Stacked by Warren Smith
Genre: Political
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Keywords:
Warren Smith (10), Richard Schletty (9), St Paul (1), energy (37), energy crisis (1), stack (1), political (42), Bush (57), McCain (1), Obama (15)
Description:
MacJammer Richard Schletty sent me some lyrics for a song idea based on his observance of an actual event, the demolition of a power plant stack located on the Mississippi River in St. Paul. Not realizing he had already created a tune for the lyrics, I composed music for it of my own. Then, as Richard continued to move the song in a more folksy direction, I began developing the storyline with a political slant as a general meditation on the current energy crisis in the United States.
Lyrics:
WHERE WERE YOU WHEN THAT STACK CAME DOWN?Schletty/Smith 2008
Down by the river on a bridge called Smith
We gathered to see the demise of a monolith
Of a big tube belching black fire and smoke
Shut your windows, close you doors
cover your eyes, it’ll fill your pores
don’t laugh at me – I’m not making a joke
Feel the breeze up on Buffalo Ridge
Let’s use that wind to power the fridge
What’s this rant rising about the tower?
Bigger isn’t always better
A multitude of alternatives could be unfettered
Let’s convert those vacant rooftops into sources of power
High in the sky where the mighty eagle soars
You could see the dust cloud rise for miles around
No more sulfur or mercury
Life along the river as it ought to be
Where were you when the stack came down?
Ever since building that first cave fire
Man has had a fervent desire
To create clean forms of economical energy
Give me water Give me wind
Give me garbage Give me hydrogen
Give me alternatives to oil and set me free
Music break
Maybe if Al Gore had been elected president
Our energy policy would have a different bent
But right now George Bush seems to be clueless
What can we do when we are leaderless?
Who’s going to lead us out of this bleeding mess?
Is in too much to hope McCain or Obama can renew us?
High in the sky where the mighty eagle soars
You could see the dust cloud rise for miles around
No more sulfur or mercury
Life along the river as it ought to be
Where were you when the stack came down?
Where were you when the stack came down?
Where were you when the stack came down?
Energy costs keep escalating
Clean and cheap aren’t reciprocating
But we can’t go on forever burning ancient forests
You’d better cancel any plans for a family vacation
fuel costs are too high for recreation
you’d better concentrate on heating or cooling your home
more drilling won’t pump us out of this mess
more rhetoric won’t relieve the stress
this is what happens when you have leaders that won’t listen
it seems to me the problem is not so great
if we begin to concentrate and innovate
but right now the resource in short supply seems to be wisdom
where were you when the stack came down?
where were you when the stack came down?
where were you when the stack came down?
Hardware:
M-Audio Keystation 49-e, Aria Pro II guitar, Mac G5Software:
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Feter
man this is cool ....you used this for a great lyrics !!
good work ...thnx alot for sharin !!!
Warren Smith
Thanks for commenting, Feter ... but are you sure the reason you like the lyrics isn't because I use the word "un-Fettered?"
Richard_Schletty
Un-fettered! Now that is a laugh.
racerat
Very cool. Very funny and very gutsy. Political song writing is making a comeback, hopefully! Kitschy and oddball. God knows there is enough fodder right now.
Philip
Warren Smith
Ha-ha ... I don't know if I've written a tragic-comedy ... or the other way around.
When I started working on this piece, it seemed like the energy crisis was the big issue looming over contemporary society. For some reason, Richard Schletty's song gave me a way to try to explore some of my thoughts about that controversy (as did his encouragement to take his song and go somewhere else with it). But right now, the twin problems of energy and Global Warming seem diminished by the current economic woes - both local and global. I'm sure there is a song, somewhere, in that pain, too.
thehansbarstucksband
im really liking this, as soon as it started it reminded me of primus minus the thudding slap bass. liking it :)
Warren Smith
I would have used one of those thudding slap basses on this song but the windmill on my roof doesn't generate enough juice to power it : >
Thanks for listening and commenting.
egobandit
we there. I mean is the box open and there is no Fix. I couldnt agree more Downloaded and going to be played when I really am not on the same road as I knew it to be. Thanks for a reminder And I mean that in a positive way.
Warren Smith
Yes - a lot of things are changing is this country .. and most of it does not seem for the better. Thanks for downloading me.
Miller-Schletty
I'm Richard Schletty and I approve this message.
Warren Smith
Thanks for the endorsement!
It is amazing how this simple song idea evolved in different directions.
Or was my version a mutation?
Postludes Trio
Warren, I like your adaptation. You extended my thoughts on some of the issues surrounding this "event." Odds are stacked against the commercial success of a song like this. Maybe NPR will give it a spin? Is there any phallusy in our arguments?
thetiler
Warren,
you are chuck full of incredibly rhythmic lyrics and enjoyed the musical delivery as well. Very wacky-rockin creative!
So comic unique.
Way To GO.
Richard_Schletty
Yes, Bill, he is "wacky-rockin creative." Good way to put it. I hear a definite improvement in lyricality with this piece. A nice development of a melodic/harmonic refrain which contrasts with the spoken verses.
Warren Smith
That's funny .. because I like to think I am normal .. and the rest of you are wacky-rocky.
As always, I appreciate your comments. It's difficult to push outside of the conventions that constrict us .. and not be obvious about it.
Bob6stringer
Something smells Phishy here. I love your RhythMelodic guitar arrangements. The guitar break tickles my inner eco-thug! So: Has Richard hit the bigtime or something? I was hoping to hear his version and he's got no songs posted. Dang!