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A Child's Thanks
by DWL

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Submitted on: Mar 09, 2008 - 08:47:18 AM
Last Updated:
Keywords apocalypse (11)global warming (7)selfish people (1)fat cats (1)green taxes (1)CO2 (3)
Description When I was with TUT in the late 90s we wrote what we called our "eco-anthem" Our Children Will Thank Us http://soundclick.com/share?songid=5094776

I thought it was about time that with the current state of the environment the child did thank us. Graeme Hobbs and I started the lyrics some time ago but never got past one verse.

I've had a hell of a time mixing this and am still less than happy but maybe I can get some ideas from you guys.

Listening to "Children" makes you realise what a difference a real band makes (especially the drummer!). A proper studio with proper mastering also helps :)

I'm not exactly a singer so excuse the rather dodgy harmonies and there are some less than spot on rhythm work but each time I did it it got worse so I went with the first take.

Quite a difference to Stay, just to show I can still rock a bit :-)

It's said that after a nuclear holocaust the only living things would be the insects with cockroaches and ants being the best able to adapt. I'm guessing that in some future climate ruined world that'll still apply

Cheers

Dick
Lyrics A Child's Thanks © Hobbs/Langford

Take me to a time 'fore the monuments crumbled
power and money just drift away

Take me to a time when the world seemed to stumble
no-one left out there to play

Take me to a time when we sit back and wonder
How did it happen, when did it start?

Take me to a time of the cockroach king's thunder
That brings us together yet tears us apart

It's not easy looking back now it's so difficult to see
All the things you could have done and what you might have done for me
My father's father's father said there were people who would say
That it used to snow in winter and then blossom out in may,

I don't believe them

You were waiting for the revolution that was never going to come
You were always much too busy looking after number one
People getting desperate and you knew there was no escape
Just went and f***ed your conscience 'cos you'd be dead anyway

It didn't matter

So it was headlong to oblivion with the pedal to the floor
You had everything you needed and so why did you need more?
Your children wouldn't thank you, wouldn't listen to their pleas
The party wouldn't end before you were ready to leave

Ready to leave

And every village had a story, every town they had a tale
And the cities had so many words that they were up for sale
But with no-one left to buy them they were scattered to the winds
And history was a lost lament on leaden violins

I can't hear them

Now I know we can never meet but who am I to blame
Knowing all the future generations were the same
Just Put off doing something 'cos the problem will keep
But you never seemed to realise the cockroach king can't sleep

Hardware K Yairi acoustic, Strat & Boss GT8, Ibanez bass
Software: Garageband
Fan List

echoroom

apb

Rebsie

Vic Holman

dajama

peacepiano

Feter

jiguma

saymme

Mcboy

blaky smith

Epileptic Gibbon

magnatone

guitapick

lengold

dirigent

Doug Somers

woofer3
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echoroom said 268 days ago
Firsties!
And bloody hell this is good. The vocal intro really reminds me of Shriekback/ The The. Then the electric starts and you pull it back - excellent. The mix sounds feckin excellent to me Dick - the only thing I' m not keen on is the synth, which sounds a bit 80s.

This is really epic - lots of strong melodies, but a lot of clever stops and changes - bloody excellent ... and that ending (all of them!!!)

Rock on!

DWL said 268 days ago
I'm a sucker
for cheesy synths Steve :-) (Motorcycle Girl anyone?)

I couldn't resist beefing up the bass part with a bit of retro stuff! Maybe there should some parental controls on me.....

Many thanks for the comments!

Cheers

Dick



apb said 268 days ago
Awesome .. and secondies!!!

.. I could hear Chumbawumba doing this .. you rawk! (I never doubted you could to be honest) :o)

I like the mix overall: perhaps the lead guitar comes in a tad hot at 03:30 (more because of the lack of backing I think ..seems fine after everything is back in shortly after).

Eco-angry-groove... I love a bit of that and I thought the lyrics were excellent too, lots of fine ideas and analogies/metaphors.

DWL said 268 days ago
Thanks Alan
nice comments from a man who knows how to wield his axe ;-)

Always liked Chumbawumba. So determinedly unfashionable but they did what they wanted.

Cheers

Dick

DWL said 268 days ago
Yes you're right
that guitar is a tad hot. Damn this site not allowing an update to be posted......



Rebsie said 268 days ago
GUITAR GOD!!
Bloody proud of you, I am.

DWL said 268 days ago
Aw shucks....
turns away with a sheepish grin......

Thanks for your support

Cheers

Dick

Vic Holman said 268 days ago
excellent
sounds REALLY good to me!!!
Outstanding song Dick. I really like how there are so many twist and turns.

