| This
is Only a Test was coughed up onto the computer and was one
of the first songs we wrote for the project. When I switched from guitar
to bass, it was the song I would test different basses - I think it has
7 notes in the song! There are references to my dogs in this o version
which are pretty accurate. Also something about a lady named "Mary"
with cats. - not sure where that came from, but whatever works in a pinch.
Of course, I couldn't resist an immitation of Ladysmith Black Mombazo
toward the end. J.J. and Jeff sing the "ooda booga" part on
the studio version. Some rejected ideas below (with other alternates in
paretheses).
Walter put quotations
Each and everywhere
I had to slug him
When he hung them in the air
Heavy on the credit
And light on the dough
Bill skippers step lively
always on the go
How much cocktail patter
Can you endure
Watch out for the ambassador
The dramatic blur
( Draped in fur)
I request an audience
so drunk they can’t dance
Happy just to bounce around
And possibly clap
( Sing a line and maybe clap)
Dim witty banter
from up on the stage
The crowd plays canned laughter
and it sounds (about) the same
No
Sale (Piggy) is a favorite. Here's an acoustic demo with kooked-out
harmonies. Here's
the rough idea it came from.
I wasn't used to writing melodies for songs like this, so it took me getting
my mind off it for it to come together. I think I made it up while cutting
the lawn or something. J.J. helped rearrange it into its final form.
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Goodnight
was written when J.J and I were playing reggae in The Uprooters around
'03. I wasn't sure what the song was about, so it goes here and there
and back. Here're a few more places I was thinking about - they seemed
overly serious or preachy or maybe they were trying too hard, so they
got the boot!
Barefeet walk the street by day
kiss her, mister
Barefeet walk the street by day
kiss her, mister
What’s it like to dream?
Is it as real as it seems?
Tender flesh waiting for you
Wide eyes, white lies
Tender flesh packaged to view
Wide eyes, white lies
Hey, never say her name.
Hey, around an open flame.
Everyone is still asleep
Distrupt, wake up.
Everyone is still asleep
Distrupt, wake up.
Hey, coworkers at the curb
Hey, the carpool of the absurd.
Hey, I wanna get to you.
Hey, are you gonna let me through?
Galactic
Suckerpunch has several vocal tracks going at once. We used some of
the words that you hear, but it descends into mush in a couple places.
Here're some lyric scraps that got stuck on the launchpad:
Levitating mistress seems familiar
We got clobbered in broad daylight
bullhorns blare out little whispers
and sirens wailing that I kissed her.
Panoramic laughter sci-fi picture
Inorganic matter found in the mixture
Highway pylons make the girl go ‘round
Dug up a quasar(some nylons)in the lost and found.
incoming daughter and everyone takes flight
It’s too sunny to make more than than a shape
giant pot o’ gold or a deflated ape.
Just a squabble, then a shot
in the alley, behind the coffee shop
Broke a bottle Five in the chops
(Bombastic imploding jackets, Ballistic Miss Liz attacks us)
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