'King of Favors' original by Ted

[Ted]

King of Favors
©1989, 2013 Ted Johnson

Ted: All instruments
Recorded on Garageband except bass and vocals recorded on Micro BR

You prey on sentimental fools. You are a parasite.
You're not the friend they knew in school, but you look just like him
So they stick their necks out for you, into a guillotine.
You're hooked on charity like it was morphine.
The loans that you forgot. The flaky acts forgiven.
The rooms when you were homeless. Do I have to list them?
You've reached your angle of reproach. Is this your victory.
You never got a cent from me, but you got the best of me.

And so I crown you the King of Favors.
You've given me a bitter taste in 31 flavors.
Pass the hat around, the king has spoken.
You've been given so many breaks. Why aren't you broken?

So you're the orphan of luck; circumstance's victim?
Do I look like such a schmuck? This is a barter system.
So if you want your supper, you better learn to sing,
'Cause I won't kiss your ring, your ass, or anything.
You've thrown so much away at the first sign of resistance.
The state you're in today came at your insistence.
Before you say I have no heart at all.
I'll give you one donation: This is your wake up call.

Check out the version with a slightly faster tempo.



This is a new demo of a 20+ year-old song. It used to have a faster tempo, a saxophone, and an African/Disco rhythm. I performed it with my band Jumping Genes.

It's kind of a "Fuck You" song written about someone I know who has gotten his life together since the song was written. Now the same person wants to sing this song, so I created this new arrangement. Life is weird.

[Geir]

A finally a new TedSong !!!

And a fine one it is ! Excellent guitarwork ! And that bass is just perfect.

oh and that brassy outro is fab !

I had some problem getting all the words tho, could you post the lyrics please?

[Greeny]

Very fine indeed. Superb melodies all over the place (it doesn't let up once!), and such a great arrangement. Love the distorted vocal part. Love all of it actually. Damn cool.

[Oldrottenhead]

braw tell yer maw. great to hear a new/old ted song.

[Jarle]

Nice song. I really like the chorus.

JOA

[kenny mac]

This is a cool tune,love it.well done.

[Ted]

Thanks for the feedback.

Geir: I added the lyrics to the main post up top. I should say that these lyrics are written by a highly judgmental Ted in his 20s. It's not a song I would write today. I like to believe I've become a more empathetic person.

The vocals were intended to be reference vocals that I would redo later. I did them in one take, and I thought it was an interesting contrast singing such scorning lyrics in such a calm quiet way.

The drummer who will be eventually playing this song suggested that I increase the tempo, so I opened the MP3 in Audacity and speed it up digitally. Here it is. I think he was right. It makes it a little more Punk, which is what I was after.

[Hook]

Awesome tune brother, I definitely dig the distorted vocal & fab lyrics. Very interesting & excitingly written song.
Rock On!

[launched]

Cool song Ted, I like it!

[henwrench]

Love the way it kinda all falls together, deserves many listens, and yeah, it's always cool to hear new Ted stuff...

                                                  henwrench

     guitars sound great too.