Listening to a lot of Neil Young lately, for no particular reason, and thought I'd do an Americana-folk-rock-political thing. Jangle guitars to get the John Cougar Mellencamp mojo going, a bit of bass, and this year, I'm going to sing a bit more, because I need to do things I don't like to do.
In honor of Neil, I have a train wreck of a guitar solo.
The title occurred to me, and then things just went from there.
Guitar is a PRS SE 245, and the bass is one I built from a kit -- a Fret Wire PJ 4-string bass. I've named the bass "Carol," and the guitar is "Stacey." Drums are Logic Pro X.
There’s cancer in the heartland
There’s amber waves of shame
Crying all the time that they’ve been mislead
But they got no one but themselves to blame
Forgotten what it means to be an American
Thinking they can gaslight out of this jam
Screaming out about alternative facts
We all know the start of the stain
Bound together in treasonous packs
By their hatred of a man with a funny name
Forgotten what it means to be an American
Snookered by the crooked cross and the klan
Now the thing I want to know
Is where do we go from here
They’ll try it again at the drop of a hat
‘Cause their hearts are full of hate and fear
Amber waves of shame
As far as the eye can see....
@elainedimasi Feb 2022
Loving the sly lyric and the chord sequences.
My brother called me last night - said he talked to Mom and Dad last night - their conversion is apparently complete :-(
This is a good track, Patrick!
@sapient Feb 2022
Spot on. Absolutely spot on.
Love the fit of the jangle and drawl. There's a kind of updates 60s feel to this that sounds so good.
There's a few songs like this going round this year.
I wonder why...?
@mikeskliar Feb 2022
Yes! You bring that neil young and crazy horse intensity and integrity to this- a fine fine political rocker. Love the dynamics, the lyrics, the way you have that quieter last verse after the screaming guitar solo- and that vocal phrasing, its more Lou Reed then Neil, perhaps, but perfect for this (and the chords are a bit Lou-ish as well, i think!)
great work, and great to hear ya loud and clear ! keep on rockin !
@sbs2018 Feb 2022
This is way fun! Love the guitar rhythm!
@calumcarlyle Feb 2022
Well this really is like Neil Young, though obviously it's about the current times. Interestingly, i don't think Neil Young would actually have written these lyrics because he is a Canadian! Interesting to hear this because its so Neil Young, but actually with that twist of your own thing as well.