Roundup® the World

Tom Atwood

Get Flash to see this player.

Description

This song is fairly simple, but here’s a brief explanation of the terms involved:

Roundup® - herbicide, kills weeds, grasses and amphibians.
Monsanto – local chemical company that manufactures Roundup®, and also genetically alters crops so that Roundup® can be applied, killing everything but the genetically engineered crop.
Frogs, toads, salamanders – innocent amphibians, bellwethers of our future.

The song was actually inspired by an article last week in the local paper. (Monsanto HQ is not far from where I live.) Here’s the link if you want to read more in the St. Louis Post Dispatch: St." target="_blank">http//www.stltoday.com/... Louis Post-Dispatch

songs from the american plain
now available
the lost records™

Leave a Comment

You must be registered and logged-in to comment.

Lyrics

ROUNDUP® THE WORLD

Soon all the frogs will be dead
Soon all our lawns will be green
Soon all the crops will have new genes
Soon all the frogs will be gone

There’s a company in my backyard
Monsanto is its name, Ooooh
They make a spray that kills the weeds
And anything that gets in its way
Anything that gets in its way

Roundup® the frogs
Roundup® the toads
Roundup® the salamanders!
Roundup® the weeds
Roundup® the world
One day we’ll all be genetically altered

(Interlude)

Gather them two-by-two
Take them all with you
Take them far away
Let them live one more day

There’s a company in my backyard
Monsanto is its name, Ooooh
They make a spray that kills the weeds
And anything that gets in its way
Anything that gets in its way

Roundup® the frogs
Roundup® the toads
Roundup® the salamanders!
Roundup® the weeds
Roundup® the world
One day we’ll all be genetically altered

Soon all the frogs will be dead
Soon all our lawns will be green
Soon all the crops will have new genes
Soon all the frogs will be…
One day the frogs will be…
Someday we all will be gone.

Song Stats

Hits: 2876
Comments: 47
Fans: 11
Plays: 345
Downloads: 146
Votes: 37
Uploaded: Aug 14, 2005 - 09:11:35 PM
Last Updated: Nov 30, 2005 - 08:58:37 PM Last Played: Oct 06, 2009 - 09:11:13 AM

Song License

Creative Commons License:
Attribution-NoDerivs-NonCommercial

Song Actions

Hardware:

Alvarez Guitar
Casio Privia PX-300

Software:

GB2
Jampack 4: Symphony Orchestra

Comments

ledebutant

ledebutant said 1564 days ago (August 14th, 2005)

Your songs just penetrate.
Whenever I listen to your music, I always find myself
abandoning whatever I was at and just falling into the
world of your song. Then I press repeat and do it all over
again.

Another beautiful one, Tom. The last verse made me cry a
little. I also admire the judicious use of JP4. It was just
enough orchestration to keep things interesting, but not
too much.

Check out my latest song called Black Star (MJ Live Aid w/jgurner)

Tom Atwood	Tom Atwood said 1562 days ago (August 16th, 2005)
	Your songs just penetrate. Thanks, Lisa. I was going to joke about making you cry, but instead, I will just say I am glad that this song connected with you. I guess that's what we always hope for, right? Check out my latest song called Keep Looking for Jesus (MJRF)

White Hawks	White Hawks said 1564 days ago (August 14th, 2005)
	simple. but very good! I like this song very much. especially the wonderful vocal harmony and the instrumental part which appear in the middle of the song. thanks for sharing. - Jem Check out my latest song called Shepherds Out in the Field

Stun Nutz	Stun Nutz said 1563 days ago (August 14th, 2005)
	It's all their fault! Monsanto will bring the apocalypse!! Well, maybe not JUST them...the point is they are just one example of many things in this world we live in that will probably end up destroying it. I got a kick out of all the � marks that you put in the lyrics. Good song, by the way. Check out my latest song called Gossamer dissected

Stun Nutz	Stun Nutz said 1563 days ago (August 14th, 2005)
	It's all their fault! It didn't show up in my comment (above), but I meant I got a kick out of all the R-in-a-circle marks you put in the lyrics. Check out my latest song called Gossamer dissected

Tom Atwood	Tom Atwood said 1562 days ago (August 16th, 2005)
	It's all their fault! Thanks, Stun Nutz®. Check out my latest song called Keep Looking for Jesus (MJRF)

	said 1563 days ago (August 14th, 2005)
	How do you do what you do?... Another unique American classic folk song. The sparse simplicity so contrasted with the richness of the overall sound. Yes... how do you do it? jack

Tom Atwood

Tom Atwood said 1562 days ago (August 16th, 2005)

How do you do what you do?...
Thanks, Jack. To answer your question, sometimes songs come very quickly
and don't take much time at all. I read a story in the Post-Dispatch last week
about Roundup® killing amphibians, thought about it for a while, and then
sat down with the guitar. For me, a song either happens or it doesn't. I can't
really make it happen. If I try, things usually turn out poorly. I do feel lucky
when it does happen though. It's almost like I didn't do it, but just watched.
Crazy, right? What took the most time on this piece was singing the
harmonies.

