Feb 2022 folk acoustic-one-take guy-with-guitar political
Sean: I loved the juxtaposition of whimsy and hard political commentary in Stephen's lyric. I asked him if I could change the name Jacinta to PM to allow the song to be more universal, to which he graciously agreed. Then I went and ad-libbed a bunch of Canadianisms when I recorded it. Sorry Stephen.
Stephen: Yeah. Don't think I didn't notice that,
@stephenwordsmith's original lyric posting: https://fawm.org/songs/129286/
An Announcement
Lyrics (c) Stephen Wordsmith Music(c) Sean McGaughey
C C/B C/A C/G
I am here, announced The PM
D
To announce a new announcement
F
To denounce the vast amounts
G
Of houses mounting in their price
C C/B C/A C/G
And I'm sure it's not surprising
D
I surmise, that they're reprising
F
Their lead roles in all this rising
G
And that frankly isn't nice
F
So from Parliament's soft seating
C
We'll be meting out the meetings
D
To be fleet in our defeating
G
Of this scourge that eats away
F
At our conscience from the onsets
C
So through constant correspondence
G
We will conquer all this nonsense, yes
G
And save the bloody day!
C C/B C/A C/G
*crowd cheers*
C C/B C/A C/G
Here again, announced The PM
D
To disseminate the findings
F
We've resigned to be aligned
G
To all their binding guiding light
C C/B C/A C/G
We've uncovered, and discovered
D
That the coveted first hovel's
F
Out of reach for our beloved
G
And that frankly isn't right
F
But to our infinite displeasure
C
Every single counter-measure
D
Would devalue all the treasures
G
Of those who have homes to sell
F
And if we, in all our glory
C
Chose this ending to the story
G
We'd lose you all to the Tories
G
So, no change
Thank you
Farewell
*crowd cheers, in a more booming tone
@sherrylynnlee Mar 2022
This was so entertaining. I enjoyed the Canadianisms, though it is definitely a universal truth about politics anywhere. You did such a good job describing bureaucracy and resistance to change, with an old-fashioned tone and funny internal rhymes. Well done!
@audrey Mar 2022
Love this. Impressive lyrics and fun melody that fits them perfectly. I smiled throughout listening. Really enjoyed this one. Great collaboration. I'm Canadian, so I can totally relate to this version, but now, I'll go read the original lyrics about New Zealand politics. I guess our politicians are similar, in that they talk a good game and make lots of promises, but don't actually get anything done.
@mandolinda Mar 2022
Had a good laugh at this one, going to the Tories! And the added Canadianisms absolutely humorous.
The fun of the rhymes and the speed of performance was superb, good job @ductapeguy to get out all those phrases so well. This crowd cheers too.
@airbagtester Feb 2022
LOL Leafs lose again :D I was pulling for them in the 2021 playoffs. I like the overall humorous vibe of this song. It reminds me of what Peter Venkman said in Ghostbusters, "If we're wrong, we go to jail - peacefully, quietly. We'll enjoy it. But if I'm right, and we can stop this thing, Lenny, you will have saved the lives of millions of registered voters."
@moonraccoon Feb 2022
This might be my favourite song of this FAWM. You captured the comedy inherent in a fundamental abuse of the People, and People uprising against something completely different (unmentioned here - though I think the sports analogy works in an "always root for the home team" kind of way).
@majormajormajormajor Feb 2022
Love it- both the classic wit and circular logic of the lyrics and the delivery, especially those ad libbed interludes, most of which also apply to us in the border towns. You can be sure the crowd here in Buffalo goes wild for the NHL playoffs, and we're happy to see the Leafs(*and* the Habs) lose again- considering what the Sabres have been up to, it's pretty similar here, with a shorter pond hockey season.
@nancyrost Feb 2022
The patter-and-phatic-words vibe works really well. Tom Paxton, yes - I also thought Arlo Guthrie. Great delivery, love the improvised feel.
@jtsteam Feb 2022
I love this kind of thing. Great stuff! Feels a bit like the sort of thing Tom Paxton used to write.
@tuneslayer Feb 2022
Although I have to say there's a problem with this song. Since the PM is giving the speech, if the crowd's cheering like it was the Stanley Cup, presumably they'd only cheer if the cup were coming back to Canada. BUT the reference to thew Leafs losing pegs the PM as a Habs fan, so the speech would be in French . .
Yes, I am ignoring every Canadian team west of Mississauga, all of whom have a better chance than the Canadiens of winning the Cup anytime soon. Also, I am seriously overthinking this.
There's probably a song somewhere in all that.
@tuneslayer Feb 2022
hahahaha . . . brilliant both of youze
@stephenwordsmith Feb 2022
Ah, that's brilliant. I had hoped that it would come across as a whole lot of patter and phatic words and it absolutely does. Well done.
@tippyteapot Feb 2022
LOL love the satire.