Photo: Lou Reed, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, and Randy Newman.
Randy Newman's influences included Bob Dylan, R&B, New Orleans Jazz, and pop music. Although Newman's unusual pop albums never sold well, he was a great influence on many young singer / songwriters including Lyle Lovett , Mark Knopfler, and Rufus Wainwright. Harry Nilsson recorded a cover album called "Nilsson Sings Newman."
Some of Newman's song lyrics were misunderstood and caused controversy. Newman has most recently focused on film scores and musical theatre, where he has managed to keep stirring up controversy.
Political Science by Randy Newman (1972)
No one likes us
I don't know why.
We may not be perfect
But heaven knows we try.
But all around even our old friends put us down.
Let's drop the big one and see what happens.
We give them money
But are they grateful?
No they're spiteful
And they're hateful.
They don't respect us so let's surprise them;
We'll drop the big one and pulverize them.
Now Asia's crowded
And Europe's too old.
Africa's far too hot,
And Canada's too cold.
And South America stole our name.
Let's drop the big one; there'll be no one left to blame us.
Bridge:
We'll save Australia;
Don't wanna hurt no kangaroo.
We'll build an all-American amusement park there;
They've got surfing, too.
Well, boom goes London,
And boom Paris.
More room for you
And more room for me.
And every city the whole world round
Will just be another American town.
Oh, how peaceful it'll be;
We'll set everybody free;
You'll have Japanese kimonos, baby,
There'll be Italian shoes for me.
They all hate us anyhow,
So let's drop the big one now.
Let's drop the big one now.