Check out my latest song called Keep Looking for Jesus (MJRF)

Mystified

Mystified said 1563 days ago (August 15th, 2005)

You know that I know that you know what I'm going to say here...
...But I'll just go ahead and say it anyway.

Thank you, Tom.

Your music is a gift. Yes, I know I've said that before, too, but I don't mind saying it again.
You also know what I think about this song and your ability to communicate sincerely, earnestly through music. That you continue to share your talent here is something I am grateful for.

Check out my latest song called For the Beauty of the Earth

Tom Atwood	Tom Atwood said 1562 days ago (August 16th, 2005)
	You know that I know that you know what I'm going to say here... Thank you, Mystified. You can thank me for thanking you later... Check out my latest song called Keep Looking for Jesus (MJRF)

perceptualvortex	perceptualvortex said 1563 days ago (August 15th, 2005)
	Yes nice harmonizing poor mutant amphibians... great sentiment here Check out my latest song called Machine Man (w Beastie Boys)

Gav	Gav said 1563 days ago (August 15th, 2005)
	Good shtuff! I likes your lazy sounding, take it easy vocals. Your lyrics are pretty cool too. NIce one Check out my latest song called Understand

	said 1563 days ago (August 15th, 2005)
	Well done, Tom I especially like the harmonies and lyrics here. So does this mean your vacation from MacJams is over?

Tom Atwood

Tom Atwood said 1562 days ago (August 16th, 2005)

Well done, Tom
Hmmm, I guess so, BIll. It was more of a semi-retirement than a vacation.
Spent some time seeing the country in a virtual Winnebago until gas prices
went through the roof. I did, however, manage to set a personal record for
not posting a song. Almost 3 weeks! Then I read that story about
Roundup®...

Thanks for listening.

Check out my latest song called Keep Looking for Jesus (MJRF)

Einarus	Einarus said 1563 days ago (August 15th, 2005)
	Lovely Lovely harmonies, great lyrics and very good vocals. All that a great song needs. Fav'ed and DL'ed! Check out my latest song called Good Things Come in Fours

Cori Ander

Cori Ander said 1563 days ago (August 15th, 2005)

Rage with compassion
Again you show this amazing ability to sing with
compassion about something that naturally would put
anyone at rage.

Listening to this gives me the association that rage has
individual characters ... or maybe, that rage can be
connected in different ways within us.

It can be connected to hard anger, without willingness to
hear or see but just the urge to destroy.

Or it can be lined up with sorrow and compassion for life
that is overrun, with a willingness to establish
communication and the urge to build up something
better.

I feel that the latter is your way of doing it, and I belive
that that is the way that leads anywhere!

I hope your song will live long ... and make a difference!

Check out my latest song called Guitar test — Martin CSN (Gerry Tolman Tribute)

Tom Atwood

Tom Atwood said 1562 days ago (August 16th, 2005)

Rage with compassion
Thanks, Johannes, for your kind words. I guess this post deserves a serious
response, so here goes. When I think about Roundup® and other chemical
sprays like it (my favorite is "Kill Zall®"), I don't feel rage. I believe that when
the chemicals were developed, whoever developed them thought it would
help farmers, or gardeners, or somebody. Well, that, and it would make
money. But I think Roundup® is a mistake. I think whenever we do something
that throws the perfect balance off balance, bad things will happen as a result
of that imbalance. Every time. So, you are right, this song is more about
sorrow than rage. I think years from now people will look back at us and
wonder, "How could they have done that?" Ok, end of serious answer. Thanks
again for your support.

Check out my latest song called Keep Looking for Jesus (MJRF)

Macaudion

Macaudion said 1563 days ago (August 15th, 2005)

Simply, amazing...
Atwood, you never cease to amaze me with your musical
ablilities. It always sounds as if it were effortless with you.
I mean, I crunch, tweak, binge, borrow, beg and I almost
pray, and I still can't seem to reach your level of musical
talent and expertise. This had just enough
instrumentation w/ your voice expressing exactly what
was needed in tonal inflection and color.

