“Welcome to the Future” Brad Paisley

1. “Welcome to the Future”Brad Paisley Sociology Unit 2 Music & American Culture Assignment Example

2. Song Lyrics • When I was ten years old,I remember thinkin’ how cool it would be,When we were goin’ on an eight hour drive,If I could just watch T.V. • And I’d have given anythingTo have my own PacMan game at homeI used to have to get a ride down to the arcadeNow I’ve got it on my phone. • He-e-ey ….Glory glory hallelujahWelcome to the future • My grandpa was in World War II,He fought against the Japanese.He wrote a hundred letters to my grandmaMailed em from his base in the Philippines • I wish they could see this now,Where they say this change can goCause I was on a video chat this morningWith a company in Tokyo

3. He-e-ey ….Everyday is a revolution.Welcome to the future. • He-e-ey ….Look around it’s all so clearHe-e-ey ….Wherever we would go and well we…He-e-ey ….So many things I never thought I’d see…Happening right in front of me • I had a friend in school,Running-back on a football team,They burned a cross in his front yardFor asking out the home-coming queen • I thought about him today,Everybody who’s seen what he’s seen,From a woman on a busTo a man with a dream • He-e-ey ….Wake up Martin LutherWelcome to the futureHe-e-ey …Glory glory hallelujahWelcome to the future

4. American Values • Progress • Efficiency and Practicality • Science • Material Comfort • Racism & Group Superiority • Equal Opportunities

5. Progress • The title “Welcome to the Future” illustrates the concept of Progress • Americans are optimistic about the future and believe that the future will be better than the present • We associate the words glory & hallelujah with good things “Hey ….Glory glory hallelujahWelcome to the future”

6. Progress (continued) • Americans see progress as having the latest & greatest thing • “And I’d have given anything To have my own PacMan game at homeI used to have to get a ride down to the arcadeNow I’ve got it on my phone.”

7. Americans value activity that gets things done in the least amount of time and most efficient way Better technology allows us to do more in more places in a more expedient manner “He wrote a hundred letters to my grandmaMailed them from his base in the Philippines Cause I was on a video chat this morningWith a company in Tokyo” Efficiency and Practicality

8. Science • American look for new technology to improve our lives • Video chats allow us to communicate real time; no waiting for news or time with our loved ones • “He wrote a hundred letters to my grandmaMailed them from his base in the Philippines I wish they could see this now,Where they say this change can goCause I was on a video chat this morningWith a company in Tokyo”

9. Americans value material things and how these things entertain us We define ourselves by the things we have Portable tv and dvd players Cell phones with game applications When we were goin’ on an eight hour drive,If I could just watch T.V. And I’d have given anythingTo have my own PacMan game at homeI used to have to get a ride down to the arcadeNow I’ve got it on my phone. Material Comfort

10. Racism & Group Superiority • The song discusses how a black American was discriminated against for asking out a white girl • “I had a friend in school,Running-back on a football team,They burned a cross in his front yardFor asking out the home-coming queen”

11. The song explains how the actions Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks have moved the United States toward equality Their actions have resulted in the United States currently having a Black President I thought about him today,Everybody who’s seen what he’s seen,From a woman on a busTo a man with a dream He-e-ey ….Wake up Martin LutherWelcome to the futureHe-e-ey …Glory glory hallelujahWelcome to the future Equal Opportunities

12. Meaning of the Song • Americans look to the future optimistically with hope • We believe that tomorrow will always be better • The song gives examples of how things have changed for the better • New technology, more equality