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Jewish Ledger
Van Morrison’s lyrical antisemitism
By Melissa Langsam Braunstein
(JNS) Van Morrison’s latest song comes complete with its own eyebrow-raising title: “They Own the Media.” But who exactly is “they”?
The song doesn’t specify, and Van Morrison hasn’t issued a public statement to clarify, in spite of numerous articles flagging the song’s antisemitic language. If we look back 16 years, though, it’s reasonable to think Morrison has Jews on the brain.
As
The Forward recently reminded readers, Morrison “denied back in 2005 that ‘They Sold Me Out,’ in which he sings in first-person from the perspective of Jesus, was antisemitic. That song includes the lyrics: ‘For a few shekels more, they didn’t even think twice/For a few shekels more, another minute in the spotlight’ ” and “Sold me out for a few shekels.”
Thirty years ago, Israel carried out a momentous operation to bring Jews from Ethiopia to Israel.
In an unprecedented act, more.
Once might be a mistake. Twice is not. A well-meaning person would be horrified by stirring an antisemitism scandal and work hard not to repeat it. Yet we appear to be witnessing round two.
Reflecting on the new song’s title,
Stereogum’s March preview noted it “sure seems to be an antisemitic trope” before very generously allowing “maybe it’s satire.” With lines like “They own the media. They control the stories we are told. Ya ever try to go against them, you will be ignored,” and “Leave it all and you’ll never get, never get wise to the truth, ’cause they control everything you do,” it seems fair to say this is not a satirical song.