Friday June 3, 2022 “What About Me” Quicksilver Messenger Service

Quicksilver Messenger Service was a band formed around former folk singer Dino Valenti who was born Chet Powers and I have always wondered just what inspired him to change his name to Dino Valenti…maybe Chet Powers was wanted by the FBI.

Valenti/Powers had written the iconic “Get Together” which was a huge hit for Jesse Colin Young and the Youngbloods.  Unfortunately for Powers, it was a song that he sold the rights to in an effort to raise bail and get out of jail on one of his many drug busts.

There is some controversy around this but it seems he may also have written ”Hey Joe ”but we will let music historians and high priced lawyers figure that out.

In addition to Valenti the members of Quicksilver Messenger Service included guitarist John Cippolina, bass player David Freiberg who would also play in the Jefferson Airplane/Starship and wrote the top ten Starship song “Jane’; Jude Gold, who would also be a part of backing bands for Eddie Money, 2 Live Crew and is the editor of the magazine Guitar Player; and keyboardist Nicky Hopkins, perhaps the most in-demand session pianist in rock playing with the Beatles, Kinks, Who, Jeff Beck Group, Steve Miller Band, and the Jefferson Airplane.  In fact there was hardly a major rock band in the world that hadn't benefited from Hopkins' creative touch at the keyboards.

Dino Valenti/Chet Powers wrote most of the Quicksilver Messenger Service songs but used yet another pseudonym, Jesse Oris Farrow…maybe he was running from the law, or someone.

Stay safe and well…and based on singer/songwriter Dino Valenti’s difficulties with authority figures, this song may very well be autobiographical.

You poisoned my sweet water.

You cut down my green trees.

The food you fed my children

Was the cause of their disease.

 My world is slowly fallin' down

And the airs not good to breathe.

And those of us who care enough,

We have to do something.......

 [Chorus]

Oh... oh What you gonna do about me?

Oh... oh What you gonna do about me?

 Your newspapers,

They just put you on.

They never tell you

The whole story.

 They just put your

Young ideas down.

I was wonderin' could this be the end

Of your pride and glory?

 [Chorus]

 I work in your factory.

I study in your schools.

I fill your penitentiaries.

And your military too!

 And I feel the future trembling,

As the word is passed around.

"If you stand up for what you do believe,

Be prepared to be shot down."

 [Chorus]

 And I feel like a stranger

In the land where I was born

And I live like an outlaw.

An' I'm always on the run...

 An I'm always getting busted

And I got to take a stand....

I believe the revolution

Must be mighty close at hand...

 [Chorus]

 I smoke marijuana

But I can't get behind your wars.

And most of what I do believe

Is against most of your laws

 I'm a fugitive from injustice

But I'm goin' to be free.

Cause your rules and regulations

They don't do the thing for me

 [Chorus]

 And I feel like a stranger

In the land where I was born

And I live just like an outlaw.

An' I'm always on the run.