Just simply amazing.

Cydniko

Check out my latest song called 123 iGetU

TobinMueller

TobinMueller said 1563 days ago (August 15th, 2005)

Absorbing it thru the skin
Frogs are dear to my heart. I wrote a youth environmental
musical in 1991 with a crowd pleasing cute song called
"Where Are the Frogs?" in which kids hopped thru the
audience singing and hiding. As amphibians, frogs absorb
their environment thru their skin. They are bell-weather
species that indicate the health of an area. And they may
have invented singing (since they came before birds)! Can't
have too many songs about frogs. Your vocals sound superb
on this.

Check out my latest song called Forge A New Life (MJRF)

Emily Rohm	Emily Rohm said 1563 days ago (August 15th, 2005)
	Poor froggies! I like that you used the copyright symbols in the lyrics. I love frogs so I love this song! I'd like to hear a similar song about bees. I need to convince my husband not to "Raid" every bee that flies by our porch! Thanks! Check out my latest song called Monica's Waltz

SlimGirlFat	SlimGirlFat said 1563 days ago (August 15th, 2005)
	Round up the people that make 'roundup' and place them on a far away island preferably made of concrete and leave them there. Free the Frogs! Slimmie BTW cool track Tom.. Check out my latest song called Not Enough

MowMeDown

MowMeDown said 1563 days ago (August 15th, 2005)

Lasso
You have a wonderful voice, like a singer at a children's
gathering, perfect for playing to families from a summer
stage. This song is well done but really made me depressed.
Don't know why for sure. I use roundup on poison ivy, know
farmers who live and die by it. I heard somewhere that
farmers have 3 times the cancer of a non-farmer, is that
true? I enjoyed the double meaning of roundup, a big lasso
pullin' us all in. But damn those mosquitoes and poison ivy
vines! Very clean sound and bittersweet vocals. I like how
you didn't sound cynical or sarcastic in your singing.

Check out my latest song called She's More To Be Pitied

Tom Atwood

Tom Atwood said 1562 days ago (August 16th, 2005)

Lasso
Thanks for those comments, MMD. No need to feel depressed. I am not
blaming anyone for using weed killer. I have used it. I drive a car. I buy things
wrapped up in ridiculous, impossible-to-open plastic containers (which could
be another song), I drink out of styrofoam cups. I just think sometimes we do
things without thinking, or without knowing the consequences. Sometimes
we use stuff because somebody made it and is selling it and making it look
okay.

I have no idea if farmers have a higher rate of cancer. But I can't believe that
spraying large amounts of Roundup® over millions of acres can be good for
much.

Glad you like the vocals. If you listen to my other songs, you'll see that I don't
ever really sing with sarcasm or cynicism. Don't think it would work for me.
Thanks again for listening, and for your thoughtful comments.

Check out my latest song called Keep Looking for Jesus (MJRF)

Doadars Uncle	Doadars Uncle said 1563 days ago (August 15th, 2005)
	Touches my heart Thanks for the message. I have spent a lot of time in the woods and waters. It seems strange that people can't see beyond the dollar, even for survival of their species. Check out my latest song called Capitalist's Drag

Anyse

Anyse said 1563 days ago (August 15th, 2005)

Reminds me . . .
of the works of John Hartford (and that is a compliment).
Sometimes the roving rhythm and timing is a bit
disconcerting and makes the lyrics work a little less than
effectively. It seems that, in your verses, you should have
n measures in the first and third lines and then n 1 (or 2)
in the second and fourth lines in order to create a
symmetry that can be more easily followed. Were I to set
up a metronome and try to make sense of this, I know
that I would be defeated as I am sure that this symmetry
does not occur.
I really like the words and the concept as well as the
general melody. It could really go a long way . . .

Tom Atwood	Tom Atwood said 1562 days ago (August 16th, 2005)
	Reminds me . . . Anyse, I am glad you stopped by to listen and comment. I have no idea what "n measures" means, but all that aside, I am glad you liked this song, and I appreciate any comparison to the late John Hartford. I watched him fiddle and dance on a scorching 4th of July 25 years ago... Thanks again! Check out my latest song called Keep Looking for Jesus (MJRF)

Ed Hannifin	Ed Hannifin said 1563 days ago (August 15th, 2005)
	"You tell him... ...your wife loves that song!" Tom, my wife loves this song. To my ears, it has a lot of Pete Seeger to it, keeping things simple and non-strident while making the point...Needs banjo... Your singing and harmonizing is in keeping with that feel. Nothing gets in the way. A hit in this household... Ed Check out my latest song called Next Time Around (w/jiguma)

