Yesterday's video had a theme based on a campaign slogan used by Troy Jackson in the USA. It was:
We are from the bottom, and we are rising.
Yesterday evening I received an email from one of the regular commentators on this site, Simon Slade. He said:
Hi Richard
As a long-standing amateur guitar player and a bit of a composer, I was inspired a week or so ago to write a reggae protest song using a combination of my own work and AI. Yes, even at the age of 74. It was pretty much there but for a few of the final lyrics that I wasn't quite happy with. However, watching your video this morning gave me the few lines I was looking for!
Obviously I've no idea what your or Jacqueline's, or your boys' taste in music is, but I suspect, like mine, it's very wide. I hope you enjoy it. Obviously best played loud through a good sound system!
Kind regards
Simon
I listened to the song, and really like it.
Jacqueline and I had, in fact, just been listening to Baroque songs for lute and a single voice by Thomas Dunford and Lea Desandre (both amazing musicians) and then embraced this song with enthusiasm.
So, without further ado, give this a listen:
These are the lyrics:
Why are we still counting every coin
While the Man in Parliament still pretends it's fine
Food up, rent gone up, not even the plate is mine
Same cheap food, unpaid bills, same old tricks? NOT THIS TIME
Rise up, rise up now
Hands together, no backin' down
They use all their lies against us
We are at the bottom, we are rising now
Come hear the drum in the shelter, come hear the people hum
No more bending for the few while the many bite their tongue
From the food-bank to the back gate, we are sick of your pill
We want decent food and equality, not the lies from your hill
Rise up, rise up now
Hands together, no backin' down
They use all their lies against us
We are at the bottom, we are rising now
We are not born for the waiting room, not born to stay polite
When the hungry see the ledger, they can read the numbers right
So sing it low, then sing it loud, let this whole land know the plan
When greed feed on suffering, then the people make a stand
Rise up, rise up now
Hands together, no backin' down
They use all their lies against us
We are at the bottom, we are rising now
No more lies, no more divide
Everyone needs, can offer to provide
Just some care with a steady hand
Feel the change, coming to this land
Rise up, rise up now
Hands together, no backin' down
They use all their lies against us
We are at the bottom, we are rising now
And might I ask one favour? Please do not spend the day posting comments on the curse of AI. I have heard them all. It is a reality. Unless you can prove you railed against Dylan and his use of an electric guitar (and if so, why?) I am not interested, not least because I need a hassle-free day.
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As you mentioned Baroque lute, I was going to mention some time ago the 13-century Spanish Cantiga de Santa Maria 173, with words and music often played on a gittern, in which a man suffering with a kidney stone prays to the Virgin Mary, goes to sleep, and miraculously wakes with a stone the size of a chestnut in his hand.
It is a malady that humans have dealt with for millennia – the Egyptians wrote about it around 1500 BC. A more modern treatment seems to have worked for you. I hope you are going well so this is the end of it.
Thank you
I seem to be well now
Brilliant! That song has legs. It could be an FFT theme tune.
I agree…
Wow, that has laid down the gauntlet. Did Mark Knopfler guest on lead guitar? All I still have is some chords and a first stanza of the lyrics.
🙂
I think it is very good
Guitar work is mine but, shall we say, ‘enhanced’ by AI
Mine’s more rock and roll I think, sort of Bruce Springsteen-ish…………..I hope! Need to learn how to use the tech! Thanks Simon.
Amateur guitar player? I thought I was one of those until I heard your playing. Great song, but the guitar work is outstanding.
Can I just say that AI will find its place just as the wheel machine tools and the smartphone have.
Agreed
I would love to hear this played live!
No chance Anne. Not by me anyway. I’m not that good. Maybe some actual proper musicians could reverse engineer it though!
This is splendid! Simon, have you sent it to any radical singers or groups or choirs? It needs to be out there, and to be sung at this year’s folk festivals!
I wouldn’t know to whom or how to be honest. I just created it as a bit of fun really, as I just had a shot of inspiration. However, if anyone on here knows, then I’d be very happy to provide the original mp3 or high quality wav file. Also available now as Ska and Bluebeat – it’s my age! Could, with a bit of time, possibly make a country version as well! Amazing what’s possible with AI.
As it’s already been mentioned perhaps I should also say I’d also be happy for it to be used as the FTF theme tune if Richard wants.
Obviously if it’s monetised I’d like to know as it is now published on Suno
‘Why are we counting every coin’
Nice one Simon, a great choice of word. I am sure the better off don’t count coins. And also a metaphor for the niggardly politicians who pretend there is no money.
“Rising,” in the traditional materialistic sense, is not possible anymore … All the easily recoverable materials and energy has been mined and extracted. In the aggregate, young people today are experiencing the effects of the rise in the “energy cost of energy” (a phenomenon which affects materials, too). There is no “solution” to the ERoEI problem. (“Renewable” energy sources are anything but.)
Besides, young people today are not interested in participation in the destructive economic pattern of the past. They see what it has done to our Earth. Jackson, the logger, thinks in terms of “rising.” Young people see him as the destroyer of the forest.
So what do you think is going to happen?
Your nihilism is not appealing.
And young people are proving they can rise – and are, around the world.
Hi Richard.
I liked the song. Your last comment did cause me to smile though…
You see, I >was< at the Forest Hill Stadium in NYC in 1965 when Bob Dylan first brought out his electric guitar. As ‘diehard’ fan, I wasn’t pleased – I >did< boo, in fact. But I soon embraced his new ‘sound’ as he evolved it – alone and along with The Band from Big Pink. Innocent times.
I am amused…..
It’s brilliant! I have shared it on social media. Just what we need, something that would go far and wide to spread the word!
Nice work Simon. I was going to ask how much AI there was in there but you’ve dealt with that. I have a nice music room here in Tasmania equipped with drums, piano, guitars, bass, saxophones etc. but cannot play any of them to the level required for a work like this, so would have to make some use of AI myself.
Bill Mitchell plays bass in a dub band, maybe he’d like to add this to his repertoire?
I love the musicality of this song and its sentiment.
This sentiment echoes what many feel in this country
Utterly outstanding. The guitar tone, the uplifting melody, perfect lead breaks, the chord progression, the lovely bridge, the two fine vocals, and a neat, sweet outro. Would love to hear a country version also. (I’m a lifelong rudimentary musician, but I can recognise quality when I hear it).