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This came upon me Sunday afternoon before last as a chord sequence after deciding I wanted to do a song with “normal” chords (you know A, G, D and stuff), as so many of my songs are made up of unusual sets of triads.
“Ship” is based on a story I read recently about a mother in Basra, Iraq who lost one son (4 years old) and had another (6 years old) tragically disabled by a coalition missile while the boys were playing a game of soccer in the street. It made me think about, if they were my children, how totally devastating that would be. Who knows what the mother’s politics were – all I know is that nobody deserves this to happen to their family. And more importantly, nobody has the right to inflict this loss on someone else. I thought about my family and how I’d feel if something like this happened to them. We’re really all the same! Then I thought about the triumvirate who got us there: Bush, Blair and (for us in Oz) Howard – the “Ship Of Fools” just seemed appropriate somehow.
Recording happened in an afternoon - mixing much longer. Tried to get a “live” feel to it, with just 3 guitars (2x Seagull acoustic, 1x Fender Strat), bass (Fender P-Bass) and drums (pencilled midi). The a cappella section was the hardest to do, and I asked Steve Lang (stevel) to apply the foghorn for the bottom harmony (I just can’t get down that low). The added bonus of Steve’s excellent lead guitar was a special treat for me - I think it's the best solo I've heard Steve play. This is a lot of fun to play – especially the ending sequence.
This one definitely needs to be played loud on speakers or phones that can handle the bass! Try to picture a live band onstage – Steve, myself and your favourite drummer J.
Song Art available at http://www.mary-louise.co.uk/GalleryCarnival.htm
“Ship” is based on a story I read recently about a mother in Basra, Iraq who lost one son (4 years old) and had another (6 years old) tragically disabled by a coalition missile while the boys were playing a game of soccer in the street. It made me think about, if they were my children, how totally devastating that would be. Who knows what the mother’s politics were – all I know is that nobody deserves this to happen to their family. And more importantly, nobody has the right to inflict this loss on someone else. I thought about my family and how I’d feel if something like this happened to them. We’re really all the same! Then I thought about the triumvirate who got us there: Bush, Blair and (for us in Oz) Howard – the “Ship Of Fools” just seemed appropriate somehow.
Recording happened in an afternoon - mixing much longer. Tried to get a “live” feel to it, with just 3 guitars (2x Seagull acoustic, 1x Fender Strat), bass (Fender P-Bass) and drums (pencilled midi). The a cappella section was the hardest to do, and I asked Steve Lang (stevel) to apply the foghorn for the bottom harmony (I just can’t get down that low). The added bonus of Steve’s excellent lead guitar was a special treat for me - I think it's the best solo I've heard Steve play. This is a lot of fun to play – especially the ending sequence.
This one definitely needs to be played loud on speakers or phones that can handle the bass! Try to picture a live band onstage – Steve, myself and your favourite drummer J.
Song Art available at http://www.mary-louise.co.uk/GalleryCarnival.htm
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Lyrics
Ship Of Fools
© Neil Porter 7/3/2006
I’ve been waiting til the sun goes down
Under a shady tree in a one horse town
Over the hills and far away
A smoke filled sky greets another day
I’ve been thinking about the other side
A mother crying when her children died
She’s a lot like you and me
Just different branches on a family tree
Chorus:
We’re adrift on a ship of fools
They’ve got no morals, they make the rules
We’re all drowning in a sea of fear
How do we turn things round from here?
Two boys playing in a Basra street
Kicking a ball with dusty feet
Coalition missile, just six and four
Wasted lives in a pointless war
They’re caught living in a danger zone
Lifetime’s savings in a shattered home
Long nights sleeping with one open eye
Lifetime grieving when your family dies
Chorus:
We’re adrift on a ship of fools
They’ve got no morals, they make their own rules
We’re all drowning in a sea of fear
How do we turn things round from here?
INSTRUMENTAL
© Neil Porter 7/3/2006
I’ve been waiting til the sun goes down
Under a shady tree in a one horse town
Over the hills and far away
A smoke filled sky greets another day
I’ve been thinking about the other side
A mother crying when her children died
She’s a lot like you and me
Just different branches on a family tree
Chorus:
We’re adrift on a ship of fools
They’ve got no morals, they make the rules
We’re all drowning in a sea of fear
How do we turn things round from here?
Two boys playing in a Basra street
Kicking a ball with dusty feet
Coalition missile, just six and four
Wasted lives in a pointless war
They’re caught living in a danger zone
Lifetime’s savings in a shattered home
Long nights sleeping with one open eye
Lifetime grieving when your family dies
Chorus:
We’re adrift on a ship of fools
They’ve got no morals, they make their own rules
We’re all drowning in a sea of fear
How do we turn things round from here?
INSTRUMENTAL
renecalvo
What angers me most is that it all about money, nothing else.
oh, and, oh god do i love that lead guitar.