All That I Require

This is a cautionary tale. The voices of extremism and fascism are ringing loudly in our current political climate. Demagogues have historically risen to power by stoking fears during hard times.

The lyrics come from things that Mussolini, Hitler and other dictators have used as slogans. I felt compelled by Christian faith and my love of my country to release this song.

Below are the lyrics (in bold) and some notes about the origin behind the lyrics.

All That I Require
(Radney Foster)

We've been insulted boys and we must not hesitate
They're different and they're dangerous, deserving of our hate
So follow me and I'll whip all your fears into a fire
I've got all the answers, I'm the **** that you desire

The treaty of Versailles was considered an “insult” to the German people.

Mussolini often talked of himself in the third person, with posters proclaiming “Ill Duce is always right” and “Ill Duce has the answers.”


Those neighbors who talk funny, I'll make them move away
The ones who disagree, well we'll put them in their place
Those malcontents, muckrakers, protesters in the street
Won't make you feel uncomfortable, I'll lay them at your feet

Limiting the freedom of the press and the right to protest has been a hallmark of every dictatorial regime, from Stalin to Mao to Putin.


I'll make us strong again, you'll sleep safely in your beds
I'll rain down hell upon those dirty mongrel's heads
Your pantries will be full and your faith will be inspired
And the blood of all your children is all that I require


Hitler consistently talked about food and freedom. People in Germany were starving at the time, and the promise of filling pantries was a part of his rise to power.


I'll seduce your anger, I'll massage your pride
You'll feel so good at first when I take you for a ride
But I told you who I am and when it's too late to resist
Remember you're the one who chose this scorpion to kiss

The reference to a scorpion was not coincidental. “Scorpions’ were paramilitary Christian Serbs who killed more than 8,000 Muslim Bosnians in the city of Srebrenica in July of 1995. They would hold three fingers in the air as a sign of the trinity while posing near mass graves.

I'll make us strong again, you'll sleep safely in your beds
I'll rain down hell upon those dirty mongrel's heads
Your pantries will be full and your faith will be inspired
And the blood of all your children is all that I require

Hitler consistently called for an end to mongrelisation of the German race. His first solution for the Jews was deportation.

Mussolini said, “Foreign culture is a grease stain which is spreading through the whole of European life."

I'll always need new enemies so you'll always need me,
New fears and distractions to tantalize and tease
Your pantries will be emptied for the glory I desire
You see the blood of all your children is all that I require

Your skin and bones grandchildren they won't ask me the tale
I'll be buried in the rubble after my last scheme has failed
No, you're the ones they'll blame for their orphaned world that bleeds
For all those days you slept instead of learning….
from history.