Leigh - "Demons of America"

[leighelse]

I wrote this song in 2006, when several American televangelists were in the headlines and the power of corporate money was becoming clearly evident in American politics. The song's not anti-American or anti-Christian; it's a commentary on what I was hearing and reading in the news each day.

I commented in another thread that the way I write songs often results in something I can neither play nor sing, and that was true of Demons of America. I invested many hours recording this in n-Track, my DAW of choice at the time, but wasn't able to complete a version I was happy with. I moved on to other songs, started using Reaper, upgraded my computer, lost my nTrack license ... and always regretted not trying again with this song.

Then last week I installed a trial version of the latest nTrack, was able to import the original recording (minus plugins, samples etc), generated stem tracks for the audio and exported the MIDI drum track. I set the drum track up in Reaper using ReaDrums and rendered that, then imported all the tracks into the BR1600s - this took a looong time (15 individual brass instrument tracks for a start). I then replaced some of the instruments and voices, and started working on getting a passable vocal track; the biggest failing of the original. I may keep working on the vocal, although it's improved markedly in the last four days.

Update 22 October 2016: Remixed for balance, tweaks on the vocals.

Update 25 October 2016: New vocal.

Update 30 October 2016: New thread for collaboration with Hilary.

Demons of America

written and performed by Leigh Harrison © APRA 2006

I've seen a black and white preacher on a colour teevee
With his point-blank shotgun aimed at you and me
He says that we can be born again into his family
If we're consumed by his prejudice
Devoured by his bigotry
Eaten by hatred and swallowed up by fear
He has to feed the demons of America
Building healthy demons of America
His task to feed the demons of America

I hear the statute of liberty now lives on the street
And the lady must turn a trick or two just to eat
Seems the corrupters of power conspired in her defeat
To advance corporate interests
And profitability,
Trading their birthright for laziness and greed.
She can't compete with the demons of America
Who can cheat the demons of America
Liberty can't beat the demons of America

The band played Dixie double time
And all the dead presidents danced in line
While the corporates lined their pockets with apple pie

Training playground bullies of the world,
With economic slavery for all,
Raising arrogant liars and cynical pliers of deceit.

Still they play Dixie double time
And all the dead presidents dance in line
While the corporates line their pockets with apple pie

They think they own the world ...

The demons think they have won now
But they don't own you and me
We can beat them together
And together be free
Let's reclaim our world's future

Defeat the demons of America
Cast out the demons of America
Everybody fight the demons of America

[thetworegs]

Catchy as hell .. and very apt for now.. throughly enjoyed !!

[Geir]

Oh this is good !!!

Fabulous production and a great song !!!

Love it !

[launched]

I agree with Trev and Gman, very catchy - And technical! The bg vox are mindblowing, always good but I'm listening with headphones this morning so I don't wake anybody and am very impressed.

Love this tune, it's great.

Mark

[Hook]

Another really impressive production. The way you use instruments in spurts, This comes in then out for a while and a whole new timbre is introduced then removed...it creates such an interesting timeline through your songs which allows each instrument and motif to shine through. I dig and your lyrics are superb.
Rock On!

[Redler]

WOW!!

Excellent songwriting, arranging and performing!! You play each instrument so well!!!

Top class production as well! You really can use your BR-1600!

I'm a big fan of Chumbawamba and this could be lost track by them!! They have a female vocalist, the tunes are catchy and the lyrics are editorialised (not sure is this the right word).

Superb job, Leigh!

[Mach]

Superb songwriting I can tell you put a lot of thought into this.
The production is off the charts. Did you play all those instruments? Are they virtual and midi on a controller or the real deal?

Very nice Leigh!

Mach

[bruno]

OOOOhh. This is excellent. Get arrangement, really quirky and creative - really enjoyed this.
Super track Leigh, really impressive.
B

[leighelse]

Did you play all those instruments? Are they virtual and midi on a controller or the real deal?

The blues harp, bass, guitars and voices are real instruments. The drums, percussion and various background sounds are samples triggered from a MIDI track. The brass section and vibraphone are recorded live from a keyboard. I scored the brass section for four trumpets, four trombones, two alto saxes, two tenor saxes and one baritone and recorded each part separately, adding two different horn pads in the background to fill the sound out even further.

[Hilary]

This is great, very catchy and fabulous lyrics. Your vocal is very clean and precise, technical even. I think the song would benefit from a dirtier vocal (I mean the delivery).

Clever songwriting.