Kinda gives the impression of a Who-like mini opera.

the lead guitar is a bit hot though as Alan mentioned, other wise this knocked my socks off.

DWL said 268 days ago
Too hot!
Yeah, dunno what I how I missed it. Can't see the wood for the trees sometimes (then again that may not be a problem in the future ;-) )

It wasn't really intended as a mini opera but it just sort of worked out like that.

Thanks.

Cheers

Dick


sloparts said 268 days ago
A little tough love here Dick
Makes the point pretty well about the world going to hell in a hand basket, and no one doing anything about it.

Nice bit of work here Dick. Love the story and the way you tell it. I just hope it's not a predestined history lesson.

Kudos on the subject matter and the way you tackled it. Excellent piece overall.

Ed

DWL said 268 days ago
Tough love indeed
The issue as I see it is, that despite all the evidence no-one is prepared to make the hard decisions about cars/planes/energy usage as "it's not that bad is it?" and "they'll sort out a way of dealing with it in the future".

Not an issue for us but I'm not sure our childrens' childrens' children will be thanking us.

Thanks for stopping by Ed. Much appreciated.

Cheers

Dick

dajama said 268 days ago
This is very cool
I love the guitar on this - very impressive. Melodic and with a great sound. Great rocking track, filled with excellent lyrics that make the point with ferocious clarity and wit and appropriate outrage. Nicely done. Peace.

DWL said 268 days ago
Thanks
A pity the guitar was a bit unbalanced (although thinking about my mental state ....)

Much appreciated

Cheers

Dick

peacepiano said 268 days ago
Rockin'
Hey this is a really rocking song. Love the vocal opening and the guitar leads.

Thanks
Bill

DWL said 268 days ago
Hello Bill
no idea where those vocals came from but I'm pleased you enjoyed it :-)

Cheers

Dick

Feter said 268 days ago
A Child's Thanks
this is a powerful rockin my friend ...I m sure
this wuld sound loud and hot at stage .great
singing .all just Rockin .ROCK ON !!

DWL said 267 days ago
Thanks Feter
Ever dependable! I appreciate you stopping by and listening.

Cheers

Dick

paul f. page said 268 days ago
Dick...
...Wow. That opening a cappella is awesome. In my opinion, you are unequaled in the orchestration/arrangement of this type of song. I am not sufficiently knowledgeable about this style, so take my comments with a grain of salt. My only crit is that I think the band should be brought up front a little more. It sounds a bit at a distance to my ears...I love your vocals: raucous, in-your-face, powerful, and full of instance. This is such a powerful song that is beautifully performed. Yeh...you get the band out front finally!!! nice...Now I'm thoroughly engaged. Man. Who's playing all that? YOU are faboulous. (The tag at the end is a perfect denument.)
I'm so impressed with this.
Peace.
Paul

DWL said 267 days ago
Blimey thanks Paul!
The mix is a little weird as there was too much going on and I struggled with the balance. I'm basically a folk rock musician. Years of playing jigs and so forth and doing stops and starts to confuse the dancers ;-)

On this track it all me, sloppy guitar, sloppy bass and a selection of modified drum loops

Thanks for the comments on my singing. Passionate if not always in tune!

Much appreciated Paul.

Cheers

Dick

jiguma said 268 days ago
Good stuff!
Lots of changes - someone mentioned the Who - the Who meets Floyd and Fairport with your vocal accent perhaps ;)

Really interesting song and arrangement - no chance of getting bored here Dick. The guitar is a bit hot, but it's really only a brief hotness, and it certainly makes a person take notice :)

well done.
Neil

DWL said 267 days ago
Thanks Neil
Nice comparisons. I'll go with them. I had no idea how to arrange this and even a couple of days before posting I was still playing with the song.

Cheers

Dick

Mcboy said 267 days ago
still relevant
as always will be in modern times....the band is cooking to a nice boil.....wicked lead there my friend..biting tone and hard hitting.....i like it.....!

DWL said 267 days ago
Political songs
were my stock in trade with Tricks Upon Travellers. I must try and write more.

Thanks for the comments.

Cheers

Dick

Epileptic Gibbon said 267 days ago
It's not easy being green
Almost like Renaissance or Gentle Giant at the beginning. I wasn't expecting that or what it turned into, which is kind-of Who like, as others have suggested. But that final guitar freak-out would have been a much for those Who boys, I reckon. Cool! Was any fossil fuel burnt in the making of this track? I hope the carbon footprint of this track was especially low.

