starting FAWM 2022 with a protest song. cos I quite fancy myself as a female Woody Guthrie :)
One rule for us (no rules for you)
Coming from a life of privilege
You might not understand how the rest of us live
It’s the little things we value
Like honesty and straightforwardness
Money can’t buy you respect
Power won’t win you trust
So why is it
One rule for us, no rules for you
You’ve been caught out and your lies are hurting everyone it’s true
There is one rule for us, no rules for you
Same old dirty excuses are falling on deaf ears I’m telling you
Cast your mind back, it’s April 2020
They’re full in the hospitals, we’re calling it a national tragedy
It’s been a heart-breaking two years, trying to make sense of it all
But this doesn’t make sense at all, no it don’t make sense at all
I guess it’s
One rule for us, no rules for you
You’ve been caught out and your lies are hurting everyone it’s true
There is one rule for us, no rules for you
Same old dirty excuses are falling on deaf ears I’m telling you
Bridge
Bring the red wine to the garden, by the suitcase load
We’ll drink and we’ll make merry, they never have to know
If the journos they get wind of it, we’ll say we didn’t know
And we’ll get away with it
One rule for us, no rules for you
You’ve been caught out and your lies are hurting everyone it’s true
There is one rule for us, no rules for you
Same old dirty excuses are falling on deaf ears I’m telling you
@n24 Feb 2022
I really like the hard mutes on the strumming in the intro, gives a real nice natural rhythm to the opening. As to be expected really spot-on on the vocals! The lyrics are sadly so accurate (and beautifully written), great work!
@ambroise Feb 2022
Such a sweet music and charming melody. And then I read the lyrics and discovered the wrath below. So easy to relate. Maybe protest song are more effective than plain speeches because they charm the ears before talking to the brain ?
@schuylerf Feb 2022
Jelly of your voice! So smooth. Catchy title/hook too. I've heard it before on some of @richaaaay's tunes.
@pippa Feb 2022
Good to see you back, Serene, yeh. And your lyrics speak so clear and simple to such a standard situation we can all relate with the frustration. Nailed it.
@hbusse Feb 2022
An honest, truthy delivery and great vocals for the style. This works really well stripped back like this instrumentally.
@jessicagraae Feb 2022
Vocals are so pretty. Yeah, ugh. Why do some many countries have these buffoons in charge? (Your guy isn't as horrible as our last president was/is.) It's fascinating that it took so long for this saga to make it to trial-or whatever that was.
@annaharp1 Feb 2022
Love this track :)
@ductapeguy Feb 2022
Yes, please. More political and protest songs.
@hev Feb 2022
So good! Protest more! Such good phrasing - it’s not easy to write lyrics that seem informal but also memorable. Inspired!
@dzdandcunfsd Feb 2022
You're quite approved by me at least to fancy yourself a female Woody Guthrie :O) Except he couldn't sing like this!
I don't know how I didn't have you in my watchlist, just caught this on the random song shuffle and recognized your voice immediately LOL. Glad to see you back for another year!
@lissielou79 Feb 2022
Great to see you on here Serene. I love this! Lyrics are spot on. Your voices sounds beautiful too.
@andrea Feb 2022
Thanks for the lovely thoughts on Shangri-la. I really like this protest song. I think this exact statement every time I venture out somewhere. It can apply to many situations too -unfortunately. As always, I Iove your beautiful voice.
@mandolinda Feb 2022
Very topical protest song. Needs to be called out. Your lyrics are on point, and great delivery.
@cleanshoes Feb 2022
Great to hear your voice again! This is so honestly delivered. It's topical, but "one rule for us, no rules for you" is a timeless sentiment. There have been so many similar incidents in the past couple years that I think it's relatable regardless of where you're from.
@eas3637 Feb 2022
Ah, your voice sounds amazing on this track! The chorus of this song is so strong - the lyrics scan so well across the lines and have such great movement.
@flw3rch1ld Feb 2022
Thank you for the lovely comment on my song! I love this one! This really resonates especially same old dirty excuses line. Incredible and very well written :)
@nadine Feb 2022
I love your vocals. Great phrasing and intonation. This hook line stick in your head for days. I think everybody can rely to this situation.
@tukayandryan Feb 2022
Lovely vocal. Poignant lyrics. Great protest song.
@djtjb Feb 2022
Fantastic lyrics with poignant delivery. Very well done protest song.
@katestantonsings Feb 2022
You create meaningful music and have a beautiful voice, Serene. Happy FAWM to you!
@wobbiewobbit Feb 2022
really lovely feel and strong lyrics, and a fantastic delivery. great topic for a song and you have some lovely natural flowing phrases and rhymes. really nicely done!
@standup Feb 2022
One rule for us, no rules for you is actually a catchier hook than I expected. As usual, powerful people expect to do what they want with no consequences.
@davidsnyder Feb 2022
This is cool! It made me think of a few other classic lines from the past like:
"Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss!"
:)
@metalfoot Feb 2022
Strong protest lyric. Well done.
@davidtaro Feb 2022
I hope you're right, I hope this eventually catches up with him. The pessimistic part of my brain just sees him kicking it down the road until peoples' current white hot anger subsides. But perhaps people won't forget, not with something that touched almost everyone to some degree. Anyway, that's why songs like this are great - we need to document when people lie and cheat and make shallow excuses and throw literally everyone else around them under the bus to save their own skin. Love the melody on the hook, and your vocal is as fabulous as ever :)
@frozenlonesome Feb 2022
Lovely vocals and guitar. Enjoyed the social commentary.
@richaaaay Feb 2022
Beautifully done Serene. Your lyrics are always so cohesive. Your guitar always rhythmic. Love the sound of those nylon strings. Worthy topic for a song. Way to get your first song out there. Looking forward to what else you post this FAWM.
@coolparadiso Feb 2022
amen. it is always the way i know you are being specific but its a general issue as well! music should call these things out! I could listen to anything you do. really good
@zeekle1998 Feb 2022
Spot on, both musically and topically. WG would be impressed.
Sadly, I don’t think they care enough to change.