Bring out your protest songs!!!!

[geo]

OK, no fair, you did this in like a day? To be honest I like the first song better even though from a lyrical (and client) POV I can see why you were more successful with the second. I too find it easier (and more rewarding) to write about things I care about. Unfortunately unless you're U2 it rarely pays out so lucky you, and I'm glad to make your acquaintance, 'Dreh. Peace out, Geo

[andreh]

Thanks geo! I can work quickly when I have to (which is most of the time), but to put things in perspective, in this case a day for me equaled 22 hours straight...not a "normal" 8-12 hour stint. I sure was ready to sleep after two of those in a row!The funny thing was I had all but forgotten about the contest since the online voting showed me in second place by a wide margin, and I only found out I had won because I wanted to play the song for a friend when I was away from my studio...and there was the announcement on the company's homepage! Taxi forwards are very cool and a worthy accomplishment, but actually knowing your track is being used somewhere is rewarding on a whole 'nother level. Glad to make your acquaintance also, geo...I'd be interested in hearing some more of your songs.Andre

[geo]

Ask and you shall receive. I dug deep in the catalog for this one. The back story is back in the 80's in Bermuda the UBP (our Republican clone party) introduced an unpopular budget which galvanised the populace for as long a Bermudians can remain worked up, which is a couple of weeks (with time off for soccer matches and Dark and Stormies).In that time I wrote this song and took it up to the House of Parliament on my broken Walkman and played it for members of the PLP (the opposition party, our even more liberal democractic clones), rewinding the tape by twirling it on a pen before passing it to the next person. They liked the song (and realised they couldn't wait for us to do anything with it with our impressive equipment) and a couple of days later we got a call telling us to go to the brand spanking new Bermuda Sound studio and record our song. We got a little local airplay and even an in studio interview out of the deal and we of course thought we were on our way!!! So here it is, enjoy.P.S. You don't need to know the back story to tell when this was recorded, this is me in all my 80's glory and proud of it P.P.S. Sorry about the hiss, I have to fix that http://www.taximusic.com/song.php?song_ ... trueBudget DayLyrics and music by George Daniels© 1987Verse 1Dr. David Saul, you offer no apology, Must I work three jobs just to raise my family?Dreams turn into dust which the wind carried away,Now all hope is lost since I heard your voice, on Budget Day.Verse 2Quick to point the finger, why the burden fall on me?How can you say the problem is my flying overseas?Prices are too high, sometimes I gotta get away,Now all hope is lost since I heard your voice, on Budget Day.ChorusTaxes for the masses, riches for the few.Government spends more money and this is what we do?Why we always pay, Budget Day, Budget Day?Why we always pay, Budget Day, Budget Day?Break 1The people, united, can never be defeated,The people, united, can never be cheated.The people, united, can never be defeated,The people, united, can never be cheated.Verse 3Capital expenditure beyond Government’s means,Squandering our funds, trouble on the tourist scene,Banks have fueled the fire but how little they must pay,You let that horse get clean away, get clean away.ChorusBreak 2Dr. David Saul.... Budget Day, Budget Day,Now you offer an apology... Budget Day, Budget Day,What changes, nothing’s changed.... Budget Day, Budget Day,I still struggle with reality.... Budget Day, Budget Day,What do we want? Lower taxes!When do we want them? Now!!!What do we want? Lower taxes!When do we want them? Now!!!

[deantaylor]

