Songcrafters.org

This is the newspaper article on this tragedy.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/30/nyregion/30walmart.html?_r=1

Thanks to Drumbum for your patience in laying down such an awesome drum track.
Donna, thanks for the advice, suggestions and support.


Donna sez: Some of you may remember the November 2008 incident when a young man, Jdimytai "Jimbo" Damour, was trampled to death by frenzied shoppers in an early-morning "Black Friday" sale at a Wal-Mart in Long Island. No one - including Wal-Mart, which had cut costs on security and building safety - was ever held responsible.

I never thought the lyric would become a song. At least not until Ken pounced on it, and drumbum followed suit.    Thank you both! Great job! 


Biggest Sale in Town

[Narrated intro:When a reporter asked Mahatma Gandhi what he thought of Western civilisation, he replied:
"I think it would be a very good idea."]

(v1)
Jimbo's first work day
At the Green Acres Mall
Valley Stream's finest
Bargains waiting for all
Two thousand people gathered
For "gifts worth waking for"
A 5 am opening
For discounts galore               

Pre-chorus
Raise the flag for greed and profit
Top-brand widescreen
Fifty percent off it

Chorus
Must have felt like Armageddon
When their boots smashed in his face
The horde in a frenzy
Trying to be the first in place

(v2)
[The] metal doorframe buckled
The herd stampeded through
No Security to stop them
Nothing anyone could do
A temporary worker
Now he's permanently gone
Tried to earn an honest dollar
That he's never bringing home

Pre-chorus
Raise the flag for greed and profit
A six-piece luggage set
Seventy percent off it

Chorus
Must have felt like Armageddon
When their boots smashed in his face
[The] horde in a frenzy
Trying to be the first in place

Instrumental

Bridge
Wasn't just the crowd
The venue was at fault
Penny-pinched on Crowd Control
With billions in the vault
Nearly happened twice before
The bosses paid no heed
No one held accountable
For the senseless tragedy

Chorus
Must have felt like Armageddon
When their boots smashed in his face
The horde in a frenzy
Trying to be the first in place
Did Jimbo feel his lungs collapse
As the heels hammered down
Nailed him to the bargain floor
At the biggest Sale in town

Instrumental
Epilogue/Outro
[Voices shouting in the background.][*In an online video, people could be seen crowded against the plate-glass window, watching the medical team and jostling to get a better view.]
Someone grab a coffee, pass me a 'burger
Hell, this is better than reality TV
I've gotta watch this
It's really something...

© 2008-2010 Donna Devine
see drumbums post below for song

This song is so powerful !!! Both in the message and in the performance  !!!

Really a fabolous collab that's reached an even higher level now with real drums on it. Really great drums there drumbum  !!

Hey Donna I new there was a punk hiding inside of you. Love those lyrics ! a great post !

HOLY SHIT...sorry for swearing but holy shit man this is heavy.  Drumbum's real drums sound very good, great groove.  Music is fantastic and the vocals are insane, just so good.  Over the top in exactly the way they need to be.  This song is over the top, and so is the subject matter, it all ties together into a monster.  Fantastic lyrics from Donna brought to life.  I flipping love it.

this should be on sale in asda (uk retailer owned by wal-mart) braw tell yer maw

These collaborations are reaching a very high level of quality! The story is revolting, not only because a man has died, but because he died in such a stupid way! Scary!

This copy should have a better volume level. Still working my mixing skills.

I really like these additions, drumbum.

I've listened to all the iterations of this song now. If I can be a teensy bit critical... Can I? I think the Gandhi bit at the beginning--although a great quote--begins the song with too heavy a hand. It serves as a didactic warning bell, and I brace myself for a social critique rather than being surprised by it. The song takes deadly aim at Western consumerism without that bit.

That was tactful, wasn't it?

I like that beginning actually..Makes you think then starts rockin!! NICE!!

So after reading the article on a senseless death because people like to shop. I`d have to say this is one hell of a collab..Great wurds Donna and Drumbum pulls through again with them drums. Have you ever had your drums stolen from you while you play DB? https://songcrafters.org/community/index.php?topic=9302.msg125379;topicseen#new (https://songcrafters.org/forum/index.php?topic=9302.msg125379;topicseen#new)

And Ken..I`ve been listening and rocking out to your tunes today on my Mp3. Heard shit i haven`t heard before. Just awesome. I like your panning and producing skills. Great work on this too.

QuoteMy wife heard the song a couple weeks ago and said I dont suit serious sings and that I should stick to comedy if i'm going to sing a song! lol

P.S Your wife is wrong. You can do anything. In fact if i ever write a serious tune. You`ll be singing it for me! Or maybe I`ll think of another gross one for you to sing for comedyfest. How bout an STD song??;D

Peace!!

A kick-ass rocker! Very Well done.

 Have you ever had your drums stolen from you while you play DB?

Not that I can recall, G is there something I am unaware of!!??  lol...

loved it to death!
Briiliant lyrics again
so well sung and played
I'm becoming a fan
More Guys please

Thank you, Everyone, for listening and for your comments.  :)  I was thrilled to have this one brought to life. Ken and Drumbum did an excellent job with a distressing topic.

