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Description
A song about inner city neighborhoods. Reasons to stay, reasons to leave.
Music and instrumentation: Johnny Katchoolik. Lyrics and vocals: Richard Schletty, Jack Miller, Craig Bakay. Song art: Richard Schletty, adapted from "West Side Paintings" -- see http://www.schletty.com/westsideptgs_families.html . Larger version of song art here: http://www.schletty.com/music/Innercityhood01.jpg
Postludes Trio is an internet collaborative music project -- see www.macjams.com/artist/Postludes+Trio.
Snowdragon (Craig Bakay) listened to my first vocal run and told me I was over-singing it, that I should ease back and let the lyrics tell the story. So, I did just that, gravitating somewhere between matter-o-fact narration and florid sonority. Craig suggested that I switch "leave" and "live" in the last two lines....and gave a nice reason for doing so. The inevitable flight from Innercityhood instead became a decision to stay. Craig also added some vocal harmony.
Dadai (Jack Miller) not only contributed vocal harmonies in this latest mix, he did the original vocal sketch, singing the phrases and thought bites I had scratched out in a quick memo to him. I hadn't intended for them to be actual lyrics -- they were just a list of impressions... a "stream of feelings" based on my 2-hour walk through the Beltrami neighborhood of north Minneapolis last July with my wife (while the kids splashed in the Jim Lupient Waterpark in the old quarry site). Here is Jack's original soulful demo which became the basis for the song: http://www.schletty.com/music/Innercityhood_Jack_demo.mp3 . In his "lunch break special", Jack came up with a few choice phrasings and lyric additions that were carried through to the final song you hear here.
And Johnny... what can I say about Johnny? As someone says in the comments below, his music is a fantastic bedrock upon which to build lyrics. His instrumentation is vital, rich and well structured. I did not have to add any supplemental sounds to his soundbed -- all I did was splice it a bit to extend it from 3:05 to 4:52 in length.
Music and instrumentation: Johnny Katchoolik. Lyrics and vocals: Richard Schletty, Jack Miller, Craig Bakay. Song art: Richard Schletty, adapted from "West Side Paintings" -- see http://www.schletty.com/westsideptgs_families.html . Larger version of song art here: http://www.schletty.com/music/Innercityhood01.jpg
Postludes Trio is an internet collaborative music project -- see www.macjams.com/artist/Postludes+Trio.
Snowdragon (Craig Bakay) listened to my first vocal run and told me I was over-singing it, that I should ease back and let the lyrics tell the story. So, I did just that, gravitating somewhere between matter-o-fact narration and florid sonority. Craig suggested that I switch "leave" and "live" in the last two lines....and gave a nice reason for doing so. The inevitable flight from Innercityhood instead became a decision to stay. Craig also added some vocal harmony.
Dadai (Jack Miller) not only contributed vocal harmonies in this latest mix, he did the original vocal sketch, singing the phrases and thought bites I had scratched out in a quick memo to him. I hadn't intended for them to be actual lyrics -- they were just a list of impressions... a "stream of feelings" based on my 2-hour walk through the Beltrami neighborhood of north Minneapolis last July with my wife (while the kids splashed in the Jim Lupient Waterpark in the old quarry site). Here is Jack's original soulful demo which became the basis for the song: http://www.schletty.com/music/Innercityhood_Jack_demo.mp3 . In his "lunch break special", Jack came up with a few choice phrasings and lyric additions that were carried through to the final song you hear here.
And Johnny... what can I say about Johnny? As someone says in the comments below, his music is a fantastic bedrock upon which to build lyrics. His instrumentation is vital, rich and well structured. I did not have to add any supplemental sounds to his soundbed -- all I did was splice it a bit to extend it from 3:05 to 4:52 in length.
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Lyrics
Innercityhood
Music ©2005 Johnny Katchoolik
Lyrics ©2005 Richard Schletty, Jack Miller, Craig Bakay
Delmonico's Italian Food Store on the corner.
Down the street, the old Greek church in the mist of dawn.
The old ball field where we played the game.
Where has everyone gone?
A few wannabe mansions going up over there.
New water park in the old quarry.
National Guard Recruitment Center: "volunteers wanted here"
Our children, our last chance for glory.
My ragged pockets, they are empty.
Dig down deep. Hey, whatcha got?
Don't wanna get caught in the crossfires of hate.
Time to cut loose, things gettin' hot.
Just tryin' to keep my scabs from bleedin'.
While the war still rages on.
The hammer, it just keeps on poundin'.
Oh, my God, what have you done?
So much that's good, so much that's real,
here in Innercityhood.
A trip to the corner store, a splash in the old wadin' pool,
a friendly hello from folks that are pretty good.
An old monument where I can cry,
A community garden where hope is sown.
Have you had a nice day? Have you kept your scabs from bleeding?
Not everyone has flown.
Dust of neglect and broken windows.
Tell me now, where's the pride?
Don't gimme no fancy answers.
The streets have nowhere I can hide.
Just tryin' to keep my scabs from bleedin'.
I can't afford to have no fun.
My rent's past due, can't pay my taxes.
Oh, man, what have you done?
My ragged pockets, they are empty.
Dig down deep. Hey, whatcha got?
Don't wanna get caught in the crossfires of hate.
Time to cut loose, things gettin' hot.
I'm talkin' 'bout my Innercityhood,
It's where I'd love not to die.
Some say that it's the place to leave.
I tell ya, it's the place I live!
Music ©2005 Johnny Katchoolik
Lyrics ©2005 Richard Schletty, Jack Miller, Craig Bakay
Delmonico's Italian Food Store on the corner.
Down the street, the old Greek church in the mist of dawn.
The old ball field where we played the game.
Where has everyone gone?
A few wannabe mansions going up over there.
New water park in the old quarry.
National Guard Recruitment Center: "volunteers wanted here"
Our children, our last chance for glory.
My ragged pockets, they are empty.
Dig down deep. Hey, whatcha got?
Don't wanna get caught in the crossfires of hate.
Time to cut loose, things gettin' hot.
Just tryin' to keep my scabs from bleedin'.
While the war still rages on.
The hammer, it just keeps on poundin'.
Oh, my God, what have you done?
So much that's good, so much that's real,
here in Innercityhood.
A trip to the corner store, a splash in the old wadin' pool,
a friendly hello from folks that are pretty good.
An old monument where I can cry,
A community garden where hope is sown.
Have you had a nice day? Have you kept your scabs from bleeding?
Not everyone has flown.
Dust of neglect and broken windows.
Tell me now, where's the pride?
Don't gimme no fancy answers.
The streets have nowhere I can hide.
Just tryin' to keep my scabs from bleedin'.
I can't afford to have no fun.
My rent's past due, can't pay my taxes.
Oh, man, what have you done?
My ragged pockets, they are empty.
Dig down deep. Hey, whatcha got?
Don't wanna get caught in the crossfires of hate.
Time to cut loose, things gettin' hot.
I'm talkin' 'bout my Innercityhood,
It's where I'd love not to die.
Some say that it's the place to leave.
I tell ya, it's the place I live!
Jim Bouchard
according to my calculations... but who's counting?
I live right in the city of Boston...interesting to be here, lots going on. It's the place to live!
Nice lead and harmony vocals! Very!