An elegy for an old-time record company executive (third mix).
Hard rock with hard words
I'm a songwriter, keyboard player and singer.
Story behind the song
The music business has always eaten its young. Now, like rats in a Skinner Box deprived of food, it eats itself. This song is the story of a casualty from the executive suite, an old-time A&R boss from the last golden age of the major labels.
Thanks to the brilliant and generous M (Mark Morris) for the driving rhythm guitars.
Lyrics
Record Czar
VERSE 1
Jeffrey was a record czar
He drove a big ol' Jaguar
He couldn't sing or play guitar
But he always had a hit
Jeffrey's bands were young and cute
They liked to snort, they liked to shoot
They brought him bags of uncut toot
And he always had a hit
CHORUS 1
He sold their style and he sold their looks
The music was baited with high school hooks
The radio jocks were paid off the books
So he always had a hit
VERSE 2
The money flowed like beer on tap
He spent it on all sorts of crap
Parties, boats, jeans from the GAP
Cause he always had a hit
He topped the charts in '92
In Canada and America too
His music made the critics spew
But he always had a hit
CHORUS 2
You pay a price when you fly too high
You may get rich but it's all a lie
The lies Jeff sold made young girls sigh
So he always had a hit
VERSE 3
A major bought his label out
They sucked him dry, then kicked him out
Napster stole his yacht and house
And nobody gave a sh**
Now it's "Whatever happened to poor old Jeff?
"His health is gone, the babes have left
"When it came to music, the guy was deaf
"But he always had a hit"
CHORUS 3
You blow up big when you fly too high
You take too much, and then you die
The lies Jeff sold still make old girls cry
He always had a hit
