Look Who it Was Random video

Useful Idiot

40 views · Published 12 December 2016 · 4:27 · Indexed 19 October 2026

Channel: Scott Steven Erickson · 2016 · Music

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Here I am doing a debut performance of “Useful Idiot” at the album release show for “Horseshoe Theory.”  Check it out here: https://scotterickson.bandcamp.com/album/horseshoe-theory

Lyrics:

Growing up gay in Wyoming 
Meant getting rubbed the wrong way by conservatives 
So I’d conflate Republicans with passive-aggressive bigotry 
Then I rebelled and ran the opposite way 
I learned my politics from Ani DiFranco, 
Michael Moore, and Al Gore 
9/11 sure fucked up my high school experience 
The war on terror transformed me 
Into a democrat and a pacifist 

But now I look back at my life 
And I feel like such a puppet 
A manipulated cog, a useful idiot! 
Because I didn’t realize I could form my own opinions 
Separate from the platitudes of Democratic politicians 

Then liberal arts transformed me even further to the left 
Until I found myself with anarchism 
Through DIY, folk-punk, free skool, and zines 
The more mainstream students referred to us as “the hippies” 
Those were lovely times, even though I was still somewhat naive 

But now I look back at my life 
And I feel like such a puppet 
A manipulated cog, a useful idiot! 
Because I didn’t realize I could form my own opinions 
Separate from the platitudes of idealistic punk rock musicians 

Then I met a special kind of anarchist in Olympia 
Who fought for liberation through book burnings and kidnapping 
Who’d call their roommates classist if they dared to ask for rent money 
And tag “all cops are bastards” on the property of old ladies 
And find ways to be offended by literally everything 
Who’d proceed to shame you if you dared to disagree with their jurisdictions 

But now I look back at my life 
And I feel like such a puppet 
A manipulated cog, a useful idiot! 
Because I didn’t realize I could form my own opinions 
Separate from the platitudes of the social justice warriors’ religion 

So now here I sit somewhere off the map 
I went a little too far left, but then I got pushed back 
I’ve seen both sides of the horseshoe, I’ve tried on many hats 
But none of them quite fit me 
So now I’m just a detached, 
Somewhat misanthropic, 
No longer myopic, 
I guess you’d say a moderate?!? 
Skeptical iconoclast!!!

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