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Cry for England
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The expression 'cry for England' has enough double-meaning to at least attempt a song about this once proud nation. There is barely a square inch of this globe that this old lady hasn't pillaged or nurtured, loved or hated.
singer songwriter musician uk acoustic guitar cubase reason sheffield bass guitar doncaster al stravinsky voxengo brian delaney
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Touching, funny, serious, award-winning songs about life and love; all penned, played, arranged, sung, recorded and mixed by Al.
So he never existed... not really, as a real person. He made himself up one day in 1969 and lived a dual existence: half of him surviving on dead-end jobs, the other half believing that one day he would write at least one song that the world would remember. Now half of him is dead, and, as with all conjoined twins (without major surgery) that sentences both of them. It would be sad if it wasn't so pathetic. Fairy-tales always end this way... well not always, rarely... and this was rarely a fairy-tale; so there the similarities end: the ending was neither sad nor happy - it just... was. The enigmatic and tragic Jackson C Frank was a hero of his... now he emulates that frail and failed soul. Maybe in 40 years people will still say 'Al who?', much as they do today. That would be both a great epitaph, and a fitting legacy. Below is the page as he inexplicably and hurriedly left it: hot meal still on the table; knife and fork still in place and at the ready; the drink untouched in the bone china cup... ************************************************************* I now have an album: 'The sentence that I serve' available from CD baby. Click on this mini album cover to take you there: INVALID -- CDBABY INVALID INVALID INVALID INVALID for AL STRAVINSKY: The sentence that I serve -- It's on iTunes too, where the whole album or individual tracks can be downloaded in mp3 format: http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?playListId=216015067 Thanks. I've been a professional musician for 24 years, and over 3000 gigs (I've stopped counting); always working, travelling, trying to make ends meet...nearly...if you could just hold these a minute please...er...thanks: my hands are now free so I can get on with actually (ironically) playing some music at last. I sing and play bass guitar and I play some acoustic/electric guitars also.
Song Info
Genre
Rock Folk Rock
Charts
Peak #260
Peak in subgenre #22
Author
Al Stravinsky
Uploaded
June 06, 2006
Track Files
MP3
MP3 3.4 MB 128 kbps 3:44
Story behind the song
I put this in 'folk rock' because it's basically a folk song, but with an electronic rockyness to it - I'm open to suggestions though. I stumbled on the expression 'cry for England' , and realised it had enough double-meaning to at least attempt a song about this once proud nation. There is barely a square inch of this globe that this old lady hasn't pillaged or nurtured, loved or hated. It's nearly all sequenced, except vocals and acoustic guitars, using: two basic drum loops by Groovemasters; Moog bass; treated piano and strings; lots of synthy sounds and persussion; Vocoder; lots of effects; and lots of automation during mixdown, for which Reason is very well suited. I recorded this in mid-May 2006.
Lyrics
Verse1 Oh dear lady, where now your pride? And where your dignity? Once you held your head high and faced the world, But your power is gone with the glory. Now you sit forlorn in borrowed dress, Surrendering all the victories you've won - I could cry for England to see what you've become. Verse2 Fearsome was your reputation, Boundless was your greed, Built your empire in the name of God With the shame of slavery. And in your domain's eternal day You taught the world both how to work and how to play - Now I could cry for England to hear the things they say. Verse3 I was born in your bewildered isle, I came by boat and train, I flew; To tower block, council house, sleepy town, Inner city, mews and palace too. I search for my place in this new world, for my identity, Still I feel your spirit calling me; And your flag flies in my heart wherever I may roam, And I cry for England 'cos England is my home.
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