Every now and then you find that someone has discovered a great way to voice the concerns of the emergency preparedness community. As I was listening to the radio the other day I heard a song that brings up a lot of good questions. I barely caught the end of the song but I knew it had hit the nail on the head.
When I looked up the lyrics that I heard I found it was written and performed by Corb Lund. The lyrics may appear a little hokey when read, but the song is very catchy and really drives the point home. I’ll share the lyrics with you now and then we’ll look at some of the questions he asks and talk about the importance of these questions.
When the oil stops, everything stops, nothin’ left in the fountain
Nobody wants paper money, son, so you just as well stop countin’
Can you break the horse, can you light the fire?
What’s that, I beg your pardon?
You’d best start thinkin’ where your food comes from and I hope you tend a good garden
Gettin’ down on the mountain, gettin’ down on the mountain
Don’t wanna be around when the shit goes down
I’ll be gettin’ down on the mountain, goin’ to ground on the mountain
When the trucks don’t run, the bread won’t come, have a hard time findin’ petrol
Water ain’t runnin’ in the city no more, do you hold any precious metal?
Can you gut the fish, can you read the sky?
What’s that about overcrowdin’?
You ever seen a man who’s kids ain’t ate for seventeen days and countin’?
There ain’t no heat and the power’s gone out, it’s kerosene lamps and candles
The roads are blocked, it’s all gridlocked, you got a shortwave handle?
Can you track the deer, can you dig the well?
I couldn’t quite hear your answer
I think I see a rip in the social fabric, Brother can you pass the ammo?
I think I see a rip in the social fabric, Brother can you spare some ammo?
To me it seems that Corb’s main concern is the crumbling of our society and the unstable economic climate we are experiencing. Our entire system is built using fossil fuels and our commerce relies upon it, and if you take the song literally that is the ultimate cause for a major social catastrophe.
In the first verse he says that when the oil stops, then our paper money will basically be useless. If it looses its value then you’ll need the skills he asks about such as horseback riding, and building a fire. Those two skills can supply your transportation, and your heat for warmth, and cooking.
In the chorus he talks about his spot on the mountain. Does it sound like he’s ready to bug out when SHTF?
The second verse goes on to mention an oil shortage, and how that would adversely effect our food supplies. Without delivery trucks food can’t be transported to your local store. Precious metals could help you procure vitally needed supplies at a time like this and me makes mention to that in a question.
The next questions are can you gut a fish, or read the sky. Both are important skills to help you survive in a world thrown into chaos, and void of technology. The knowledge of gutting a fish will help you provide food, and reading the sky to see what weather you may face will help you protect yourself from the elements.
The last verse asks if you know how to use a shortwave radio, track a deer, and dig a well. The shortwave radio can be very useful when you need to get important information. Shortwave radios are durable and are the preferred communication device between our emergency responders. Safe locations, water and food supply, and medical attention instructions are often transmitted via shortwave after a disaster.
Tracking a deer, or any other game animal is an important skill for a survivalist. Providing food for you and your family isn’t a skill you want to learn when it’s a necessity.
How important is knowing how to dig a well? Can’t you just dig a deep hole when you need it? Well it’s not that simple. You’ll need to know where to locate water, and how to support the well as it is dug out. Many people have died from well collapse and entrapment, plus many hours labored to dig a well that wouldn’t hold an ounce of water.
The last question Corb poses is can you pass the ammo. When SHTF you better be prepared to protect yourself. While the last thing I want is to be unable to resolve a situation peacefully-I believe some can’t be reasoned with- and if it’s me or them… I’m going to have the ammo!
Obviously there is a lot more to being prepared for an emergency than just having a few questions posed to you in a song. Considering that there is approximately 3 minutes to get his point across, with some of that being composed of a chorus, and solo music I think Corb did a hell of a job.
Tell us what you think about Corb’s lyrics on our facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/PrepCabin