Behold “Bootlicker,” the sixth authorized leak from my forthcoming solo album, My Name is Will. It’s an anti-authoritarian rocker inspired by Jason Stanley’s book How Fascism Works, Umberto Eco’s classic essay “Ur-Fascism,” and a certain S & M-themed Velvet Underground tune. Press play above and bang your head as you sing along (at least during the chorus):
The programming starts in the home with the family Continues at church and at school Obedience richly rewarded, severe punishment For infringing the rule Once beaten down and completely humiliated Find a scapegoat to blame Then you’ll be ready to forfeit your will to a boss Who embodies your shame Bootlicker, on your knees! Ain’t that shiny, shiny leather a tease? A thug in a uniform Can always make you perform You’re enamored of the bully boy And honored to be his toy You suck up and punch down But your Great White Daddy’s a clown In some mythic past, your tribe ruled the land And the sea—or so you were told— But now you feel victimized by the unworthy And think that your birthright was sold So follow the leader to soulless perdition And never admit it’s a con You are the sub in a kinked-up relationship Bow to the mafia don Bootlicker, on your knees! Ain’t that shiny, shiny leather a tease? A thug in a uniform Can always make you perform You’re enamored of the bully boy And honored to be his toy You suck up and punch down But your Great White Daddy’s a clown
The song evolved out of a chord pattern I had been jamming on for many years and referred to as “The Bomb” before I finally added lyrics. Guitar virtuoso C.J. Hsu came up with the riff which serves as the intro and outro and then delivered another killer solo. The production of course is influenced by Ozzy-era Black Sabbath. If you don’t like this track, you’re probably a bootlicker yourself, but you do you.