Soundcloud link:
Circling the DrainHere's our final song for 2016, an original tune in the style of Merle Haggard and my humble tribute to a great country artist. Merle's songs were custom made for the Fender Telecaster, which is frequently heard on a lot of his uptempo, hardcore country hits. And being the Tele lover that I am it gave me a chance to experiment with new, yet traditional Merle "licks." This song is political I suppose in the way that Merle's "Are The Good Times Really Over For Good" was political. But it's more about the plight of working class folks whom Merle championed throughout his career.
Hope you enjoy it. See you all next year.
Bob
****** Song Summary *************
Title: Circling The Drain
File:Circling The Drain10.SGU
Key=D , Tempo 156, Length (m:s)=4:04
No intro. 52 bar chorus, from bar 1 to bar 52. Repeat x3 choruses
No Melody
No Soloist track.
Song is saved with Volume, Pan, Reverb, Chorus, Bank0,
Style is _CTRTSEC.STY (Country Wasteland)
RealTracks in style: ~~540:Bass, Electric, Pop Sw 165
RealTracks in style: ~1550:Piano, Acoustic, Rhythm CountrySwing Sw 140
RealTracks in style: ~974:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm CountrySwingCleanA-B Sw 140
RealTracks in style: ~977:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm CountrySwingGrittyA-B Sw 140
RealTracks in song: 617:Pedal Steel, Background Shuffle Sw 136
RealTracks in song: ~1114:Fiddle, Background CountrySwingMelodic Sw 140
RealDrums in style: NashvilleSwing8^5-a:Sidestick, HiHat , b:Snare, HiHat
*******************
LYRICS:Circling the Drain© 2016 Bob BufordOld Mr. Johnson’s house has a “FOR SALE” sign
He’s been my neighbor damn near forty years
Now he and his wife can’t make the mortgage
He says they’re fine, but I can see the fear.
My best friend Mac is drawing unemployment
For thirty years a loyal, hard-working man
They moved his factory down to Matamoros
And now he’s left to do the best he can
Now I’m not pointing fingers or complaining
But I’d like to know that someone’s in control
They say we’re fine but things ain’t getting better
And no one’s buying all the lies we’re told
I sold the family farm to Mrs. Reyna
Her roots go back to 1864
They had a ranch down near McAllen, Texas
But she don’t feel so safe there anymore
My brother’s youngest son just finished college
Eighty thousand dollars in the hole
He moved back home til he could find employment
But flippin’ burgers never was his goal
Now I ain’t asking no one for a bailout
I always worked for everything I own
It’s hard to watch my country going bankrupt
Seems they won’t stop till everything is gone
Now Mr. Davis dropped his health insurance
He said he can’t afford it anymore
It’s either that or cut back on the groceries
‘Cause they don’t take excuses at the store.
I don’t belong to anybody’s party
You wouldn’t really want me anyway
Cause I’m not rich and I don’t have the power
But friend, you’d best be hearing what I say
You’re telling me you understand our problems
You say you have a plan to ease the pain
But I ain’t seen no change I can believe in
Just one great country circling the drain