The Songwriter Forum - songwriting reviews, tips and chat
Songwriter Forum => Lyrics => Topic started by: hardtwistmusic on January 22, 2014, 07:16:32 AM
-
Wrote this to (not good) music I wrote in 2011. Working on the music again and decided to post the lyric here to get some input.
Historical background is as follows.
There have been only two true "World Wars."
The first we (in the USA) call the "French and Indian Wars" while the rest of the world calls it the "Seven Years War."
The second was World War II. (WWI was a European conflict that was a "world war" only in that some of the fighting occurred in colonies around the world).
Both occurred after world wide economic distress caused by long, deflationary periods, (almost exactly like our own continuing situation) and both occurred as a new world power threatened to economically surpass the old world power (as China has just begun to do to the U.S.)
I'm always amazed that no one gets alarmed when I discuss these similarities. We all "know" that "wars like that" are a thing of the past. We all know it "couldn't happen again."
And yet... so many other things that "couldn't happen again" have happened since 2008. Perhaps if we could rouse ourselves to BE alarmed, we might prevent these wicked things that "couldn't happen again."
But why worry. It "can't happen here and now."
Here is the lyric:
SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES
Something wicked this way comes.
Play the fifes and beat the drums.
They’ll burn the mansions and level the slums,
when something wicked this way comes.
To understand what we must see --
Apply the lessons of history
The money and power shift radically
before this wicked thing can be.
All that’s happening has happened before
False confidence and the closing door.
The dress rehearsals in minor wars.
If we could see it would frighten us more.
Something wicked this way comes. It’s coming - It’s coming.
Something wicked this way comes. It’s coming - It’s coming.
Something wicked this way comes. It’s coming and it’s not too far away.
Never again say nevermore. The wicked thing that comes is war.
The promises made on a distant shore.
The war we said would end all wars.
When the next war came, it dwarfed the one before.
We know There will be no end to war.
The only one’s who’ve seen the end of war are the dead.
Only the foolish remain unaware that there’s another one up ahead.
Believe what you want but you can hear the hum.
The machinery of war that this way comes.
Something wicked this way comes. It’s coming - It’s coming.
Something wicked this way comes. It’s coming - It’s coming.
Something wicked this way comes. It’s coming and it’s not too far away.
Never again say nevermore. The wicked thing that comes is war.
Something wicked this way comes.
Play the fifes and beat the drums.
They’ll burn the mansions and level the slums,
When something wicked this way comes.
Something wicked this way comes.
Play the fifes and beat the drums.
They’ll burn the mansions and level the slums,
When something wicked this way comes.+
-
I don't want to get all political cos I don't know enough
so i'm not sure about all the facts of war
I do agree I don't think it will ever end there will always be something going on
same as starvation and poverty
there are to many greedy people in the world to ever balance it out
I knew I would get political
anyway I like this as a poem more than a lyric
it just seemed to read that way to me
I can imagine a big powerful voice booming this out
nice write my friend
be interesting to see where you go musically
tony...
-
I can't even begin to describe how absolutely incredible these lyrics are. The meaning, the power, and the rhythm of them all blend together to create an incredible set of lyrics equivalent to what I consider to be the greatest ever written. You are incredibly talented and I look up to you immensely.
-
Also, the Shakespeare quote is great, as I'm currently writing a song using a Shakespeare quote. Anyway, amazing work, and I look forward to more
-
You are incredibly talented and I look up to you immensely.
I am deeply honored that you think so and I thank you for saying so. I hope I've made it clear that I deeply respect your talent and lyrics also.
Sometime we ought to do something together.
-
Hi Verlon,
This is a good 'un. War is always a difficult subject to tackle. You have a novel approach in looking forward to the next one in this. A pre-emptive strike if you like!
We have had/are having the dress rehearsals in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Syria etc. Question is what is coming next? The 'big one' maybe!
Nice one,
Phil.
-
Got bored in my German GCSE exam so thought I would come review some lyrics instead.
