; 6Apr70; EU173749".2 Patriotic and conservative views were typically found in the country music genre, especially in the early years of the war. This single is especially interesting in that it sided with the protesters, despite being a country record and being released in Oklahoma. The narrator, from the perspective of the Chicago Seven, said that "we love our freedom of speech", and that "we know the Constitution" - that they had a right to demonstrate and express their views. It went on to say "we came unprepared to fight", and that the Chicago police started the violence. Note the reference to the Silent Majority - a reference to Richard Nixon's speech on the war on 3 November 1969: "to you, the great silent majority of my fellow Americans—I ask for your support".Sources1vondelsmithmortuary.com: Rodden earl (link no longer available)↩2Catalog of Copyright Entries: Third series (Library of Congress. Copyright Office, 1971)↩

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Annotation — 1968 Chicago Seven / Eight Songs

Born Earl Walter Rodden on 6 January 1936 in Taloga, Oklahoma, USA he died 13 September 2013 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA. He was a member of the Nashville Songwriter’s Association and Country Music Association (CMA).1 His record "Chicago's 7" (Phils Records # 1025) referred to the arrest of high profile activists outside the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. There is no date on this record, but the copyright was filed on 6 April 1970: "CHICAGO SEVEN; w & m Walt Wilder, pseud. of Earl W. Rodden, & Tom Greco, pseud. of Tom Saris. 2 p.© Earl W. Rodden & Tom Saris; 6Apr70; EU173749".2 Patriotic and conservative views were typically found in the country music genre, especially in the early years of the war. This song is especially interesting in that it sided with the protesters, despite being a country record and being released in Oklahoma. The narrator, from the perspective of the Chicago Seven, said that "we love our freedom of speech", and that "we know the Constitution" - that they had a right to demonstrate and express their views. It went on to say "we came unprepared to fight", and that the Chicago police started the violence. Note the reference to the Silent Majority: "we'll just one bit of the minority and we love the whole majority, we are Americans who didn't sit by silently" - a reference to Richard Nixon's speech on the war on 3 November 1969: "to you, the great silent majority of my fellow Americans—I ask for your support". Sources1vondelsmithmortuary.com: Rodden earl (link no longer available)↩2Catalog of Copyright Entries: Third series (Library of Congress. Copyright Office, 1971)↩

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Lyrics

English: We are the Chicago Seven / We are in a mess because we didn't shut the door and go to sleep / We celebrate the 4th of July every summer / And we love our freedom of speech / Emphasizing we are not left or right wing / We are just Americans doing our thing / We don't want anyone to think we're violent / We'll just one bit of the minority / And we love the whole majority / We are Americans who didn't sit by silently / We know the Constitution says, we're free to go were we please / Speak out and stand up for what we believe / Our ideas to you might seem like a plot or a scheme / But America was built on our forefathers dream / We are the Chicago Seven... / We came unprepared to fight / Because our cause was peace, then someone called for the Chicago police / Then we just hung around until the sun went down / Looking for a place to sleep / We didn't turn to run, and we didn't turn the other cheek / But when the truth is known it won't be America's loss / You can't ring freedom's bell without a steeple / Or take the power from the people / Just because they fight City Hall's big boss / We are the Chicago Seven...

Notes

Phils Records, record no. 1025-1, 705 N.W. 4th St., Okla. City, Okla.; Big Swing, BMI ©; "Chicago's '7'" (Tom Greco, Walt Wilder), 2:25. [From the record sleeve and labels]

Themes

Demonstration · Chicago Seven · Protest · Silent Majority

In collections

1968 Chicago Seven / Eight Songs · Peace, Protest, & Anti-War Songs [War Years] · US 'Patriotic' / Pro-Government / Anti-Protest Songs [War Years]