Feb 2022 folk-rock fullband biab political
Every FAWM I have at least one song that takes the whole month to come to fruition, usually when I write them music and arrangement first, then get caught wordless. Sometimes I offer them to other lyricists, sometimes I post them as instrumentals.
This one started on February 1st or 2nd. It was SUPPOSED TO BE an upbeat little romp for World Ukulele Day on the 2nd, but alas it did not want to be.
I had full chord structure and arrangement by the 2nd. Around the 5th or 6th I had a verse and chorus, but was not fond of the geopolitical theme. On the 15th or 16th I tracked the ukes onto the BIAB robot band. Today, in light of the terrible unfolding news from Eastern Europe, I decided to take a second look at the lyrics I had started. A couple more verses and a bridge and voila...
Precedented Times
Feb1-24, 2022 © Sean McGaughey
Intro
Bm Em Am B7
V1
Em B7
I often take a pass on the nightly news.
Em B7
Too many opinion with the facts misused
Em B7
Too painful to watch as the clockwork unscrews.
Am B
Can’t figure out the winners but the poorfolk always lose.
V2
Em B7
They say they stand for freedom, but it’s a freedom from facts
Em B7
Freedom is their mantra justifyin’ any act
| Em B7
When met with another view, they claims they were attacked
Am B7
Never seeing past the soap bubble in which they’re trapped.
Chorus)
C| G| D| G|
I rather would live in precedented times
D| G| C| D|
Is this all real or am I dreaming?
C| G| D| Em|
Pry my eyes open from their restless slumber
| F| Am| D| D7|
If this is not a nightmare why am I screaming?
V3
Em B7
Again comes the season the horsemen ride
Em B7
Famine, Plague, War, and Death side by side
Em B7
economies collapse and nations collide
Am B
And common folk are left with nowhere to hide.
Bridge
Bm X2
When each day has a
Em x2
Once in a lifetime event
Am x 2
It’s easy to forget
B7 x2
What those words once meant.
@audrey Mar 2022
These are impressive lyrics. Love them. You know how to turn a phrase and how to tell it like it is. I really like your melody too and the lively beat and music. Really great song!
@ampersandman Mar 2022
The percussions give me a little Hotel California vibe. The upbeat mood of the music clashes with the bitterness of the lyrics. But they’re on point, like the bit about the once-in-a-lifetime-events.
@moonraccoon Mar 2022
This is a great party vibe to hide some meaningful lyrics in, and you deliver them with a nice flow. "Too painful to watch as the clockwork unscrews / Can’t figure out the winners but the poorfolk always lose" I'm glad you went back to it, so we could have this.
@sheamiejay Mar 2022
This is a really good one, Sean! You were right to listen to it and wait for when it wanted to come out. I love the structure, chords, melody choices and of course the main idea or living in precidented times.
@rayboneor Feb 2022
Freedom from facts, ouch, that cuts right to the heart of the matter. This is a great tune, hard-charging and catchy. I was drawn to the title, which is one of those great lines, the kind that makes you wonder why you haven't heard it before. It's a great hook in the chorus, too. I thought you might take it in a different direction: it seems that we're always living in precedented times, with some sort of repetition lying at the heart of every singular moment. Love the ending. Love the song
@robynmackenzie Feb 2022
The cheerful music is a bit deceptive, given the anger in the lyrics, but it works. Powerful lyrics, I feel this hard.
@lanasolyluna Feb 2022
Oh these lyrics are so awesome and like the beats too. So many of us are feeling this way. It's just such a wild time. Hang in there and keep making music!
@crutherford Feb 2022
bravo sean! louder for those in the back!!!
i love the soap bubble line and the last line of your chorus is so excellent.
this is a stellar song. absolutely worth the wait!
bravo!
@jtsteam Feb 2022
Ouch, yes. Saying what many people are thinking here, and very well put.
I have a half finished song called "Unprecendented times", mostly about the excessive use of the word "unprecedented" in the press, but to be honest today's news has made be think I'll just save that one for another time. But I really like the way you've expressed things here.