Feb 2022 folk acoustic-one-take
This is a set of lyrics that plopped out of my brain in Sept 2019. They've been sitting in my Google Drive staring at me since then. I finally decided to finish the music and record them. Whether this was wise remains to be seen.
There are things I like and don't like about this song. There are some bits I tried to rewrite and it just wouldn't take. There are things about it that make me nervous to post it online. Maybe a different title would be better.
Regardless - it's FAWM. Write it and move on. I can always go back and lock it if I need to.
Acoustic One Take - first take. For reasons.
Long ago our fathers
Stormed the center of the stage
They said that we’re all human
And we want to turn the page
They threw off their fetters
To let their freedoms ring
They said “we are all equal
We don’t need any kings”
Now we’re building out our bubbles
Reinforcing our own fears
Chewing on our troubles
And spitting out angry tears
Cynic underpinnings
To our jaded cold careers
We’re burning all our maps
Cause we’ve gone from there to here
There are no more civilians
‘Cause we’ve all gone off to war
So lock and load your fist words
There’s no civil any more
We’ll break the bonds that bind us
Let the blood run on the floor
We’re spitting in the mirror
And we call it civil war
We want a hero to save us
but they’re not heroes all the time
We amplify the accidents
And ignore all the crime
We rally round a fiction
And draw hard lines in the earth
And if you’re not on the inside
We won’t care what your worth
False and fickle factions
Folding back on themselves
With windows made of wisdom
From rigid narrow shelves
We create a graven image
Plastic fiction made to please
It so easy to forget
How we bend at the knees
There are no more civilians
‘Cause we’ve all gone off to war
So lock and load your fist words
There’s no civil any more
We’ll break the bonds that bind us
Let the blood run on the floor
We’re spitting in the mirror
And we call it civil war
@dasbinky Feb 2022
Very good stuff, good sir! This is platonic example of what I think of as "Vintage Serious Distad". Strong throughline in the lyrics, I really dig the take. Great mood.
@wsharper69 Feb 2022
Awesome lyrics. You have taken my thoughts and put into lyrics
@tspoon Feb 2022
Wow. Nice. Deep. Why September of 19 I wonder? And well worth the wait I must say. It’s true that civility seems to be lost.
@tawny249 Feb 2022
Thank you for posting this. I get why you were nervous, given how the concept of civility gets used against itself sometimes...but I largely agree with the sentiment, and with you. I'm tired of the trend of expecting people to be out to get the "other" too. *hug* Also it's just well-written, and while I can imagine some additional instrumental backing, I think the tune works.
@bachelorb Feb 2022
Great lyrics. They had me the whole song. The chorus is great.
I think of this as a protest song against ourselves. Really thought provoking.
@summerrussell Feb 2022
Very often, raw and powerful go hand in hand. This speaks unflinchingly about disturbing but real things, and puts into words the kind of dread and jadedness so many people are experiencing. The music and lyrics are well suited to each other. It may be a work in progress, but I'm glad you shared it.
@popmythology Feb 2022
Eric, OMG, tag this #collapsechallenge!! DO EEEEET!!!!! (PS: This is now one of my favorites of your songs, seriously!)
@tuneslayer Feb 2022
Yeah I can see why you might be hesitant to put this up. It's evocative but moody as all get-out.
@jlampson Feb 2022
Oh man, the moodiness in this thing. I do love the story being told about various in-groups and othering in the vein of a monarchy and such. I'd love to hear you refine this later on as you'd planned and hear it get even better. Lyrically, yes, it's dark, but a dystopian portrait of one possible timeline that you as the narrator seem very plaintive and regretful in having to retell.