Campaign Fatigue & New Song "Liars & Cheats"

I haven't posted anything in a while, mostly due to campaign fatigue from the 2008 election. Thankfully, Obama won. What that's going to mean remains to be seen, but as a friend of mine quipped, "At least he doesn't spell his name backwards with a broken crayon." I'm pretty sure that was a dig at GWB - who, I think, has done more damage to this country than I thought humanly possible - so much so, I can't even keep track of it all. The last eight years have left me drained, politically speaking. I have guarded optimism for the future.


I did write a new song during the campaign, called "Liars & Cheats" - my cynical take on electoral politics over the last forty years. I started it near the beginning of the campaign, because of all the nonsense spewed by the candidates to get one over on their opponents. Here are the lyrics.


Liars & Cheats by ejp ©2008

Verse 1
Get ready people, it's time for the race
the horses are all at their gates

The odds have been set, so please come place your bet
on the one you would trust with our fate

Bridge

but it don't really matter if you never choose
no matter the outcome, you're still bound to lose, because...

Chorus

Liars & Cheats & Harlots & Charletans
don't give a damn about what you might need
they're only concerned with their schemes and conspiracies
using your vote to serve their own greed

Verse 2

When the wolf starts to cry, the sheep start to lie
they both want you to live in fear
but they'll quiet down if we all stand our ground
it's the same nonsense every four years

Bridge

courage is shining a light on a lie
and having good reasons to fight or to die, but
(alt: courage is doing what you think is right, no matter how many sheep try picking a fight)

(repeat chorus, ending with "using your fear to serve their own greed")

Part B

Well, don't, don't, don't be fooled again.
No we won't, won't, won't be fooled again.
Well, maybe....

Verse 3

Don't hold your breath while you hope for the best
your face will just turn red to blue
and don't you complain while you wait for a change
because changes are waiting on you

Bridge

turn on your conscience from zero to one
drag them out from their rocks and into the sun, because

(repeat chorus, ending with, "using your hopes to serve their own greed")
(repeat part b and end with "well maybe we'll be fine")
(end)


The chords are as follows (I don't know how to format them correctly over the lyrics so you can experiment on your own if you want to record your own version - just give me credit, please).

Verses:
EAEAEB
EAEAEB

Bridge:
F#min, Bmaj, G#min, C#maj

Chorus:
A,E,A,E,B
A,E,A,E, F#, B, back to E

Part B:
F#min, G#min, Amaj, C#maj, B#maj (followed by descending bass line & repeat)

repeat of part b ends with Amaj, Abmin, C#maj, Bmaj, E

Notes:

So, the 1st verse was written first - an obvious "horse race" metaphor for political campaigns. The third verse was written next - the "red" and "blue" references regarding the bi-polar political mapping of America. The second verse was added later. I alwasy get hung up writing a third verse. It's a bit of a non-sequitor and I'm not entirely pleased with how it sits, but there it is. The "part b" (whatever you want to call that part of a song that isn't the verse, bridge or chorus), I'm pretty sure was added last - and is a quote from The Who's "Won't Get Fooled Again".


So there it is. E-mail me with any thoughts or comment below.