The Famous Man

[mcewan]

This is a lyric I wrote many years ago. I'v never used it live probobly because it's too wordy for a melody. I'v often thought of writing an instrumental guitar part and reciting the lyric as a monologe (In a Tom Waits type voice maybe) but I don't know if people would get it . Any thoughts or ideas would be very welcome.The Famous ManThe famous man was at it again in everyones headWas seen driving his car in the wrong direction.Someone thought for a while about something he saidSomeone else wrapped it up and made the connectionHis reputation is second to none I wonder if he knowsThat old car doesn’t him much protectionIt’s black and rusty but somehow it glowsIn the strangest of places they see its reflectionYou better watch out for the famous manThe famous man he rides again they whisper his nameIn shadowy doorways the rumors are spreadingA wisp of a thought in some fools head turned a spark to a flameThis talkative posse know where he’s heading.They don’t need to look they don’t need to ask they know his game They created the part and he’s just a playerThere’s truth in the lines and lies in the scenes that brought him to fameWhen he plays his part well they offer a prayerYou better watch out for the famous manThe famous man is lying low and making a planHe’s got the edge he knows what their thinkingWhen they pass him by he’s laughing inside but looking real deadpanThey’ll make their move soon he’s ready and waitingThere’s rumors the car was seen driving round the other side of townHe knows they’ll jump to conclusions Who was he with what was he doing have you seen him around He’s sold his car and it’s causing confusionYou better watch out for the famous manThe famous man is long gone now but his ghost lives onHe gave the locals what they wantedThere’s boards on the windows of the old house that he once lived in Nobody goes there they say it’s hauntedIn the dead of the night they say they hear the sound of an engine roarPeople take to their beds and let it pass overThe story is told of the famous man and how he settled the scoreWhen he plowed up the street on a brand new bulldozerYou better watch out for the famous manCopyrighted Material

[hummingbird]

I think the lyric starts out a little confusing with the guy driving his car in everybody's head. I think your instincts to do a spoken word are right, but I would still edit this down. Even as spoken word there needs to be something that will pull the audience through the piece - something that they can grab ahold of. After reading the lyric I feel that there is a deep & powerful story here but I am unclear as to what the story is about. That's just my opinion, of course. But I like the imagery and the idea.H'bird

[mcewan]

Thank's Hummingbird for your comments. The song is not so much about the "famous man" but about small town thinking and attidudes. The guy is a bit of a loner , he's just getting on with his life privetly but is treated with suspicion by the locals because he keeps to himself and they know very little about him. It's a larger than life story so he's allowed to trade his car for a bulldozer and give them something to really talk about.Quote:I think the lyric starts out a little confusing with the guy driving his car in everybody's headIf I say " The famous man was at it again in everyones head (imagination) . Cos someone saw him driving in the wrong direction" is this clearer Thanks McEwan

[linziellen]

Hi McEwan,Reading through your song I agree with H that these are powerful verses with deep meaning but I too got a little lost. Maybe you could keep this version for yourself and rework the song to something more universal (if you wanted to)! I like the idea and I think you could take this several ways. The famous man could be twisted to something else, not sure what but something referring to love or the likes, visiting peoples houses, creeping up, haunting folks! Then you could have a stand out/obvious chorus that's basically wrapping up the fact that this famous man is undercover love, hatred, jealousy or whatever! Is there any music to this that we can listen to?Lindsey

[nutunes]

These lyrics are simlpy stunningI can write a decent melody to this no problemMate, if you're interested let me knowBestPhil

[mcewan]

Thanks Phil for the favorable comment. Iv sent you a message.

[nutunes]

Hi McEwanMelody is not yet set in stone but this is the lyric I'm working with so far:BestPhilThe famous man's in everyones head, he's at it againSeen driving his car in the wrong directionSomeone thought for a while about something he saidThey wrapped it up and made the connectionHis reputation is second to none I wonder if he knowsThat old car don’t offer him much protectionIt's black and rusty but somehow it glowsIn the strangest place they see it's reflectionThe famous man he rides again they whisper his nameIn doorways the rumours are spreadingA thought in some fools head sparked a flameThis posse talk they know where he’s heading.They don’t need to look they don’t need to ask they know his game They created the part he playsTruth's in the lines and lies in the scenes that brought him fameWhen he plays it well they offer a prayerThe famous man is lying low and making plansHe’s got the edge he knows what their thinkingThey pass him by he’s laughing inside When they make their move he’s ready and waitingHis car's seen in the wrong side of townHe knows they’ll jump to all kinds of conclusions Who was he with why was he there maybe you've seen him around He’s sold it now and it’s causing confusionThe famous man's long gone now but his ghost lives onHe gave the locals something they wantedThe boarded windows cover his houseNobody goes there they say it’s hauntedIn the dead of the night a silent engine roarsSleeping people hear but they let it pass overAnd dream of a famous man who settled scoresWho ploughed the streets in his new bulldozer

[jonathansorensen]

I like it alot. It's poetic in the sense that I'm not exactly sure what it means but I feel it meaning something. It makes me want to read it again. Could you do it in the vein of the Aaron Neville remake of "change is gonna' come" on the Yellow Moon album? You've obviously gotten the craft down but maybe just a hint more at the meaning or underlying theme?CheersJES