The first Palestinian Intifada (uprising) against Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories began on 9 December 1987. The previous day an Israeli army tank transporter crashed into a row of cars containing Palestinians returning from working in Israel killing four Palestinians and seriously injuring seven others. Hundreds of Palestinian laborers returning from work witnessed it and soon rumors started that it was an intentional retaliation. Protests included civil disobedience, strikes, boycotts on Israeli products, graffiti, and barricades. Most media coverage showed the contrast between demonstrators with stones against heavily armed Israeli troops.
Since I was in topical song mode at the time this complicated issue called for a naive response. That response was the bluesy "I've Got a Bomb". I recorded the version found on "This Machine Eats Bacon" in my bedroom. I thought my parents were out of town, but my dad came in and interrupted after the second verse.
You better look out
because I've got a bomb...
I've got a bomb
I've got a bomb
I've got a bomb on your front lawn
I've got a bomb
I've got a tank
I've got a tank
I've got a tank on the West Bank
I've got a tank
I've got a plane
I've got a plane
I've got a plane so don't you complain
'cuz I can do anything that I want
I've got a bomb
I killed a little kid
I killed a little kid
I killed a little kid so I could move into your neighborhood
