I thought this prayer/response was a good idea. After all, we should pray for everyone, right? I haven't had time to develop beyond this sketch and further development probably won't happen. Death metal is needed, though the uke is fine.
And the rich and powerful are demonstrating their freedom of action in Ukraine...
A PRAYER FOR THE RICH AND POWERFUL
Words & Music Copyright © 2022 TJ Fatchen All Rights Reserved APRA-AMCOS
[Prayer]
I pray the rich might be content
With riches by the ton.
I pray the rich might just ignore
The ethics of what they've done.
I pray the rich might buy, eat, drink,
Each minute of each hour
And bloat away, eventually sink,
And never let their conscience think
For that thought turns to power.
[Response of the Rich]
"For your own good we take this power
And freely exercise it.
What you might want, beside the point!
Your thought? We do not prize it.
Your worthlessness is plain to see,
You're nowhere near as rich as we:
We can buy you, duty free!
So our power, canonise it!
Our power! Canonise it!"
[Prayer]
I pray the powerful be content
With power by the ton.
I pray the powerful might not spend
The wealth of every one.
I pray the powerful might not shout
Each minute of each day
But hold instead their mighty clout,
Not waving it nor lashing out
For that clout makes us pay.
[Response of the Powerful]
"For your own good we take your wealth
And freely amortise it.
What you might want, beside the point!
Your thought? We do not prize it.
Your powerlessness is plain to see,
You're nowhere powerful as we,
For we rule you, duty free!
So our power, monetise it!
Our power! Monetise it!"
@leepat Mar 2022
yes, great call and response here, lyrically but also musically - the strumming and the reverberating god-voice of the response as counterpoint for the innocent uke picking.
we can buy you, duty free - great line!
structure-wise too - love the inserted 8th line - I'd play with the harmony more to find an even better departure from the preceding lines.
FT deserves a full-time job really :)
@sheilerk Mar 2022
This expresses a lot of my frustrations with the wealth disparities that are ever more evident. I wrote a lyric on the subject, but not nearly as fun as yours. This is just so full of biting wit! I love the little changes in the verses and the choruses that really hit hard.
And the two character voices, really nicely done! I'll add my Bravo!!
@andrea Mar 2022
Oh, my goodness, I love the way you write. This belongs in a show on Broadway. It is so clever and delightfully entertaining. I can't believe you did this all in a skirmish. Awesome! Bravo!
@toms Feb 2022
The overused word "trenchant" was coined for this song. Brilliant.
@apauls Feb 2022
Very powerful use of the two distinct voices. I often despair at this very concept, and it's cathartic for me to hear someone else feeling some similar things about power and wealth. I imagine it was even more cathartic to write it. Well done.
@berni1954 Feb 2022
I love the way the "prayer" section echoes many of the tunes we used to sing to in the choir.
Too many great lines to pick out one.
Great fun summary of the state of play in this new order run by oligarchs that we have allowed to emerge since Milton Friedman and his Acolytes Thatcher & Reagan, fooled millions with their "trickle down" economics.
@billwhite51 Feb 2022
the fat reverb echo-chamber response of the powerful is maybe even more effective than a death metal nuclear response might have been.
@bithprod Feb 2022
No sarcasm intended, I suppose. ;) Am I allowed to say it's funny 'cause it's true? The response from the rich was surprising, but original and made the song even more interesting. Actually, the world needs more songs like this one. Where have all the political punk and rock bands gone? I miss the edgy songs.
@williamjames Feb 2022
Pretty powerful thoughts on the lyrics, the divide is bigger than ever these days. I liked the dialogue format, lets you explore both sides.