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JEREMIAD #66 (That's What America Looks Like)

David Snyder

https://soundcloud.com/david-snyder-gigs4/jeremiad-66


So, there is a story to this song: part Bible story, part Tommy Adams story, part Dylan story.

In a circular reference joke, I told Tommy that he should next write a song about an empty toilet paper roll. Then I told him here on the forum: "No wait, I'll do it!"

Not too many days ago, my wife and I finished off our nightly ritual of reading the Bible out loud to one another, and there is a lot of Old Testament, because it is the Book of Common Prayer readings, ya know. Then, after I kissed her, my wife went to sleep.

But I was restless, and I wrote this entire song on a stack of index cards in about five minutes, with the Old Testament swirling in my head, and then I went to sleep. (The photograph at the bottom here shows those cards).

When we woke up, I read the lyrics to Gayle and asked her what she thought. She said:

"Another David Jeremiad."

God, it's great to have a wife! I immediately said, "Honey, the title of the song is going to be: Jeremiad # 66."

Finally, everyone keeps saying I sound like Dylan, so I said to hell with it, I am going to put out all my "Dylan" songs on an album called "Songs for Bobby: A Few Tunes Inspired by Dylan." This will be the 1st track.

Don't blame me. Blame Tommy Adams, Alan David, the Old Testament, and Bob Dylan. And who ever is in charge of America right now.

I'm just a prophet in the wilderness y'all.

JEREMIAD # 66

By David Snyder

https://soundcloud.com/david-snyder-gigs4/jeremiad-66

V1

Well a man named Quinn the Eskimo
Was sitting in a burned-out Texaco
On the edge of a black apocalypse
In a filthy bathroom stall
Metal door open on America
There were bullet holes in the steel
hungry dogs prowling in the forest
You know how those dogs must feel
So he sat on the toilet thinking
Have I been doing a little too much drinking
And what's left of America now
On the whole
Then God gave him an answer
Cause right where he was sitting
He saw an empty toilet paper roll
Yeah


V2

Down on the tip of the border
They're starting the civil war
Don't send no federal troops down here
We got the Texas National Guard
If those federal troops start shooting
Then we'll start shooting back
Ask Quinn the Eskimo
This is the Alamo
Texas comes first it's a fact
On the edge of a border crossing
Two amigos they were talking
Said what does America look like on the whole
A little bit like Guatemala
But with a lot more filth and squalor
It looks like
It looks like an empty toilet paper roll

V3

Out West a boy and his father
They're greasing up their guns
And they've got some rocket launchers
They can throw
Well, they've read the Constitution
And their barns of ammunition
Could fill up North Dakota, don't you know
You can say they're locked and loaded
And they’re angry on the whole
Yeah they’re locked and loaded
A little angry on the whole
But you can make any kind of bomb you want
You can make any kind of bomb you want
With an empty toilet paper roll

V4

Well, back at the lone Star Texaco
Where the hound dogs do howl
Quinn the Eskimo knows he has to
Get off of the toilet somehow
And he needs to leave by sunrise
If Ezekiel doesn't mind swinging by
And bringing that fiery Chariot of his
Down from the Celestial sky
He'll have to lead a negotiation
And he'll have to trade for double ply
He may have to get saved or surrender
But he'll be better off on the whole
If he can just replace
If he can just replace
that empty toilet paper roll

V5

So if you make it down to Tampa
Or you cross through Alabama
You pick up the vibe
That they just don't give a damn
Yeah there used to be an America
And it used to be the Promised Land
'Til it dropped off the map
Just like Birmingham
And Quinn never found his paper
So he headed for a different land
As we wiped his hands
On his dirty Carhartt jeans
Besides that pile of burning tires
Is there anything left to eat
Is there any fresh clean water
Left in this desert heat
If anybody tells our story
And the truth be told
What does it look like here
In America on the whole
Well, I guess it looks like a burned-out Texaco
Or an empty toilet paper roll
Yeah that's what Quinn said to himself
When he set out on his midnight stroll
On his midnight stroll, he said
You turned the constitution of America folks
Into a toilet paper roll

You turned the constitution of America
Into a empty toilet paper roll
And that's what America looks like
That's what America looks like
Yeah that's what America looks like
on the whole


Words and music by David Snyder copyright 2024

David Snyder: Alternate Tuning Acoustic Guitars (DADGAD) and Vocals

Real Tracks

701:Bass, Electric, PopHalfNotesSync Ev 085
RealTracks in style: ~~689:Organ, B3, Background Pop Ev 085
RealTracks in style: 794:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm ModernCountrySync Ev 100
RealDrums in Song: MetalSlowBigTomGroove
RealDrums in style:AltRockSlowSteady8ths^3-a:Snare OpenHat , b:Snare Ride
RT 4131 Electric Rhythm Prog Rock
RT 2543 Pedal Steel
RT 3777 Resonator
RT 1740 Piano Acoustic Rhythm

* I know half the words on the index cards are illegible and misspelled but when I am trying to to get this stuff down my hand can't keep up with the flood and I have to scribble as fast as I can, or it will be gone. It is what it is. There is no such thing as spelling in these moments.