BoiAfrica	BoiAfrica said 1563 days ago (August 15th, 2005)
	awesome wow Tom, wow, the question has been asked, but how do you do it? Always seems easy and simple, but the end result is pure gold, thanks so much for sharing, if I could I'd sit and watch you play and sing all day, hoping something would stick to me. Great Job! Check out my latest song called One, One Hundred

	said 1562 days ago (August 15th, 2005)
	HOP I was hopping around and munching on fire flies to this one ha! You remind me of the hippy guitar player teacher on Beavis and Butthead! Peace and Love and Frogs!

caroline	caroline said 1562 days ago (August 16th, 2005)
	it's not easy being green... but you make it appear so - if we sung this, altogether, loud - maybe we could start a revolution! i'll meet you at alice's restaurant - we'll plan it over coffee - thank you - one earth x Check out my latest song called clink that link mjrf

Rebsie

Rebsie said 1562 days ago (August 16th, 2005)

I'm with you 100% on this one ...
A very sweet and pretty song about a not so sweet or
pretty subject. I thought it was bad enough that my
neighbour blasts his vile Roundup® so close to my
chemical-free (and wildlife-rich) garden, but having
Monsanto's HQ on your doorstep ... ugh. Poor you. No
wonder you felt moved to write a song about it.

One of Monsanto's previous helpful products was Agent
Orange, the devastating defoliant spray used in Vietnam,
still thought to be causing birth defects among the
affected populations 35 years later. Funnily enough they
don't mention that in their ads.

Check out my latest song called Amongst The Colours (w/ Luna Trick)

Cameron

Cameron said 1562 days ago (August 16th, 2005)

simple and effective
Your voice is sweet and clear, like the open prairie. Its
mellow quality lends itself well to story-telling, which this
song IS.

The recording is very well done; has a sense of immediacy
and intimacy, as though we are all sitting around a
campfire listening to you sing. The simple guitar
accompaniment enhances this impression.

I particularly like the close harmonies in the vocals; very
nice!

You have a real affinity for brass writing; it seems that
many of your songs feature these instruments, either
subtly or prominently. It is a very effective "spice", and
provides a down-home, folky, brass-band-in-the-park
kind of atmosphere.

This song is indeed a bit sad, but it is VERY important to
communicate things like this, and I'm glad you posted it.

We are truly living in a world where wildlife and vegetation
are vanishing at an alarming rate -- and it's impossible to
get away from chemicals in one form or another.

Very good job on this song, Tom!

Check out my latest song called EPONYM

urbnite

urbnite said 1562 days ago (August 16th, 2005)

Yes!
This is the kind of folk music we need - creepiest thing
about Monsanto is that no one seems to be bothered by the
fact that they're eating food that's been genetically modified
to withstand weed/insect killers made by the people who
made AGENT ORANGE!

off my soapbox now...

beautiful song, elegant lyrics. just great! going to send it to
my mother as well... :)

Check out my latest song called Everything's Perfect

ProjectW

ProjectW said 1562 days ago (August 16th, 2005)

Wow
I would never buy a CD with this style of music, nor would I ever go to a concert where this was the style of featured music. That being said... I had no desire to stop playing this song until it was complete. The production is amazing, the lyrics are touching, and your voice has an "everyman" quality to it... I'm definitely going to check out your other compositions.

Al

Check out my latest song called Bustin' Outta Barcelona

tmcfate

tmcfate said 1562 days ago (August 16th, 2005)

everybody sing........
if i close my eggs i can hear a big touch of pete seeger. i
the tradition of really great folk music you comunicate
serious issues in a format that can be sung by the masses.
this is a real sing alonger. easy to listen to and always
hoping to be heard. the frog is also significant. do you
know the story about the frog in warm water.? you are a
gem. i was thinking at 4:30 this morning as i was emailing
folks to tell them about my new song that i wish i had a
fan base such as yours. this is one reason why. just really
good song writing. very well done and i can tell ,honest
thanks

Check out my latest song called Shadow of the son

Joanna

Joanna said 1561 days ago (August 17th, 2005)

So...
I'm listening to this song and thinking, "Hey, I didn't get
an email alert for this!" and it suddenly hits me that I
forgot to mark you as favorite! I feel like I should sponsor
some frogs in penance. As usualy, this is a wonderful
song -- sweetly sung, honest, with all those fantastic
harmonies, in short, it's Tom Atwood. You are a Macjam
treasure.