I really love this one, I think it loses it's flow more towards the middle, as the verse structure changes and some lines are like little islands on their own, but I really loved this piece. Incredibly thought provoking and lyrically very good. I imagine some big repetitive war drum in the background, with this kind of epic anthem playing over the top. I think, overall though, you've tackled the subject of war in a very commercial way.
-
Peejay and Jess... thank you for the review.
Phil... yes those are indeed the "dress rehearsals" I'm referring to. And I hope it came through that I am FEARFULLY "looking forward."
It's my opinion that the most dangerous attitude possible is the "it can't happen" attitude.
-
Hi Verlon,
I think this is really good writing. On reading the title I was expecting circuses not war. I hear a slow death march for the verses and chaos for the chorus.
diadem
-
HTM - this is good, I love the topic, I could put music to this...this is very well written...I love the dress rehearsals reference..for minor wars...the shit they neve tell us or think we don't have a right to know...
Awesome effort....
Ant..
-
Like it, good work, what kind of music is it...?
-
HTM - this is good, I love the topic, I could put music to this...this is very well written...I love the dress rehearsals reference..for minor wars...the shit they neve tell us or think we don't have a right to know...
Awesome effort....
Ant..
I already have a musical idea for it, but if you wish to put music to it for your own use, you would be welcome to use the lyric and run with it. It surely wouldn't hurt to have two different versions of it. Feel free... and if you wish, I'll get you a release allowing you unlimited use of the lyric w/o fees or royalties. That's probably un-necessary, but I'd be happy to do it.
-
Like it, good work, what kind of music is it...?
Since e-50 productions is considering writing music for this, anything I say would contaminate his "fresh slate" as he looks at it.
If you'd like, give me an e-mail address via private message, and I'll send you the current state of the song that way.
-
Hi! I like its powerful message and I think you did an excellent job with it. Loved this! :) Well done!!
-
I've got to say my first thought when I saw te title was Harry Potter! Anyway, really good lyrics here HTM and they carry such a powerful meaning with them.
-
Hi Verlon,
if you don't mind I'd like to put your words to music as well. Not sure when as I'm busy but the words definitely struck a chord with me.
diadem
-
Hi Verlon,
if you don't mind I'd like to put your words to music as well. Not sure when as I'm busy but the words definitely struck a chord with me.
diadem
Absolutely -- go ahead. The more the merrier... and this could just get REALLY interesting.
-
Boo Boo and Nellie.... thank you so much for the feedback. It's good to hear from both of you btw... You guys must have been busy lately.
-
lol, it is "harry botter" remider.
but excellent job... :)
-
lol, it is "harry botter" remider.
but excellent job... :)
What is funny about the Harry Potter reference is that I'm probably the only one who won't "get it."
I'm sixty one years old, and haven't a CLUE about Harry Potter. It's all over MY head.
There was a book and a T.V. movie in the seventies or eighties with the title "Something Wicked This Way Comes." That is where my frame of reference to the phrase comes from... although I believe that Shakespeare originated the phrase. (or perhaps even Shakespeare just quoted it from an older source."
The Other classical reference is the "the only ones who have seen the end of war are the dead."
General Douglas McArthur used that line in a speech and attributed it to Pliny the Elder. But it turned out there is no record of Pliny the Elder ever having said it.
However, it was at least 100 years old by the time McArthur said it. References that old contained the phrase unattributed, but context indicated it was being quoted.
-
Hi Verlon,
I had some free time today and started mapping out the song structure and chord changes. I've hit a major problem with the middle section starting "We know There will be no end to war". I'm finding it difficult to find a chord sequence that scans properly with the words.
Before I start doing something really weird to fit the words into the song I wondered if I could rewrote them. If you like them and want them to stay, no problem, I'll just have to think of something else.
Thanks for listening,
diadem
-
Diademgrove: No problem at all. Feel free to do what it takes to make the lyric fit the music. I have collaborated (sometimes successfully) with people who don't ask before doing that, and I deeply appreciate that you were respectful enough to ask.