Prophesy Brotha!!
David I can't get over how you churn these things out! Love the simplicity in the melody and chord structure....exactly what this awesome tune needed!
Forget Dylan, this is a David Snyder masterpiece!
Thanks, TB

David, this is a masterpiece and should be on the radio today.

"You turned the constitution of America
Into a empty toilet paper roll"---so true!

Great vocal singing those Dylan style lyrics.
Super mix.
Loved it!

PS - I probably shouldn't say this after your last post to my song but it sounded like YOU WERE HAVING FUN!

Ducking and running for cover

David, good chord progression. I think your singing style is really a combination of Dylan, Petty and Bob Dean! You got message delivered in fine form. I think this may be one of my favorites from you. Great job! Tom

David,

This is AWESOME in every way possible...

Hard hitting lyrics, epic vocal performance and huge production values.

Wow! Not sure what else to say here.

Mind blowing!

Bob

Very Dylaneque as everyone else has commented, though as it started I thought the first words would be "Call out the instigators / Because there's something in the air"

Hello David. I really like your song as a manifesto. The beginning on the guitar is great. I translated the lyrics but what should a French person think? A priori it's not joy in America.
In France we have an expression: Merde in France!
Laurent

Hey thanks Torrey, I really appreciate that man!

People often come up to me and say man I feel so down because it sure does look mighty bleak around here.

And I always say, man, I'll cheer you up in a second.

Just go and read some Old Testament and you'll see things aren't so bad!!!

🙂

Another creative work. This one reminds me of the dystopian chaos of the 1979 film Mad Max.
Hopefully Texas will realize they are outnumbered.

Btw, one of those pocket recorders might capture those middle of the night flashes better than 3x5 cards.
Plus when driving your truck, you can just push the button and sing into the thing thereby maintaining safe driving

Nicely done.

Your originality is Astounding!
One in a billion.

fj

David, thoroughly enjoyed this one! My favorite composition of yours, and my favorite vocal performance. Just sublime. If Dylan was still putting out relevant stuff, it would be like this. Only not as cool. Aced it!

Hi David,

Listened to this a couple of times yesterday but forgot to come back and leave a message for you. Indeed, the challenges of getting old!

Creative minds never take a break - and you have one of the most creative minds I've had the pleasure to hear. I echo Floyd's thoughts.

For me, this is the best I've heard you sing. Great job! keep up the good work. You post 'em - I'll listen to 'em.

Best to you & yours.

Alan

The word of God aided by Tommy Adams and Bob. Man, I'm glad you didn't get stuck on Deuteronomy or Numbers. The empty roll begat another and another...

Seriously, dude, this is super good. Although it was 6 minutes it deserved a few spins before I could write. Hey, nothing wrong with singing like Dylan, and like him you'd need a teleprompter to do this one live. If floyd is right that you're one in a billion, that means there are currently at least 8 more of you on this planet. You are still unique among them.

Thanks for showing the index cards, too.

Like Torrey, I am in awe of your imagination. I don't know how you manage it either.
Brilliant.

Vic

Thanks Mario!

Maybe after I put out my Songs for Bobby album, Bobby will give me a call, and then I'll write a song called when I paint my masterpiece!!!

Or has that already been done???

Very cool and creative. A couple of nits with the groove in a couple of the verses but overall, I like it. Nice rhymes and spot on with the message.

Thanks Tommy.

I truly owe this one to you as I said, and so I am glad you liked it!



Thanks for the kind words.

Thanks Bob!

Well, I guess you said it all.

I call this my Happy Sunday song so I hope you have a very happy Sunday indeed why you listen to this again!!

Maybe you can sing it for all the little children in the neighborhood while they're gathered around you in the grass and they can look at their parents and go Mommy, Daddy, what's wrong with Mr. Dean? Is he crazy???

Hey thanks Wao!

I'll take it. I love that song!

And you know that it's right!!!

Hey thanks, Laurent. I used to live in Paris, so I know the expression well!

I also like: "Vive la Revolution" for whatever it is worth.