Hey,Love hearing the songs and reading your lyrics here. Great stuff. Wow, so many anti-suburbia songs .. who knew. I thought I'd written one of the only ones. lol I never even knew PLEASANT VALLEY SUNDAY was about that. lol As a lyricist, I really do listen to music more like the masses .. often never really knowing the words or what the song is really about. lolAnyway, here is my song. One of the first I ever wrote. Didn't even know there was such a thing as a standard song format when I wrote this. lol It's a bit long .. might could do with some editing ... but it does have a bit of a surprise ending .. if you make it that far.Dean----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The Suburban Myth It’ll be better for your childIn the city, the gangs run wildThere’s sex & drugs & rap music tooWay out there it’s all nice and new Gotta keep up with Joneses And stay up with the SmithsAnd buy your house out in The Suburban MythIn too close, rent seems out-a-sightCan’t live this close, might not seem right (and) The Joneses have already moooved Many others are thinking of,,, toooo The next might be the SmiithsBetter get your place out in The Suburban MythYou gotta have Wal-Marts and those strip mallsTo buy the things for your many wallsWalls in rooms that you’ll seldom useIn your new house with the mortgage noose But ya had ta keep up with Joneses Had ta keep up with the SmithsAnd buy that house out in The Suburban Myth(Well) You better tune up your caaar(Cause) You’re gonna be drivin faarPick up Jack after schoolTake Jill swimming at the poolThe kids can’t walk, it’s way to farBetter go and tune up your car, with the Man Who Wears the StarNever think to take a busThat’s for them, not folks like usIt’s not safe for them to bikeEven gotta drive ‘em out to hikeNeed milk and a loaf of breadCan’t walk, gotta drive instead But ya had ta keep up with Joneses Had ta keep up with the SmithsAnd buy that house out in The Suburban MythOnly things around are the neighbors’ homesAnd their SUVs with their mobile phonesThe manicured lawns look all the sameSidewalks only lead back to where they came Like over to the Joneses Or over to the SmithsOr any other house out in The Suburban MythThe kids grow up depending only on youWithout your car they have nothing to doVideo games and TV are their best friendsNo exploring the town or neighborhoods for them (Well) It’s the same with the Joneses And the same with the SmithsOr any other family out in The Suburban MythThey hit 16, gotta get ‘em their own carYou’re tired of drivin’ and everything’s too far The Joneses got theirs a buuug Donna Reed got hers a truuuck The next will be the SmithsGotta get your kid a car out in The Suburban MythPenned up for years, now they’re freeeeThey got a lot to do, gotta a lot to seeeFirst your kid picks up Liz JonesThen around the block to Billy Reed’s homePick up a 12-pack, have some beerThey’re safe in their car, nothin’ to fearIn a moment, it’s all a blurrrThe car slams a pole, and nobody stirrrs You kept up with Joneses You kept up with Donna ReedAnd now all your kids are splattered out on Some Suburban Street© 2001 by Dean Taylor

[geo]

Hey Dean, thanks for the post, I like the hook for your tune:(Well) It’s the same with the JonesesAnd the same with the SmithsOr any other family out in The Suburban MythI know my first songs were more "rock operas" not songs (and not that good either) it's always funny (and sometimes a little painful) to go to the beginning of one's songwriting and poke around.I dig the anti burbs tone of a lot of these songs, in the North East they take an open field (or wooded area) carve it up into small lots and put very large, identical houses on them, no thank you!! I thought there was another song posted, don't be shy, put it back up!! Thanks for the subs so far, keep em coming... Geo

[Mark Kaufman]

I'll have to dig in the archives to find one of my own, but they were mostly awkward attempts...I think Neil Young has done a consistently fine job at protest songs over the years. "Keep On Rockin' In the Free World", despite all the Bush the First references, stands up mighty well, as does "This Note's For You", "Ohio" and many others.

[sgs4u]

here's one of mine, but I've just offered it up to someone to write better lyrics. The message is clear. All That Money

[tedsingingfox]

Quote:here's one of mine, but I've just offered it up to someone to write better lyrics. The message is clear. All That MoneyI've already told you how much I loved this one. And the lyrics are about to get better? Will be eager to hear the updated version.

[andreh]

...sweet....Quote:here's one of mine, but I've just offered it up to someone to write better lyrics. The message is clear. All That Money

[deantaylor]

All That Money - cool sound!Geo, Yeah, we all seem to start out being in love with how MUCH we can say. The more words ,, the smarter I am ... that's kinda how I saw it back then. lolVanilla Land - love the title (and the rest, too).Dean