Monday, December 26, 2016

“Poem” by She Drew the Gun – A Song Review

     In a year having an uncommonly high number of songs with outstanding lyrics, “Poem” is among the most interesting. The vocals are supported by a Johnny Cash-like guitar hook. The song questions listeners’ understandings of freedom and their position in society. “Poem” has a fast-paced poignancy that only allows an occasionl quick breath as it moves between topics.

     According to the Facebook page of She Drew the Gun:
 "The idea for the song came from reading ‘Slaughter House-Five’ by Kurt Vonnegut, where he said that time did not want to pass, and I liked the idea of giving a will to things like time, so I used that in the opening line and went from there. It’s one of the last songs we recorded on the album a love song about heartbreak, and also about the fine line between reality and dreams; it’s kind of surreal so it feels like it could be a dream that the person is having, where they have lost their love and will be woken, but if you have ever lost in love you will know that all the dreamlike things in the song are very real, the time does refuse to pass, and the sun might as well decide not to shine."

     “Poem” is one song on the eleven-track album entitled “Memories of The Future.” She Drew the Gun is based in the UK and is driven by singer/songwriter Louisa Roach.


Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SheDrewTheGun/

Lyrics of “Poem” by She Drew the Gun
Can't believe what I'm reading
When I open up these sheets
They've got police getting busier
Cleaning up the streets

'Cause that's what we need now
To make the place neat
Take the homeless man’s rags
No sleeping bags, no place to sleep

Because we're far too civilized
Around here to see
An unkempt human being
A broken human being

Open up your eyes
Are you seeing what I'm seeing? Yeah
A misplaced made-to-feel
Disgraced human being

What it's not enough
To just pretend that you don't see him
You can't stand the sight
So you've got to disappear him

Well I hope you feel more comfortable
Doing your sight seeing
Taking pictures
Buying fucking Union Jack magnets and keyrings

Life give me something to believe in
No lies, just something to believe in
Am I the only one that's grieving?
These things that belong to you and me that they are thieving

And how long until they build a wall
And call it a private city
They got walls made out of laws
To exclude you and me

And now they take away our right
To fight those laws for free
No legal aid, no more justice
Only for the wealthy

Oh but they're
Trying to build a more healthy society
So that everybody knows
You don't get nothin' for free

No scroungers
No living room loungers
Living off me

Can I suggest
You're seeing exactly what they want you to see
A monster, A cancer
Threat to your liberty

How 'bout a scapegoat for their crimes
A victim of the times
Everything that you’re not meant to be

How 'bout a badly prepared
Scared human being
How about a necessary cog
In their economic machine

‘Cause if there was no unemployment
Tell me how would things be
Would you still feel lucky
To be working 40 hours a week?

We’re like a caged bird
And they got us by the beak
Give us enough to eat,
Enough to sleep, enough to tweet

But there's not enough space
Between the ground and our feet
We're singing songs of freedom
But we're not flying free

So, life give me something to believe in
No lies, just something to believe in
Am I the only one that's grieving?
These things that belong to you and me that they are thieving

And this whole world's got me hurting
Got me feeling undeserving
Got me questioning my worth
In this sad system that we're serving

Found no place
In this twisted race for property
Is making profit
The sole aim of humanity?

Protect the banks
Bring out the tanks if they disagree
While we're at it let's invest some more in military
All our friends have shares so why shouldn't we?

And now the markets are demanding that we give away for free
Everything that our grandparents fought for to some company
It's called wealth creation
Yeah, it's more efficient you see

Sorry I forgot the free market would set us free
I forgot to only think about I am and me
While brothers and sisters have nothing to eat
Brothers and sisters, at home and overseas

So I can't lie down
And I won’t let it be
While we are working for a market
That doesn't work for we

These things that they're thieving, yours and mine
You know that they're still stealing
But there's still time
If you feel this way too
[Repeat]


“Poem” by She Drew The Gun on Skeleton Key Records 2016
Video by Oliver Bradley-Baker, Lewy Dohren & She Drew The Gun

Written by Louisa Roach
Performed by She Drew The Gun
Video performance by Gisele Mya Griffiths
Produced and Mixed by James Skelly and Richard Turvey

1 comment:

  1. An incredible song, with real meaning and purpose. I wish more people would hear it.

    ReplyDelete