The Song Remains the Same

I was recently listening to music and naturally, the ubiquitous standard "Stairway To Heaven" by Led Zeppelin popped in on the playlist. My mind wandered and I contemplated how, in politics, politicians are usually not motivated by providing responsible governance, but father, by feathering their own nests. I watched countless news clips about the California fires and was in disbelief of the behavior of the governor, mayor and others. Why the glaring lack of preparedness? Why the litany of excuses?

Goal conflict. Role conflict. Narcissism. Apathy.

It occurred to me that strangely, the stark reality of the California fires evokes thoughts of the 1976 Led Zeppelin film?The Song Remains the Same. At the heart of the connection is the idea that behavior drives consequences, as marked by?repeated failures?- in this case by government officials who've turned a blind eye toward problems related to fire risk, management of water infrastructure, e.g., and how, as with the band Led Zeppelin, there are performances that can mask the the internal struggles and a lack of preparedness and planning. In short, nothing changes if nothing changes. And we've all heard the supposed Einstein quote about "Insanity is doing the same things and expecting different results."

Politicians' default position always seems to be blame storming - the idea to look around and blame others, and shirk responsibility.

The lyrics echoed in my mind:

There's a feeling I get when I look to the West And my spirit is crying for leaving

In my thoughts I have seen rings of smoke through the trees And the voices of those who stand looking

Ooh, it makes me wonder Ooh, really makes me wonder

And it's whispered that soon if we all call the tune Then the piper will lead us to reason

And a new day will dawn for those who stand long And the forests will echo with laughter

The Song Remains the Same: Repeated Failures

In the?The Song Remains the Same?film, the title itself can be seen as a metaphor for the cyclical and unchanging nature of certain issues. The film primarily focuses on Led Zeppelin's 1973 Madison Square Garden performances, but it also incorporates surreal, symbolic moments that depict the band members' internal lives and the pressures they were under. The band, despite achieving massive success, is shown grappling with personal crises, insecurities, and frustrations. These moments suggest a sense of being trapped in repetitive cycles: of fame, of expectations, and of their own behavior, all of which they can't escape or resolve - a large part of the dynamic, as is the case with politicians - is "playing to the camera."

This recurring motif of unresolved tensions and failures can parallel the behavior of government officials, particularly in cases like the California fires, where leadership failures and an inability to address urgent issues seem to echo in an unbroken loop. Just as a rock band's struggles are portrayed as persistent, despite their public persona of fitness for a role and the illusion of invincibility, the same can be said of political figures – like Gavin Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass - who seem incapable of breaking out of the cycle of failure.

Governance Failures - The Band Plays On...

1. Incompetence and Ignored Warnings:?In both the case of the California fires and the band's struggles, there is an element of?ignoring or downplaying serious issues until they become catastrophes. Led Zeppelin's difficulties were often the result of excesses that went unchecked, much like how wildfire seasons have become increasingly destructive due to poor planning and an inability to heed early warnings. Similarly, Governor Gavin Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass’s handling of fires—if perceived as insufficient or mismanaged—reflects a political system that repeats its failures, each time too late to make a significant difference.
2. Failure to Adapt to Changing Circumstances:?The band in?The Song Remains the Same?is caught in a tension between their need to continue performing and their inability to adapt to the pressures of their fame. Similarly, California's political leadership might be seen as?unable to adapt to the evolving nature of disasters. As the state becomes more susceptible to larger and more frequent wildfires, the response from officials can feel like a rehashing of old plans - and the vapid dialogue that goes with it - that no longer fit the new reality.
3. Public Persona vs. Real Accountability:?In the film, Led Zeppelin’s public persona is larger than life—yet this is contrasted with the internal cracks and personal failures behind the scenes. Politicians, likewise, present a polished, scripted, and in theory, competent, face to the public, but their failure to handle a crisis like California's fires exposes deeper, systemic issues. The repeated failure to tackle the root causes of such disasters (poor infrastructure, inadequate response systems, underfunding of firefighting resources, etc.) is a?song that remains the same.
4. Escalating Consequences:?In the film, the personal and professional issues facing the band members only escalate, creating more tension and frustration. The same can be said of governance in California; each failure to act decisively and proactively during previous fire seasons—leads to ever-worsening conditions. The fires of January 2025 may be seen as a manifestation of this unaddressed neglect. Maybe they just don't care and it's an apathetic response?
5. Cyclical Nature of Crisis:?In both the case of the California fires and?The Song Remains the Same, there is a sense that, despite the potential for change, the same issues keep recurring. The cycle of governance failure, just like the cycle of personal and artistic crises within a band, seems inescapable. This repetition could be the result of poor governance choices, a failure to anticipate long-term consequences, and an unwillingness to challenge the status quo. The politicians, and the bands, can't seem to manage themselves.

The “Song” of Governance

Ultimately, governance has its own song, played out in the cyclical nature of political failure and the unchanging, repetitive patterns of crisis management. Whether it's the public’s frustration with leaders like Newsom and Bass or a rock and roll band's inability to escape the pressures of fame, the song remains the same—a performance that feels increasingly disconnected from the reality of what’s happening on the ground. In both cases, there are critical moments of breakdown where change could occur, but these moments are either missed or mishandled, leaving a sense of stagnation and a growing sense of despair.

Thus, the "song" symbolizes the governance failures and the need for change, while the repetition of the same mistakes serves as both a warning and a reflection of the systemic issues at play.

How can they be so myopic, so careless? What about care and fiduciary responsibility?

It makes me wonder.

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Stairway To Heaven lyrics?

There's a lady who's sure all that glitters is gold And she's buying a stairway to Heaven

When she gets there she knows, if the stores are all closed With a word she can get what she came for

Ooh, ooh, and she's buying a stairway to Heaven

There's a sign on the wall, but she wants to be sure 'Cause you know sometimes words have two meanings

In a tree by the brook, there's a songbird who sings Sometimes all of our thoughts are misgiven

Ooh, it makes me wonder Ooh, makes me wonder

There's a feeling I get when I look to the West And my spirit is crying for leaving

In my thoughts I have seen rings of smoke through the trees And the voices of those who stand looking

Ooh, it makes me wonder Ooh, really makes me wonder

And it's whispered that soon if we all call the tune Then the piper will lead us to reason

And a new day will dawn for those who stand long And the forests will echo with laughter

Oh-oh-oh-oh-whoa

If there's a bustle in your hedgerow, don't be alarmed now It's just a spring clean for the May queen Yes, there are two paths you can go by, but in the long run There's still time to change the road you're on

And it makes me wonder Ohh, whoa

Your head is humming, and it won't go, in case you don't know The piper's calling you to join him

Dear lady, can you hear the wind blow? And did you know Your stairway lies on the whispering wind?

And as we wind on down the road Our shadows taller than our soul There walks a lady we all know Who shines white light and wants to show How everything still turns to gold And if you listen very hard The tune will come to you at last When all are one, and one is all To be a rock and not to roll

And she's buying a stairway to Heaven

Source:?Musixmatch

Songwriters: Robert Plant / James Patrick (jimmy) Page

Stairway to Heaven lyrics ? Succubus Music Ltd., Sons Of Einion Publishing, Flames Of Albion Music, Inc.

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