That you did respectfully ask makes me comfortable that you will treat my lyric with all the respect that you are able to while still finding a way to fit it to music.
I'm entirely comfortable with you making this fit.
-
Thanks Verlon,
I was brought up properly. If my mam and dad were still around they'd appreciate your comments.
Football's getting in the way a bit but I may start putting down a guide track at the weekend.
Thanks for saying yes.
diadem
-
Thanks Verlon,
I was brought up properly. If my mam and dad were still around they'd appreciate your comments.
Football's getting in the way a bit but I may start putting down a guide track at the weekend.
Thanks for saying yes.
diadem
Which kind of "football?" Spheroid ball, or round?
And is a "guide track" just a track with a recurring beat on it? I've not heard that term before.
-
love these lyrics verlon.
they flow very easily and i think they'll work very well with music..
actually when i read them i'm reminded of a song called "why we build the wall" by anais mitchell.. the way she wrote that song and how it worked musically was evoked in my mind when reading though.
anyway good job, really looking forward to hearing what the diadem does with this.
-
Thanks Verlon,
I was brought up properly. If my mam and dad were still around they'd appreciate your comments.
Football's getting in the way a bit but I may start putting down a guide track at the weekend.
Thanks for saying yes.
diadem
Which kind of "football?" Spheroid ball, or round?
And is a "guide track" just a track with a recurring beat on it? I've not heard that term before.
Soccer, and we lost.
A guide track will be me and an acoustic guitar to see if the structure works. It sounds ok at the minute but I really need to hear it a couple of days later to see if it's working. When I write my own stuff I mostly start with the music and then add the words.
-
What a great song, I can see why everyone wants to record it; fife & drums - love it. In fact the language you have used throughout is really excellent and the way they flow is spot on. Good work!
GTB
-
What a great song, I can see why everyone wants to record it; fife & drums - love it. In fact the language you have used throughout is really excellent and the way they flow is spot on. Good work!
GTB
Thank you. What's been fascinating to me is how little understanding I have of how my own songs will be perceived by others.
I have been surprised by some songs that were NOT well received.... and I'm actually shocked by how well this one HAS been received. It's why criticism is soooooooo important.
-
Thank you. What's been fascinating to me is how little understanding I have of how my own songs will be perceived by others.
I have been surprised by some songs that were NOT well received.... and I'm actually shocked by how well this one HAS been received. It's why criticism is soooooooo important.
[/quote]
I couldn't agree more. How many times have we heard artists say they had to be convinced that something would be their mega-hit song, then history gets made!
GTB
-
Thank you. What's been fascinating to me is how little understanding I have of how my own songs will be perceived by others.
I have been surprised by some songs that were NOT well received.... and I'm actually shocked by how well this one HAS been received. It's why criticism is soooooooo important.
I couldn't agree more. How many times have we heard artists say they had to be convinced that something would be their mega-hit song, then history gets made!
GTB
[/quote]
So, so true. And equally important is that if we have a "dog that won't hunt" we are aware of it's deficiencies and don't take it hunting.
It's absolutely vital to concentrate energy and time on the songs that DO reach people instead of wasting time on songs that do not.
-
I literally don't know what to say about this song, you could almost say I'm speechless
It's so flawlessly written and somehow I have it stuck in my head lol
This song is one of the main reasons I like this forum, not only to share my own lyrics but to read masterpieces such as this... great job you nailed it!!
-
Hi Verlon
My friend Your lyrics are awesome & Its great how different people on this forum have
strengths in different things Your strength is in this piece I agree its powerful & thought provoking.
Bravo My friend Stylus :)
-
Thanks to both of you Scarff and Raj.
I've been extremely grateful for all the postive feedback on this lyric. And so much of the positive feedback is coming from people whose opinions are particularly meaningful to me because I so respect their work.
The two of you fit into that category.