fbpx

They Threw A Shoe At You: A Reflection on the Iraq War

They Threw A Shoe At You: A Reflection on the Iraq War
March 20, 2018 Phil

A significant portion of our lives have been plagued by unending, unwinable wars with vague, profit-driven ideas.  The so-called War On Terror killed hundreds of thousands, was defined by excessive torture programs, destabilized a region, and lead to the creation of new extremist groups.  Somewhere in 2008, I wrote and quickly recorded (with the help of some friends in the other room) a song called “They Threw A Shoe At You”, about the Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at a disgraceful, exiting president.  Heavily inspired by Calypso, the song wasn’t available on the site for a while (I couldn’t find it), but its back now.  Listen below:

  • /

They Threw A Shoe At You

on a surprise visit to the mid east

on a mission of war and peace

at the end of your second term

good intentions you wished to affirm

a meeting was called, the press took their seat

to sum up the status of the country

but right after you were introduced

they stood up and threw a shoe at you

they threw a shoe at you

as you stood at the podium to dictate and preach

they threw a shoe at you

before you could even begin your speech

 

the shoe came from the foot of the press

calling you terrible for government

a western man has no business

with issues of a land far away from his

the shoe defined how your intentions

were never best for their motherland

but only your chosen few

that’s why they threw a shoe at you

they threw a shoe at you

for making policy based on conjecture

they threw a shoe at you

for feeling like their hero and protector

 

the shoe flew through the air like a leather bomb

some were happy and some were stunned

it looked like you had been of practice

the way you ducked like a champion

not once but twice without losing grace

which all you have done in the first place

without regard for lying or truth

and so they threw a shoe at you

they threw a shoe at you

highest insult in the islamic culture

they threw a shoe at you

they see you as a war and oil vulture

 

now you will go upon your way

and leave their country in disarray

and leave the office of president

in a worse state than when you started

and yes you make it out alright

but it would have been great to see you wave goodbye

brandishing a nice juicy purple bruise

from when they threw a shoe at you