Hi all - a great pleasure to introduce a collaboration with the talented PaulAds, with contributions from the elegant Pompeyjazz.
Paul and I had discussed various collaboration ideas for a while, but when he sent me this tune and riff I was knocked out and everything followed easily from that.
The lyrics are mostly inspired by Sarfraz Manzoor's book 'Greetings from Bury Park' (now of course a film - Blinded by the Light, which I actually haven't seen yet). My parents weren't immigrants, and we never had anyone urinate through our letterbox, but the story feels quite universal (though I'm from Luton so for me the effect may be a little heightened by nostalgia). "A life far from Luton and its limitations" (from the book) already has a great sound to it.
Great fun to collaborate with talented people who can do things I can't and have ideas I wouldn't (and who show me how to work fast!)
Melody and all instruments: PaulAds
Backing vocals: Pompeyjazz
Production / mixing / mastering: PaulAds
Lyrics and lead vocal: Adam
Specific and constructive comments welcome as ever.
ANIMALS
V1
Whatever their hands could make, our parents gave us
But I'm here in a strange town surrounded by racists
I want to make changes for my generation
A life far from this place and its limitations
PRE1
My family tells me I’m still a cat
But only dogs can get on in this town
So in public I just need to bark
But fitting in feels like letting them down
CH
You act like Animals - pissing through our letterbox
You call us Animals - praying to a different god
You act like Animals - trash our hopes of betterment
You call us Animals - all we wanted was just to live and to let live
V2
My father learned English, to run to a new town
My mother worked all night, to get on the airplane
I'm learning new tricks, to get out of Luton
I’m doing uni, to move up the food chain
PRE2
I see bull-dogs passing through our streets
I seek refuge with the other dog-cats
Plenty in common, we're never relaxed
With three lions ruling our habitat
CH
FINALE
My father learned English, to run to a new town
My mother worked all night, to get on the airplane
I want to make changes for my generation
A life far from this place and its limitations
Repeat CH
(c) 2019, Paul Adamson / Adam Farr, all rights reserved