The Keys to the Castle

by @joefahey

Liner Notes

The two things I was going to try not to do in FAWM this year were write political songs or meandering stream of consciousness songs, but I did both with this one.

I took a vow to quit the news but, from a distance, I try and stay aware in case the Army Corps of Engineers marches into my home state of Minnesota and turns on the snow valve or tariffs are set on the old, mildewed vinyl records I frequently buy from local shops.

Anyway, what I took in tonight was so emotionally upsetting to me that I decided to break rules 1 and 2 right away.

I sat between a sleeping dog and a sleeping cat with my guitar quietly coming up with the words and chords for the first verse and first chorus for about a half hour. It felt more like therapy than songwriting.

It seemed like it would only be a minute or less long, which I thought might be best but decided to improvise, bailing on the first 2 attempts and settling on the 3rd take.

I haven’t even listened to it yet and might not, I’m sure it’s pretty cynical but now I can get back to those love songs.

#acoustic #acousticonetake #folk #political

Lyrics

How can you even explain,
how the Jester got the keys to the Castle?
To stop him, would be such a hassle
might as well let him keep the keys to the Castle

Is this the same country I was born in?
Doesn't look the same to me
Is this the same country I was born in?
It sure doesn't look the same to me

He told us up front that he was the Devil
but he just used the name Jesus
Now we sit around every night
watching talk show hosts trying to tease us

Is this the same country I was born in?
Doesn't look the same to me
Are half the people hypnotized?
Why don't they see the things we see?

He didn't have an actual family crest
so in a tacky mansion, he did invest
The mansion it came with a family crest
so he changed the name on the sign

Is this the same country I was born in?
Doesn't look the same to me
Is this the same country I was born in?
It doesn't look the same to me

How can you even explain,
how the Jester got the keys to the Castle?
To stop him, would be such a hassle
might as well let him keep the keys to the Castle

Comments

[avatar]
@leslie333
I love this song so much - yes early Bob Dylan vibes in a wonderful way. I can totally relate to all of this.
[avatar]
@toddnorem
Oh man, I wanted to stay away from writing political songs this FAWM as well, but it's probably an impossible goal. I like what you're doing here. That little riff you're playing has great movement to it. Can be kind of menacing if you focus on it and could really come alive in a full arrangement. Like this force is moving in. Which it is. Nice raw emotion here. Masters of War indeed...same kind of thing that keeps building on itself and gains momentum as it moves along. Nice start to FAWM. Keep them coming whatever the subject may be.
[avatar]
@tspoon
Joe! I feel this one every day. How did the Jester get the keys? This is reminiscent of early Bob D songs like Masters of War. I hear the venom and frustration. Great start. U gotta write what u feel so don’t put limits on your songs 😊
[avatar]
@hornesgiftshop
A total howl of frustration. The occasional stumbles sound like part of the performance. I wouldn't say it's cynical. The idea that right-wingers are hypnotised is, if anything, over-generous. As a song, definitely worth pursuing - it's not as if we can have too many songs saying what this song says. As a job, it might be too depressing for you though.
[FAWM]
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