FAWM: "Keep Your Powder Dry"

Keep Your Powder Dry

3 weeks ago by @tspoon

Keep Your Powder Dry

tspoon

00:00

Liner Notes

#acoustic #acousticonetake
I came up with this idea a few days ago. I kept hearing this phrase and never really knew what it meant. After some minimal research it just means stay ready for challenges ahead. Came out of civil war musket era. But it seems to be a good strategy for the times we are in now. Also, a faint memory of when I was asked to take over a leadership role early in my career and was not prepared.
Spoiler alert: It didn't go well.
This was a simple live one-take performance, just to make sure the gear still works. then added a tiny bit of Background vox on the chorus...

Lyrics

The man who looked to be in charge
He looked at me right in the eye
said son you gotta keep your powder dry
then turned away and said goodbye

Everybody was looking to me
looking for something or somewhere to be
I shrugged and shook my head just then
I headed for the nearest exit

Refrain:
Keep your powder dry my friend
whatever that is or whatever it meant
keep your powder dry my friends
I’ll follow you to the bitter end

So If I seem a little lost
I never know how much it cost
to look and act just like the boss
But I’ve always been a little soft

I never wanted or asked for this
looking back on it seems a big miss
I never claimed to have the right stuff
the people round here had had enough

Comments

@nancycunning 4d

I like that image of an self-declared older and wiser tossing off this phrase as if it offers plenty of inspiration and advice for the young kid to become a leader. I think of the phrase as meaning pick your battles, and don't waste your shot on things that won't work out. So it seems like the narrator really did do exactly that, and took his powder along to the next company. I was also thinking that that advice is kind of the opposite of "Go for it, throw it all out there, don't wait til you're ready." which is kind of what I think FAWM is for. Great guitar and harmonies too...

@jinx 2w

Ooh this is catchy. "Whatever that is or whatever it meant" is a great line, so perfectly expressing the nervousness and insecurity that people in leadership positions often feel but have to conceal in order to inspire confidence.

I also find the melodic line on "I'll follow you to the bitter end" really compelling – can't say why, it's so simple but it just WORKS.

@joefahey 3w

A great song to kick things off on FAWM 2525 and a reminder to stay ready for challenges ahead. Good advice. Over the years I've noticed how some songs are simply taken from known, or lesser known phrases. It's an excellent way to write a song if you can find the right one to apply to a past situation or, something that's just on your mind in the present day, which this one does. This is a very strong and catchy song, it works nicely.

@toddnorem 3w

I thought I'd check out this site again for some procrastination from the song I'm working on and boom...you're already on the board. I've never heard that expression, but it makes sense and it's cool you used it as a springboard for a song. I still cringe when I think about one of my leadership roles. Pretty catchy song and I dig the one take recording. I really like it when your background vocals come in further emphasizing your rich baritone.

@autoclamp 3w

Ah, the bloodshed of a too-soon leadership role. I had one of those. And yeah... not pretty. My favorite line is "whatever that is or whatever it meant." Perfectly encapsulates the fake-it-til-you-make-it mindset of those not ready to be in charge.

@thwingbill 3w

Love the title! Got a Canadian friend name "Poudrier". His ancestors who guarded the gunpowder in old Quebec got that name for their occupation. Good little song. What does "
#Acousticfirst take" mean ?