DWL said 267 days ago
I left the light on all night
:-O

Thanks Ian. I'd forgotten all about Gentle Giant. They were really quite strange so I like that comparison :-)

Cheers

Dick



Epileptic Gibbon said 266 days ago
Gentle Giant
Awesome band! And I hear you went to see The Grandmothers recently? I saw them in Southampton about ten years ago and it was one of the best gigs of my life. It's a shame they weren't performing anywhere closer to Cheltenham.

DWL said 264 days ago
The Grannies
were superb. Frighteningly tight but I what I liked the most is that they were wonderfully self-deprecating and just enjoying themselves :-)



Epileptic Gibbon said 262 days ago
The Grannies
Yes, that's one of the things that struck me when I went to see them too. Very down-to-earth and genuinely there for the joys of playing to an audience wanting to hear the music that they clearly loved playing.

said 267 days ago
Heh
This is awesome, I like that hard rock fork in the road you have taken lately in your posts it fits like a glove to my ears, very creative and original this is, that solo is KILLER
cheers!

DWL said 266 days ago
Still a rocker a heart
even though if these days the rocker is is going to have some comfy cushions and little table next to it with a glass or two of wine :-)

Thanks Tom, praise from you is most welcome.

Cheers

Dick


magnatone said 266 days ago
A Child's Thanks
Wow - what sensational guitar work. I absolutely LOVE this song, the changes, turns in the road - how you keep it moving in such interesting ways. This is a total keeper - I need to listen to more of your music RIGHT NOW! Thanks

DWL said 262 days ago
Thanks
I really appreciate the comments!

Cheers

Dick

guitapick said 265 days ago
~
Whew...that's intense...great lead at the end, too...cool panning...kudos, Dick.

DWL said 262 days ago
Intensity
was my thing once. I'm getting better now and only do it now and again :-)

Thanks for listening.

Cheers

Dick

lengold said 262 days ago
Absolutely fantastic
song Dick - brilliant in every aspect. Downloaded. Thanks.
Cheers
Len



DWL said 257 days ago
Thanks Len
I'm pleased you enjoyed it and it doesn't break the ipod (or whatever)

Cheers

Dick

said 259 days ago
well
a folk rock song that makes a statement? i would not have thunk it... this one has been arranged perfectly. i liked the accent, and wished it could have been a little more Mr. Lydon...this could have made a great punk song as well. cheers!
Allen

dirigent said 254 days ago
wow
wow - great vocal intro with atmosphere and drive :-) powerful song, amazing guitars, oustanding vocals, gorgeous! enjoyed ...

said 251 days ago
Proper Cool Rocker
Nice rocker, a well thought progression of changes and pauses, you kept it flowing and going all the way. Nice done all around.

. - Harold

Doug Somers said 241 days ago
There's no ducking responsibility
when this tune is leveled at us. Insistent, on target, musically creative, and bloody well performed. The segments that break up this piece and the wailing guitar solos are perfect.

Always a pleasure to hear your work Dick!

Cheers,
Doug

saymme said 235 days ago
You ROCK!!!!
This is just AWESOME!! LOVE IT wow...dont know if its 'Folkrock' seems like ROCK to me ! DL FAVED!tx

woofer3 said 227 days ago
excellent and interesting
track with lots of unusual places.Enjoyed it very much.

John

Artist Profile
DWL photo
DWL

Artist Bio Been playing guitar for longer than I care to remember (or so said the witch) Never very interested in music at school (what would I have done with a good teacher?) so it was surprise to find I had a little talent. My latest project is a rock opera "...[more]
Artist Music
Dimwitted with Paul F Page and Rebsie
The Sausage Factory of Fame
My cephalopod, my love (open mic)
Urban Warfare - not easy listening
Abducted by Aliens (GOOC)
Boiled Sweets (MJ coffee) with Rebsie
No Money Blues
Zoom Bang Bang (CBGB) with Sir Dennis Crowther & Rebsie
Browning's Blues (House of Blues)
A Child's Thanks
Stay (with Rebsie)
The Real United Nations (with Paddler)
Flesh is Weak (with Rebsie)
Brown Bread (with Rebsie on harp)
You Lied (LSP)
Without Company (but with Rebsie!)
Monsters (w Rebsie)
A Beginning
I had to marry you (with Rebsie and a cast of MJers)
Motorcycle Girl
Henry The Talking Penis
Betrayed - analogapalooza
Stick
Minstrel Boy (with Rebsie)
The Seduction of Corruprtion
Stay
Sarah
Homeschool
Nobody Loves You When You're Old
Interlude
Vote For Me
It's A Rotten Job
Well Fair State
Bitter Season
Reindeer Rock
Lottery of Life
As She Is
Muddy Fields
The Bait
Overture 1
Boiled Sweets