A friend of mine just told me about a very funny ad that comedian Larry David was just in- I checked it out, funny stuff tho sadly (in my opinion anyway) it ended up being an ad for cryptocurrency, which I don't have a very high opinion of- as will be explained in this song. (its kind of two songs in one, but you'll hear). Had alot of fun writing and recording this- all live, except for the harmonica overdub at the very end. A 'long one' for me, actually, but there was alot to say.
The doctor saw the patient and got a history
He had bags under his eyes, trouble trying to see
The patient told a tale of burning midnight oil
To solve this mystery you don’t need Arthur Conan Doyle
The doctor told the patient, let me see your cellphone
90 browser windows opened, this disorder is full-blown
The telltale signs there for all to see
85 browser windows open , about cryptocurrency
The patient was obsessed with this bitcoin scheme
Blockchains and mining now make up all their dreams
They want to put my money there, and make it grow and grow
Others getting rich, they got a case of FOMO
(FOMO, that stands for ‘fear of missing out’ a common early 21st century phenomenon, probably as widespread as the virus, and just about as easily spread, too)
OK What is bitcoin? What is cryptocurrency? That’s a whole other song, goes like this
It’s a complicated mess, with jargon and doublespeak
Marketed to appeal to an oh-so-discerning clique
Its value goes up and down, it isn’t for the weak
To explain in any detail would take more then a week
But here’s a few facts, I do not mean to bore
It’s a ponzi scheme at heart, you gotta get in on the ground floor
Its counting that the rubes will walk thru that trap door
Marketed as ‘freedom’, you get what you pay for
But the biggest reason on crypto , you shouldn’t spend a cent
Is the serious damage it does to the environment
To ‘mine’ ie to create this currency that is spent
You need thousands of computers chasing that devil scent
Computer farms the size of a medium sized town
Use enough electric power to run our planet down
Seriuosly, crypto used more power then Argentina or Sweden
You don’t believe me, you should read what I’ve been reading
(back to blues)
Doctor said to the patient, avoid crypto like the plague
Not just because understanding it is confusing and vague
Its basically libertarian bull, promising freedom from regulation
A con artist’s game, now sweeping the nation
Celebrities do ads for it, last week I saw Larry David
And if some crypto fans hear this song, I’m sure they’ll go rabid
But when the hell was a free lunch ever really free
They’re selling you a dream, that money grows on little crypto trees
(c) M. Skliar 2022
@angelinapowersuit Mar 2022
I knew this would be another educational song for me, haha. And man, crypto mining does seriously confuse and freak me out. I'm with you.
Cool structure of the song, a two-for-one. And the last line, . . . "money grows on little crypto trees." Brilliant. Best song ever about bitcoin, song topic should be off limits here on out :-)
@kathym Feb 2022
I knew when I saw the title that there would be another gem waiting to be unwrapped. I can hear the crypto fans now. I overheard someone trying to get my boss on board a couple of months ago. I could tell that someone had roped him in and he was trying his darndest to start the ball rolling.
I find that if I have a LOT of things to say, the blues is a great way to get them all in.
Another fine job.
@kenficara Feb 2022
“Marketed as freedom / You get what you pay for.” But as always, the libertarians aren’t paying for anything, they’re just sponging off people who do actual work.
The whole crypto fad would be comical if it weren’t so environmentally harmful. What is wrong with people? At least you could get drunk on snake oil.
@raspberry33 Feb 2022
Love it! So, how can we sell NFT's for our tunes? Great rap in the middle; I love your sense of humor. Clever transition from one tune to another and back to the original. Trade you some crypto for vintage Dutch tulip bulbs?
@audrey Feb 2022
Oh, I do love me a good blues tune! This is wonderful. Put a smile on my face. My son was one of the original ones mining bitcoin way back in its early days. Not worth doing now, though, since it requires so many computers. Perhaps, as we switch over to greener sources of energy, it won't be so bad. I don't understand cryptocurrencies myself, but my son seems to. My worry is that it might make money laundering too easy, which is not good. Anyway, back to your song here. It's great - extremely entertaining, rhythmically satisfying and oh so catchy. Love it!
@timfatchen Feb 2022
Kudos for that blues guitar! I started laughing at "let me see your cellphone!" (love the spoken explanatory asides) And the switch to bitcoin...and the reality of the bitcoin damage...this is seriously good.!) back to the blues indeed.... What more can I say? Hugely entertaining, all so sadly true, I could party to this as I wait to become a millionaire by (select any one) crypto/lottery winnings/ponzi scheme/uunknown rich distant relatives will/car accident payout/defamation suit/election as a representative/senator.... downloaded for sure! {EDIT and I come back listening again and need to say...I wonder if I can stick my upper plate in tight enough that >>I<< can go back to playing blues harp??]
@elesimo Feb 2022
This is AMAZING. Love the story in a story, the spoken word, the oil/Doyle rhyme. So good, Mike!
@daveescoffery Feb 2022
Great song! My brother has the disorder of which you speak, especially the FOMO part. Great guitar work and a fantastic blues feel to the song(s).
@n24 Feb 2022
This is a really strong song, no surprise it's a favourite for you! I think I'd say the same. Loving the strong blues rhythm. The mid-section joining the songs with the more conversational tone is excellent and really clever, I love the line 'probably as widespread as coronavirus, and just about as easily spread too.' The move into a second song-style works really well, it feels really smooth. Also an incredibly informative song! Killer harmonica solo too... has to be said.
@billwhite51 Feb 2022
this is what young bobby dylan would be writing today were he young bobby dylan. aside from the lessons on crypto-currency, i love your comic mispronounciations in forcing a rhyme. your writing gets better each year and this is one of my favorites, you also inspire me to improve my harmonica playing.
@jackketch Feb 2022
I have to say, listening to the whole thing, it just gets better. Very inventive change of tone/style half way through to something like 'All along the watchtower'. I wish you could perform this to the kids at the school I teach in who are obsessed with crypto..
@jackketch Feb 2022
Great old school blues playing on this to tell this story so well - reminiscent of Dylan. I hate Bitcoin too so I love this!
@nancyrost Feb 2022
Rather Shakespearean, if Willy know about Bitcoin. Love the use of the "doctor" blues trope, Arthur Conan Doyle and the 90 browser windows. Then the minor-key play-within-a play that's educational, complete with Schoolhouse-Rock-style spoken narration. The fun you're having really comes across musically, too!