Son OF Sam Key of Amin 80 bpm Folk Protest William E Simmons
IPI Number: 1117481473

https://soundcloud.com/planobilly/son-of-sam-3?si=3e1177ce43f940deaf525208085fddeb



Am
Sam taught our children
G
How too hate and how to kill
Dm
He did it for the money
Am
Now they do It for the thrill

Am
CNN reports the story
Dm
But do not be confused
F G
It’s just another body count
Am
On the six o’clock news

Dm
The sub committee is setting
G
With the heads of state
Dm
To discuss the latest issues
Am
Of who to obliterate

Am
Another foreign country
Dm
Another foreign war
F G
Another dead solder
Am
Another bronze star
Dm
The TV plays the story up
G
Politicias try to play it down
DM
Spin doctor is fixing everything
Am
But the dead kids on the ground

Am
Killer is hard at work
Dm
Trying to be discreet
F G
He keeps it all under raps
Am
In his office on Wall Street

BIAB everything on this one.

I still have big issues forming words.

Billy

Good song, good singing. In a few places, the lyrics are forced into the melody, but not very often. Overall, a fine effort!

Thanks, I am really struggling with the vocals. I hope a few more weeks of speech therapy will help.

Billy

Billy,
I'm marking this are a draft becasue I'm looking forward to the kind of cool vocal you used in your blues.
Good narrative, good imagery, bloody horrible true story.

Hi Billy,

This is a good idea i.e. good lyrics, song and sentiment.

As Ray mentioned - it needs a little "working up" in terms of the lyrics and maybe the key could come down a little to suit your voice plus a bit of light and shade e.g middle 8 and instrumental sections.

Definitely worth working on.

Well done.

Best Regards
Nigel

Hi Billy,

these are strong lyrics - an important issue which I think cannot be sung about too often (and definitely not only in the US !!!!).

Like others said the lyrics are losing a lot because they're kinda squeezed at some parts. Although the melody is nice by itself too, it seems to me that it doesn't give those lyrics enough 'space' to unfold.

But still a really good song.

Stay safe,

Stefan

Hi guys.

I will redo the song. I was a little uncomfortable with the whole thing.
It is more than a little political. We are all effective worldwide.

I like the lyrical idea. It has an ominous sound to the title "Son Of Sam", a well-known murderer. But "Sam" in this case refers to "Unkle Sam" the iconic symbol for truth and justice which is a little tarnished at the moment.

I don't want anyone to get the idea that I am anti-American because I am not. I am actually a world citizen with both personal and political connections to several countries in the world.

The current state of the convoluted relationship between the media and our governments is problematic.

I was certainly ambivalent about the bloody arm photo. If it offends anyone I will take it down.

I will redo the song.

Cheers,

Billy

I'll piggy-back on ray's comment for this one....

fj

Excellent lyrics, Billy. I also like Ray's suggestion to keep this as a draft, awaiting the vocal you will soon do. It's a really good song.

You are on to something here, William. I agree, keep refining it. Now is an opportune time, since we are officially not at war. I've been lately thinking about the hypocrisy of it all. Our republic is built on the sovereignty of individual states. War is a national effort, meaning the rights of states get put aside. The result is that war winds up handing more authority to the central government. Get my drift? The hypocrisy is when people who sell their souls to the nanny state get on a high horse. In other words, the Son of Sam is us. Just some thoughts. Keep tackling those tough subjects, hey?

Thanks guys,

I think the subject matter is relevant. I have been experimenting with two or three other styles.

I will continue to work on this song. The throat surgery is still making how I feel pretty inconsistent. I don't think I really got the BIAB part of this correct and as a result, most likely tried to force the lyrics to fit. Never a good thing.

As Edshaw related, we are not at war at the moment so this is not a reactive protest song. It is more about the futility of war to begin with and how the national government and media promote war. It also speaks to the fact that we train our kids to be killers and there are often unintended consequences of that. The media is only there to make a profit and to spin the news to their advantage.

I promise to write a "love" song next...lol

Billy

None of us have a very loud voice in the matter but perhaps it is the responsibility of musicians to speak up or sing up as it were.