CLONK HERE and then on "IS THERE ANY WAY OF KNOWING" (I think it's last song on page):
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/6/billordukethesongwritermusic.htm

I would love to have your opinion on this song, whichever way you view the current admin. Honestly, I'm trying to figure out whether to do a full-blown demo on this song. (To pitch to artists.)

I've spent over two years writing this song. Trying to figure out exactly how strong do I want to be. I'm close to making a decision. (I have many verses.)

My biggest dillemma is... does this song offend?

Thanks for your time.

Peace and love, that 60s stuff

[This message has been edited by SemiLiveMusic (edited 01-20-2005).]

I'm not offended, but I was, however, sure that I didn't want to listen to any more than the first 15 seconds of it. In fact ... I'm watching the inauguration of MY president right now. Hail to the chief !
My opinion, right? That's what you asked for. I think the party cost too much money, but politics has ALWAYS been about glitz.

Bet it didn't cost any more than Clinton's.
DonM

UD . I also supported "W", not because I liked ALL of his decisions, but moreso because I never knew what Kerry's decision was ...
I did have second thoughts about the big inaugural parties, etc. in light of what's going on around the world ...
t.

Thank you for your opinion based on 15 seconds.

Bush 2005: 40 Million
Bush 2001: 35 Million
Clinton 97: 23.7 Million
Clinton: 93: 25 Million

And I don't give a flip about Clinton.

The thread is not about inauguration.

Never mind. The answer to the thread's question is obvious.

Obviously being a non usa person I was not offended at all, but I could not make the connection to the topic title and the song!
It sounded more like a protest against how the usa nation is acting in the past and present.

Glad you said it wasn't about the inauguration

About the song;
I think your lyrics are very polite, so how could anybody be offended, unless ofcourse when you feel guilty.

But it might be that I am missing something as american is not my native language.
There's a dutch proverb saying:
Whoever fits the shoe turns it on.

When I can believe the polls ? there are about 50% americans who will agree with you.

This is the bar so anything can be discussed as long as you stay polite

Fred

Semi,
I really didn't mean to insult you or your writing style. I just think I knew where you were headed at the get go. Since I knew we differed on the issues referenced - I thought it best to just pass it by. That's the risk you take by bringing up political issues, right? I fully support your right to belive what you do, and I'll never try to vhange anyone's mind about their candidate. I just wanted to take a stand on my side of the fence, and state my claim!

Want to post an instrumental version of the song, and we can evaluate it without bias?

I'm really not a soapbox preacher - I just feel that in times of trouble, and unrest it makes sense to stick to your guns(not literally!)and let your voice be heard.
I hope your lyrics were true to your ideas and I wish you well with the song. Truly.

Fred, the title to the thread is sarcasm. I'm guilty of that.

Bush is being inaugurated today. The song is a protest song. I have watered this song down countless times, trying to remain artistic yet NOT to offend as many people as I can help. I do not wish to offend. Not that I don't have strong anti-Bush feelings (I do, I cannot stand him) but because most of my friends and family support him. I am an outcast. They have his picture on their refrigerator. I want to stab it.

I have a true dillemma -- do I say in the song what I really want to say or do I water it down, yet have it still remain truthful and hard-hitting. I am searching for the latter.

In the version you would hear at that link, there is this first verse...

We have all been disappointed from some ones who we've annointed
Who have lied about their actions, seeking headlines for distractions
From the truth
Exploiting youth

Now, Dave heard 15 seconds, so he didn't get past line 2, which I thought was rude of him to even bother to reply with such. He didn't get to the part about Watergate, Viet Nam, Strom. LIES. The song is saying that this country has been subject to LIES. Which is incredibly sad. It's even sadder if the man with Jesus on his sleeve, Mr. Bush, has lied, since he deems himself (and takes great pride) as "The War President." If he hasn't lied, then it's nothing more than a mad protest singer wailing away with his silly opinion.

For my own use, do I put this on a CD? I don't know. Only if I think it's at a point where it "should not" offend. Do I pitch this to artists? That's a possibility. There are some pop/folk artists who like protest songs. I'm just still trying to see how far to go with it (lyrically).

The good news is that even though I have spent hundreds of hours on this song lyric, since I posted this, no kidding, I think I know how I want to do it. I'm going to whack out the verse about the direct reference to lying and I'm going to whack out the verse about warriors/exploiters (supporting the troops... which was my favorite verse, doggone it). I am going to do this so that it can be a protest song but more timeless... less about today, 2005. Ideally, it would be good ten years from now as well as today.

If people think that we have not had lying in this country's top levels, sorry, I can't help ya there. But if I take out as much of the anti-Bush references and still have a good song, I have accomplished my objective.

This is now what I have. I'm going to start out with the bridge, which is unique. To set forth PROVEN lies of the past.

=

"IS THERE ANY WAY OF KNOWING"
©2005 All rights reserved

Is there any way of knowing exactly where we're going

[ BRIDGE: ]
History shows Viet Nam
We had Watergate and old man Strom
Truth is hard for a Pinnochio
For our daughters and our sons,
we must watch elected ones, watch the nose

Someone gave me a suggestion, he said We should always question
Look at all sides of issues, if we don't, there will be misuse
At the top
It's hard to stop

When again you think you feel it, don't hide it, don't conceal it
We need your own opinion of the leaders and minions
Running 'round
Hey, what's that sound

Is there any way of knowing exactly where we're going

[ BREAK ]

Many years ago, Abe Lincoln had a vision, he kept thinkin'
We'd protect the Constitution, Thomas Jefferson's solution
To the Crown
What a clown

If you cannot buy the reason, you should say so or it's treason
Teddy Roosevelt first said it, bitter pill deserves credit
If you ache
Hey, what's that taste

Is there any way of knowing exactly where we're going ( 3x )

===END===

If that offends anyone, I don't think I can do anything about that. That's about as mild as I can make it.

That's just it. Every song is pro-Bush. I live in Texas and it's far worse than other places, for obvious reasons. Eminem came out with one lately that is anti-Bush. I haven't heard it, I don't listen to his type of music.

But in the kind of music I hear, it's all pro-Bush and I am tired of it. When I play this at gigs (and there are obviously a lot of people in the audience who think there is something to protest about... has to be a college town), I get great reaction to this song. I'm searching for the ideal middle-ground. Is the protest song dead? I hope not. I hope as of right now, I'm closer with the version I just came up with.