‘The Way It Is’ by Zoolon
Bored senseless, we roll the dice to see who gets to write the next line. Nothing better to do on the third day in a row of dark skies, Atlantic storms chasing each other through The Channel. Wet and windy. Windy and wet. Here’s what the dice gave us;
SACRED HOLLYWOOD
Blind eyes reading epitaphs
Or just graffiti on a wall?
Or maybe lovers and philosophers
All heading for a fall?
Somewhere in Oblivion
Sisters of Silence breaking bread
A fire raging in the forests of paradise
Hungry orphans left for dead
Dirty bombs and missiles
Every redcoat is fair game
Black or white or in-between
The privileged and the lame
Take my hand, I’ll lead you
To the Queen of Heart’s masked ball
Forget the sleepers sleeping rough tonight
We’ll stay out ‘till curtain call
No stilettos on the cobblestones
Just a refugee chasing fame
Hitching a ride to God knows where
Looking to change her passport and her name
I lost you to a circus clown
While the juggler was at prayer
And as the acrobats on tightropes laughed
At the two left-footed dancing bear
The jailbirds and the wise men
Playing poker in the dark
While in Camelot a jester sings
To a stray dog’s lonesome bark
Pegasus, the slaver’s ship
Amazing Grace, knew it well
Somewhere west of West Africa
In stormy waters, a living hell
Some believe in Arthur
Others in Batman or Robin Hood
The lost souls fed on fake news
Chasing dreams of a sacred Hollywood
Net result? I might have a new song. Weird and odd. I think I’m liking it. Needs playing around with. Needs a chorus. I always write my own stuff. Crap weather changed the rules this one time. A joint effort. Me and Mike Steeden (the old man; my dad) got together and let the dice decide who got to write the next line. He’s good at writing surreal. I gave it my best shot. He tells me when he’s finished what he’s finishing he’ll be back blogging.
Time for some music. Here’s my ‘One Man Band’ song. I have a lyric tailormade for it. The killer is I don’t sing ‘metal’ that well, or not at all. I’ll see how it all evolves. Hope you enjoy;
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Your best work , Lord Zoolon !!! Giving you a standing ovation for this. Atta boy.
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If the truth be told only about half of it was mine, the old man won a good few rolls of the dice setting me some difficult following lines. I’m glad you like it Lady Yasmin. Without a doubt this will be a song ~ Lord Zoolon
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Could “No stilettos on cobblestones” be that chorus you are looking for Zoolon?
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You’re probably right, Chris. I was going to make that the title then remembered it was written on my father’s roll of the dice. I got a bit selfish about it, by hey, a chorus has to come first! Thanks ~ Zoolon aka George
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I’ll await the cheque in the post…
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Singing a song I believe in
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Thanks ~ George
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🙂
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I just checked that word out on Wiki. I think my music degree should have been maybe more academic, then I might get a handle on it. Nice one ~ George
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I love the lyrics. Really great. I’m looking forward to what you do with it.
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Thanks for your words. ~ George
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Love this one – kind of Dylanesque. Brilliant lyrics!
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Thanks Jan. The funny thing about what you just wrote is that we were working with the Desolation Row melody when rolling the dice writing this one. Good spot and thanks again ~ George
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It’s no doubt that that when you & yr clever dad mix it up the soup is hot serving up.
Fine job.
gr.
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Thanks. It was a bit of fun that seems to have turned out OK. Now I have to make it into a song ~ Zoolon aka George
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So good, George!
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You’ve got a powerful punch in those lyrics. Can’t wait until you get them put to music.
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Thank you. I’ll do my best with this one – as soon as the cold I’ve caught finishes making me cough and sneeze! ~ George
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sending you a hot cup of rooibos tea with a shot of lemon. hoping you stay warm and rested until that cold goes away
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Thanks. I’ve just got out of bed from a nights coughing instead of sleep – and I don’t even smoke. That cup of tea would go down a treat. Thanks again ~ George
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Brilliant words. History, images, today, yesterday…… really inspired stuff. At least that is what I think! I await the music.
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Thanks Anne. As soon as I get rid of the rotten cold I caught I’ll be singing this one for the new album. Regards ~ George
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Where I used to live in LA, I could see the Hollywood sign everyday and I try to steer further far from it – because of traffic the closer you get to it!
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It’s a surreal sign, although I’ve only seen it in pictures. It makes me think metaphors ~ George
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Please send my regards to Mike. Hope he’s doing well.
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I certainly will pass your message on ~ Zoolon aka George
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Quite a novel way of composing a lyric. I like it! xo
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Thanks Carolee – and for the tweet as well ~ George
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Delightful “non-sense” and refreshing. I really like this, George.
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Thank you. It’s interesting where the words come from when trading lines with each other. Getting the rhyme wasn’t easy. Thanks again ~ George
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Nicely done! I love the rich language and imagery. Can’t wait to hear the song.
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Thanks. I can’t wait to create it as soon as the cold I caught goes away! Thanks again ~ George
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Enjoy it ! Great work ! All the best, Jürgen
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Thanks Jurgen. I appreciate your words ~ Zoolon aka George
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There’s something about the Pegasus being a slave ship–there’s a story here, of flying ships and captured souls over deserts of water and stars.
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That was a verse the old man mainly wrote as the dice were on his side. Only the last line is mine. It wasn’t until we’d finished that I asked him what the verse was all about. The thing is it has a story already. One I didn’t know. Apparently the bloke who wrote Amazing Grace was first mate on the Pegasus slave ship for decades. When he got old he said he’d seen and done some horrible things but all was good now because he’d found God and written the hymn Amazing Grace. I’m good with that to an extent but the old man isn’t. Oh no – you know what he’s like when it comes to injustice. He compares the composer to a guard in a Concentration Camp who no one would ever forgive him if he said that he’d found God and thinks if more Christians knew about the composer they’d ban the hymn. As you can imagine, it was good to know the history but given it was so long ago did I really need to know? Not sure. The story would make a great movie I think ~ George
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Oh heavens, I think it IS a movie…I remember seeing some sort of Christian film called Amazing Grace, wonder if that’s what it was about…
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You two are amazing. I had fun guessing what line belongs to who 🙂
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The wordy words are his!
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🙂
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Those lyrics are incredible. I understand the need for a chorus but perhaps you could evade having a lyrical chorus by implying it with a melodic hook that repeats as opposed to repeating lyrics. That is my thought.
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I’m inclined to agree with you Ted. A different genre – a not their best song – Coldplay hit melody to chorus with A Sky Full of Stars. A bit overpowering but effective for pop genre. Thanks for your thoughts on the subject ~ George
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Quite an exceptional blog!
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Thanks for that, Lance. I just give it as things happen in my head. Thanks again ~ Zoolon aka George
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You’re sincerely welcome, George! No better way to do it- excellent! Best regards, Lance.
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Thanks again. Inspiring words ~ George
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My utmost pleasure, George!
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Love weird things😀
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Thanks you. Weird works ~ Zoolon aka George
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😘😘
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