Tom Paxton – When Princes Meet (1973)
Flobots – Handlebars
In the song by Tom Paxton (1973) is about the lives of nobility relative to the common people. Protesting the oppression of the poor; the song highlights the imbalance of power between the elite and the poor that serve them. The song poses you with various scenarios, for example war; the king that declares war but it is the common soldiers that fight and sacrifice their lives for one man.
In the song by Flow Bots (2008) it is a more modern turn that appeals to the times. He the band criticizes the abusive power of government and how they use their position to produce fear in the masses. The song is also accompanied by visual images (music video) which make it more affective in conveying their message.
The difference between the two songs is in the approaches taken to get the message across. The early song is more passive with implied meaning while the more modern tune is explicit and direct. The bold style of Flow Bots song show both how culture is less fearful of government and how we use technology and mixed media as a means of communication.