Meet the New Boss / Same as the Old Boss

On February 6, 1649, England's parliament abolished the monarchy, calling it "unnecessary, burdensome, and dangerous to the liberty, society, and public interest of the people."

Oliver Cromwell then led them into one of the most repressive tyrannies of the island's history. So great was Cromwell's tyranny that the English people demanded the restoration of the monarchy after Cromwell's death.
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On July 4, 1776, the 13 United Colonies (i.e. the infant United States) declared their independence from Britain, citing "a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object . . . a design to reduce [the colonies] under absolute Despotism..."

Eleven years later, the "firm league of friendship" that had been the Articles of Confederation, were usurped by the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. Hearing of the convention, the Virginian Patrick Henry said, "I smell a rat in Philadelphia tending toward monarchy."

Seventy-odd years later, the powerful executive of the United States waged an unprovoked war against seven (initially seven, later eleven) former states of the Union who had seceded because they sensed "a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object . . . a design to reduce [the Southern states] under absolute Despotism..."
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In 1789, the people of France rebelled and overthrew their king (eventually executing him--as the English had Charles I). In the spirit of "Liberty, equality, and fraternity," the leaders of the French Revolution slaughtered critics, opponents, suspected critics, and suspected opponents, each other, until finally the savior of the revolution, one Napoleon Bonaparte crowned himself Emperor of France and tried to liberate Europe by seizing territory to be held beneath his thumb.
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In 1917, Tsar Nicholai Alexandrovich II--absolute ruler of 1/6 of the earth's surface--was forced to abdicate his crown and submit to an elected Duma. Within a year, the Bolsheviks took over the Duma and made the Tsar's powers and deeds look as harmless as a purring kitten.
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In November 2008, Americans elected Barack Obama to replace the tyrannical governace of George W. Bush.
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Won't Get Fooled Again

We'll be fighting in the streets
With our children at our feet
And the morals that they worship will be gone
And the men who spurred us on
Sit in judgment of all wrong
They decide and the shotgun sings the song

I'll tip my hat to the new constitution
Take a bow for the new revolution
Smile and grin at the change all around
Pick up my guitar and play
Just like yesterday
Then I'll get on my knees and pray
We don't get fooled again

The change it had to come
We knew it all along
We were liberated from the fold, that's all
And the world looks just the same
And history ain't changed
'Cause the banners, they all flown in the last war

I'll tip my hat to the new constitution
Take a bow for the new revolution
Smile and grin at the change all around
Pick up my guitar and play
Just like yesterday
Then I'll get on my knees and pray
We don't get fooled again
No, no!

I'll move myself and my family aside
If we happen to be left half alive
I'll get all my papers and smile at the sky
For I know that the hypnotized never lie
Do ya?

Yeah!

There's nothing in the streets
Looks any different to me
And the slogans are replaced, by-the-bye
And the parting on the left
Is now parting on the right
And the beards have all grown longer overnight

I'll tip my hat to the new constitution
Take a bow for the new revolution
Smile and grin at the change all around
Pick up my guitar and play
Just like yesterday
Then I'll get on my knees and pray
We don't get fooled again
Don't get fooled again
No, no!

Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

Meet the new boss
Same as the old boss


Check out the video clip below: Pete Townshend's blazing guitar as he leaps about and plays with the energy of a dozen dynamos.

For that matter, look at the brilliant bass work by John Entwissle!