Check out my latest song called Nellie G.

Tadashi Togawa	Tadashi Togawa said 1561 days ago (August 17th, 2005)
	Law of the earth Childhood. I did catch the frog. I played a trick to the frog. I was very cruel. I have grown up. I have not captured the frog any longer. I do not play a trick to the frog. I became a good adult for the frog. A good adult should be nice to the frog. It is a law of the earth. Check out my latest song called Mexican taste

Peter Greenstone

Peter Greenstone said 1561 days ago (August 17th, 2005)

Wisdom
Your songs always show such wisdom. This is really a great
tune. It's both musically and lyrically enjoyable. I like how
you have made it very direct, naming names and making it
clear what it/they do without making it sound like a rant
forced to go with music. It's brilliant.

I've been away a lot for the past couple of weeks so I've
gotten behind on my MJ listening. I'm glad I finally got
around to listening to this one. I hope a lot of people hear
this song and are moved by it as I was.

Check out my latest song called From Nothing

Uber

Uber said 1559 days ago (August 18th, 2005)

good tune
Reminds me of the Peter Paul and Mary concert I saw on my 15th birthday-with a message....whether intended or not, your use of Monsanto makes this a cutting-edge political song. There is a whole race going on in the world of seeds to genetically modify them and thereby trademark them and restrict them, while getting rid of nature's seed varieties, like rice and corn and things that feed the planet. Yup Monsanto. I think your song opens people up to look at the choices we make. Thanks.

thetiler	thetiler said 1559 days ago (August 18th, 2005)
	nice story tune Like the adding of the horn as well . Makes it unique for sure. But it fits in. You have a lot of nice substance to this tune! Check out my latest song called The Bluebird Cafe (with two other guest)

aclarke	aclarke said 1559 days ago (August 19th, 2005)
	Technically- I suppose this is a true "grass roots" song... it's a great return for you at any rate. Tom- this is terrific. Beyond that, I can't really add to what everyone else has already stated. Okay... it's a beautiful, poignant, elegant, wise and somewhat melancholy piece of honest folk music... welcome back! Check out my latest song called Ballad of The Little Tiki

helloreb	helloreb said 1558 days ago (August 20th, 2005)
	raffi You sound like raffi :-) Your voice is super.

	Anonymous said 1558 days ago (August 20th, 2005)
	heyy great stuff youve got goin on keep it up!

gregd	gregd said 1556 days ago (August 21st, 2005)
	Well put. Being an ex-punk rocker, I love hearing people who can say what they want to say and what needs to be heard in a way that anyone can listen to and absorb. Art isn't worth its weight in any studded leather jackets unless people can understand what you're saying. Thanks for playing. Check out my latest song called 08nov08

ThroughRivers	ThroughRivers said 1556 days ago (August 22nd, 2005)
	vocals nice vocal harmonys, brilliant song well done Check out my latest song called No Time

Shimky	Shimky said 1553 days ago (August 25th, 2005)
	Soon all the frogs will be dead Love it! Comical genius with a serious underlying warning! Amazing production. Lovely voice. 8-8-10-9 :O) Check out my latest song called Funeral

mandolinquent

mandolinquent said 1538 days ago (September 9th, 2005)

On behalf of Monsanto...
... the writ is on the way.

Well... one would hope that a song this strong could
create some sort of reaction, at least.

Your singing is always beautiful - and your harmonies are
always so well-wrought; mixed with these real plain-
speaking lyrics, it's such a plangent song. You've really
worked Jampack 4 into your palette too, so cleverly.
Deceptively simple as always... you have so much ability,
but you never let that overshadow the meaning of a piece
of music... which in this case is this righteous anger.

And can I just add that your songs attract the best
comments too? Who'd have thought that Tobin wrote an
environmental musical with a song called "Where are all
the frogs?" Where else do we get a history lesson on
Monsanto, or information on cancer rates among US
farmers? Or a poem with the lines: "A good adult should
be nice to the frog. /It is a law of the earth."

Check out my latest song called Had We But World Enough

Fan List

Artist Info

Name: Tom Atwood

I guess I could be a 'poster child' for MacJams. I joined the site on New Year's Eve 2004, after several years of not making much music at all. A long dry spell. Since then, I have posted more than 50 songs here, collaborated with some wonderful arti... [see more]

Check out some of my other songs:

Genre Info

More songs in Folk (contemporary):

Chat

awigze	12
Cheeto	12
davisamerica	27
EncryptedVerbalist	0
hackneybloke	0
PrototypeEightyOne	14
TobinMueller	70