Scarecrow
a song by Spirit Level.

Written by Scott Collingwood and Robert Cordrey Feb. 2021
Mastered by Scott Collingwood.
SCARECROW

This song was born from a song Scott recorded in 2018 called Fluffy. Scott & friends, as teenagers playing in a band, listened to records together and, when a new band like Uriah Heep or Grand Funk Railroad came up, one of the fellows in the band would describe the music as “fluffy”. This provoked laughter as the bands were far from fluffy. From that adjective came Fluffy and from there comes Scarecrow.

Robert wrote the lyrics and vocal melody then recorded, as well as treated, his vocals. He wrote some of the lyrics months ago and dragged them from the recycle pile on hearing the Fluffy demo. They are intended to be crazy in your face fun... coming from listening to the likes of Kevin Ayers (Soft Machine), Viv Stanshall (Bonzo Dog) and, of course, Captain Beefheart.

ray tracked a variety of guitars and bass which, over time replaced the RealTracks but took the “vibe” from the two excellent Grunge guitar RTs.

Structurally and melodically the song is recognizably a Spirit Level thing but sonically, it’s in a parallel universe inspired by the sounds and arrangement of _THRAAMP.STY (Amplitube Metal Chug w/ Organ).

Scarecrow

Strawman don’t you dare
Stare at my house
My house glares back at you
Your soup can eyes try to hide
What`s living down in your shoe

Make me moon-shot crazy
Waving wire arms in the wind
My soul`s flame thrower surely gonna sing
If you move your hands again
You'll reap what you sow
Listen to the scarecrow…

Give me back my hat
I don’t wear it like that
Your saw teeth they got rats
Your little flock, flock of sparrows
Scatter when pond ice cracks

I hear what you’re saying
You`re all over the news
Burned-over messiah talking holy fire on booze
And I`m coming with a match for you
You’ll reap what you sow
Listen to the scarecrow…

You’ll reap what you sow
Listen to the scarecrow

© Robert Cordrey Feb. 2021

In addition to Scott’s melodic lines and riff this version began with
Key=E , Tempo 80, Length (m:s)=2:18
1009:Bass, Electric, HardRockThrash Ev 085
~673:Organ, B3, Background Blues BB Ev 085
3736:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm GrungeSlowDistPower8ths Ev 080
3737:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm GrungeSlowGritHigh8ths Ev 080
3729:Guitar, Electric, Soloist GrungePopGritty Ev 110
2304:Synth, Rhythm DanceRockKoto Ev 120
RealDrums, RockHardLA^1-a:Snare, HiHat , b:Snare, Loose HiHat

After various developments the only RealTrack to survive intact is the RealDrums one.

Scott’s gear: Guitar: Gretsch Duojet, Amp: Marshall Could combo, Effects: Eventide H9’s

ray’s gear: Vantage VS696B bass, Squire Mustang “Bullet”, Joyo ACTone, Behringer GDI21, No name 5 string banjo – mic’d and the Yamaha FX500 “sitar” & “Soft Focus” effects.



Thank you, in anticipation, for listening.
Comments, suggestions, thoughts are welcome.

Last edited by rayc; 03/14/21 10:55 AM.
Cheers
rayc
"What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe