Being a rock and roll kid I didn't realize until much later that you could write songs based in historical times. Fantasy is well represented but actual history is almost nonexistent. Being a big Steve Earle fan and having been introduced to the Pogues by the woman I would eventually marry it was like a whole new world of possibility exploded upon my essential existence as a songwriter. The further back I went the more and more it felt absolutely right to base songs in a time period that decidedly ain't America from the 1950s on. It's such a miniscule sample size! This is my first stab at writing about a different century. They're all just cowboy songs anyway.
This song was originally called "Life's a Beach" and I wrote it in 1987 whilst living at Ocean City, MD for the summer. I remember people crying when I would play it. I just RECENTLY realized that these piano middle C power ballads are very effective in bringing forth emotion. I repurposed it for THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES. I used my wife's name. This is absolutely inspired by Ken Burns The Civil War which I watched over and over again. Growing up in Maryland we're there.
This is inspired by Clint Eastwood's THE OUTLAW JOSIE WALES and "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" by the Band. In today's polarized world it's a challenge to attempt to see each others' perspectives. Philosophically it's eminently frustrating. Here's a different approach. I used to be a construction worker. Every cliche is pretty much rooted in reality. Everybody is racist or homophobic until they're working with a person of another race or sexual proclivity. Once it's proven that a worker works they transcend the stereotype. It always bugged me that this enlightenment stayed on the job site. At least that's how things appeared.
The US is completely insane. The threat of violence is always present. That's what the Axis didn't understand during World War II. We are ahead of the curve always in terms of a willingness to inflict harm on other human beings. I also find the image of Europe looking on in concerned fascination while we butchered each other with iron clad war ships amusing. One day we'll come to terms with our vicious soul but I ain't holding my breath.
Here's the big shift from bar band to rock opera band. We opened with this for years, especially in showcase environments. I loved opening with it because there's awesome head bang breaks where I made my hair look crazy. I shit you not. We were in denial for YEARS about boastfully being willfully ignorant of the way we presented ourselves but that was total horse shit. We absolutely played up the working class apocalyptic drunken mountain men on speed look for years.
This was one of the first songs I had to go back and change the lyrics because I got the geography fucked up! I was mimicking "Answering Machine" by the Replacements off of LET IT BE. I played this live until Ochster solidified himself as the SFP drummer. I was also trying to tell a sorrowful tale along the lines of another Replacements song, "Little Mascara" off of TIM. The open B minor would hurt my lil fingies when I played this acoustically.
This was recorded during the same session as "Agenda." I was very proud of this. Honestly? Joe Gallagher is the only other guitar player I'll play chords behind. I was glad to hear him rock out here. I remember when we released this as a 45 we got feedback that Staten Island's college station played it muchly. This is me realizing that youthful rebellion turns into simply acting like an asshole at some point.
I wrote this between the Baltimore Colts and the Baltimore Ravens. It's my first, and almost only recorded, rapping. Even so, I write a lot of raps but they come out like singing. Everything always comes out a little differently (or even a lot!) than what is intended. This is the Dennis Barth Circle 9. Joey Joe Joe playing his old GEE-tar with the Egyptian symbols, and Pork on drums. This was the 9's first time in the studio. It was the first thing I recorded that turned up an a CD.
05 This is the distinct link between TRAVELOGUE and SPACESHIPS GUNS AND BOOBIES
10 Makes sense.
15 We'll see what happens
20 BOW BOW
25 It's a banjo.
30 Is this a good idea?
35 They think the harmonica's a bagpipe.
40 It's not quite Lynyrd Skynryd.
45 It depends on what your experience is.
50 Everything happens for a reason.
05 R-600s ride on them to go to war.
10 Gandalf is in Hurricane Island.
15 Andy's not going to be here for the music festival.
20 Now, understand it.
25 I don't even remember how it...uh.
30 Do do doo doo doo doo.
35 "A Woman's Work," maybe that's her.
40 Rear view mirror?
45 I felt really weird for a week afterwards.
05 They all played and sang at the same time.
10 Looks like a Reaver.
15 Do you know what happened in the second season?
20 ...And they're playing to the Queen of England and shit?
25 I betcha it happened all over the place at the same time.
30 Blond guy. Blond guy?
35 In the middle of the street?
40 Just like it usually was.
45 It's called "they're turned."
50 Have a fastback on it?
55 Nice!
05 ...that always feels good to...
10 I just started seeing musicians out on the street
15 It's like an undefined thing
20 I like cool new stuff
25 It ends with the epilogue
30 It's a good TMD record
35 We drove and talked about it
40 F sharp was never really in it
45 ...amp out in the kitchen...
50 It's just a guideline for dumb people
05 The computer talked to LOGIC
10 Maybe I was overreaching
15 ...weekly or monthly...
20 I love you, Paul
25 Turn the dryer off because we're doing tracks
30 This is like a brand new fucking thing
35 That's a bummer
40 I haven't even looked at my notebooks
45 Strictly because I don't have a CD player anymore
50 Just barely get a mark on it
55 Dark chocolate, that's the way to go.
I don't even remember recording this motherfucker.
You never know quite what to do
You shut up when I'm in the room
You lead me around by the tongue
I see it all clear as the sun
You love me when I play guitar
Then throw me away in the yard
You lead me around like a dog
So lead me around like a dog
Do do do do do do do do do do do do do
All right yeah
You lead me around like a dog
So cook me some breakfast tonight
I'll hold you if you got to puke
I'll hold you 'til you feel alright
Puke puke puke puke puke puke puke puke puke puke puke puke puke
Alright yeah