Day 19, Song 26

Sam Cohen

Clockwork

Sam Cohen's most recent album is Cool It.

I wrote this song sitting at a synthesizer that, to me, sounded a lot like the music in A Clockwork Orange, hence the title. I made a demo of the music while improvising some lyrics, and many of them ended up in the finished song. This was early in the election, still gunning for Bernie Sanders, and I was feeling frustrated with our culture of advertising and post-fact journalism and how that was feeding Trump's campaign. As a nation, we seem to value entertainment above all else, extending even to our selection of governance. I don't pass off the blame entirely. I can't seem to look away from a Trump headline... but how does that lead a person to vote for him! So then I started to think that maybe this is the inevitable outcome of hyper-capitalism; that the president should be a gaudy, hateful, narcissistic Vegas act (no offense, Vegas). Maybe this is our system working as intended, like clockwork. Anyway, the synthesizer barely made the final cut. I'm surprised my ranting fared any better. Hopefully, Hillary wins and Paul Ryan doesn't end up in a Trump work camp for dissidents.

Lyrics

Everybody loves a shit show Don't you like to watch them fighting on TV? My country 'Tis of thee I sing. In the court of public fury Justice and wisdom are condemned Look who's shaping your position Where does it end? Is this a game? Is there really nothing valuable to save The great debate Is so confused 'Cos everybody loves to be amused Yes, everybody loves to be amused Everybody loves to be amused. And the rich keep getting richer And richer And still your banner's in my face Can't you see, you stupid fuck You and me are crammed in the same space. Are you for real? Is there really nothing left for them to steal? The great debate Is so confused 'Cos everybody loves to be amused Yes, everybody loves to be amused Everybody loves to be amused. Like a bomb It's ticking Like clockwork. Like a bomb It's ticking Like clockwork. Is there really nothing nothing beautiful To save? Is there really nothing valuable To save? -- Sam Cohen - vocals, acoustic guitar Brian Betancourt - bass David Christian - drums Oliver Hill - piano Cochemea Gastelum - flutes and tenor saxophone Engineered and Mixed by Sam Cohen at Red Delicious