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In the political arena, we often hear terms such as the conservative right or the liberal left. Whatever, in the mid 60s during the Vietnam War there were many protesters who would burn their draft cards as a sign of opposition to the war. Johnny Cash came out with a song back then titled "The One ON The Right Is On The Left" It is a fictional and humorous song (story) relating to a musical troupe who took their politics too seriously in which eventually led to their downfall. In the fifth stanza, of this song as he sings "And the guy in the rear burned his driver's license", he is referring to the draft dodgers who burned their draft cards in protest, here are the lyrics to the song.
"The One On The Right Is On The Left"
There once was a musical troupe A pickin' singin' folk group They sang the mountain ballads And the folk songs of our land
They were long on musical ability Folks thought they would go far But political incompatibility led to their downfall
Well, the one on the right was on the left And the one in the middle was on the right And the one on the left was in the middle And the guy in the rear was a Methodist
This musical aggregation toured the entire nation Singing the traditional ballads And the folk songs of our land They performed with great virtuosity And soon they were the rage But political animosity prevailed upon the stage
Well, the one on the right was on the left And the one in the middle was on the right And the one on the left was in the middle And the guy in the rear burned his driver's license
Well the curtain had ascended A hush fell on the crowd As thousands there were gathered to hear The folk songs of our land But they took their politics seriously And that night at the concert hall As the audience watched deliriously They had a free-for-all
Well, the one on the right was on the bottom And the one in the middle was on the top And the one on the left got a broken arm And the guy in the rear, said, "Oh dear"
Now this should be a lesson if you plan to start a folk group Don't go mixin' politics with the folk songs of our land Just work on harmony and diction Play your banjo well And if you have political convictions keep them to yourself
Now, the one on the left works in a bank And the one in the middle drives a truck
The one on the right's an all-night deejay And the guy in the rear got drafted
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