Ken, don't you dare doubt your vocal skills!  I'd heard you sing on other songs (plus on the initial demo), and knew you'd do a great job.   ;)

Your vocals add a kind of frenzied freshness and rawness that complement the story.  In all other respects, listen to your wife of course, but not when it's about your singing.   ;) :D

(I really like that change-up into the chorus as well.  ;) )

Donna

I had to download the original post and amplify it in audacity so I could make it out properly. I need all the volume I can get.

The song.. Powerful sentiment, and excellent material for a song. Ken you really did a bang up job with your parts on this, the vocal delivery was fantastic to my ears. Drumbum, you never fail to lay down great tracks.

Great lyrics Donna. 

Quote from: drumbum on November 19, 2010, 07:09:41 AMHave you ever had your drums stolen from you while you play DB?

Not that I can recall, G is there something I am unaware of!!??  lol...

Ahhh...foget about it!! Just around with the thread where i posted before

...Your drums aren`t a joke...Great job!! ;D

Great punky collab, those drums are great and so are the vox and the lyrics are so cool to, this is a great listen, just a little more volume please.

Thanks, folks.  :)  Ken and DB, a couple of kudos have trickled in from elsewhere.  ;)

Donna
-------------------
When I first read the great lyric, I was hearing a 'dark' vibe music to it, something like PODs "Youth of The Nation".
But I must say that the rock'n'roll-esque arrangement works well - the sombre theme sung with a cheerful 'fixed' grin feeling provides an unexpected twist and a strong contrast. Something which the Who have done quite often.
Good performances too - high on energy and sincerity. Well done all!  Andy
-------------------
Well done! Some things need to be said.  Paul
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Nice tune! I like your lyrics, Donna. Like Andy, I thought the music would have a darker feel, but the arrangement here is splendid. Well done.  Roger

This really ROCKS!! Just a stunning rock tune!! Fine lyrics, as well!!

Kari

Its a world wide hit...

Hi Donna where else is this tune being plugged?

Kari and BB, thank you.  :)

Ken and Drumbum, thought you'd like to see these comments (below) from folks at SongRamp.

Donna

-----------------
Great song. Love the beginning. I am well versed in Punk ska type songs and this one fits the bill. Great job.  James
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Very cool song, with a very big production sound.  Jerry
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Very angry vocal, fits the incident well. I think Jon Hanson will like this. Rocking tune Donna with some graphic lyrics to get the point across. Good solid write. Some people you just need to hit them with a 2X4 to get the point across. Michael
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The song is tremendous and has a great impact both lyrically and musically! I too felt stricken at the events that took place and this song really captured the emotions of that horrific scene.  Rusty
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Another really great write, Donna, and I'm so glad to see that someone (you!!) took this on. The angry vocals and pounding production do the words justice, and seem as if they were written together, they work so perfectly to get the point driven home. Excellent, and perfect timing for posting!!  Sheila

Thats some comments coming from that site of yours Donna.  I checked it out, thats like a professional songwriting site.  Ken is getting rave reviews from the pros for his music and fantastic vocals.  He may get a phone call soon from some big producer wanting him to take a trip down to LA.  As for you lyrics, you deserve all the praise you are getting here Donna, you really got inside this story and brought it to life.  You are a very good lyricist.  You two should be darn proud of this rocker you have cooked up.  It could be a huge radio hit without a doubt.

Thanks, BB.  :)  SongRamp is a lovely site, especially to 'showcase' songs and to get encouraging feedback. Very motivating.  ;)  (People there will only critique a song if they're asked to.)

I believe, though, that most  SongRamp members - many of them indeed long-time songwriters/musicians (plus a couple of professionals) - are largely 'hobbyists', like the bulk of us here.  ;)

Nevertheless, this doesn't take away from the fact that Ken did a great job with the music and vocals.  :)

Donna

My approach to the music here is like riding an existing wave. In this case Donna and Ken created that. I was not able to do a justice until the lyrics were in place. Now I can create around the emotions of the song. And I try hard to let the song breath especially because I am adding my work to someone Else's creation.

Because of the talent and generosity at this site , I am able to create, improve and most important be a part of some amazing stuff here.   Be well....DB

It was a perfect example of the sum being greater than all the parts added together, er, something like that...I love the smell of inspiration in the morning.

Bluesberry, inspiration at my home usually is smelled when I get near the cat litter box.
I am motivated to take it out, irregardless of the tornado, monsoon, tidal wave and vicious flesh-eating squirrel raging outside the door.

Playing my guitars is my reward.

You expressed it well, BB.  :)

SD, I love how inspiration can come from anywhere.  The type of motivation you described can sometimes apply to a lyric/song as well. ;)

And Drumbum and Ken, another kudo for you.  ;)
"So Donna, how did you get "Rush" to do your song for you?  rittmo' "

Donna

Taken a while to get to this, but glad I did. Really enjoyed this, right up my alley. The drums sound great and the music and lyrics work very well together. Excellent lyrics and material, I love the intro and the powerful feel which really gets the content across well. This is definitely a case where the whole is greater than the sum of the parts, fantastic collab.

Regards,

Nigel

Quote from: Ferryman on December 03, 2010, 02:07:46 AMThis is definitely a case where the whole is greater than the sum of the parts, fantastic collab.

Oh yeah, that the phrase I was searching for all those days ago...I agree with Nigel here.

Love the PUNK energy!!!
I listened to the Louder Version.
Great JOB Guys!!!
Jim from Jersey