February Album Writing Month - FAWM.ORG

It's Too Late (To Take Back Watergate) (*26734)

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flowtheory

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Tagged As:

political folk singalong

Liner Notes:

Try as I may, It's hard to avoid letting politics influence my songwriting, especially when we Americans are bombarded so relentlessly with it in the media.

Interestingly though, this wasn't originally going to be a political tune. The first three lines of the chorus came to me when I was late taking my kids to school. I sang just those lines repeatedly for a while, searching for a fourth, and finally landed on the Watergate line. A song was born!

Lyrics:

It's election time again
round up all your closest friends
and spread the word to all your kin
We want our candidate to win!

They swear that they will faithfully
preserve, protect our liberty
they take the oath, they take the creed
propelled by their supporters' greed

It's too late
It's too late
It's too late
to take back Watergate

Here in our plutocracy
What does it mean to be free?
When it's measured exclusively
by corporate profitability

Corruption - that ain't nothin new
It's just that in 72
You were awakened to the view
that governments might lie to you

It's too late
It's too late
It's too late
to take back Watergate

There are things they don't want you to know
like where all your tax dollars go
and who they're selling weapons to
from Pennsylvania Avenue

The strength of Nixon's legacy
Is he helped us to finally see
that we must all be vigilant
and watch out for our government

It's too late
It's too late
It's too late
to take back Watergate

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thetau 3 months ago

Great. It even sounds like a rally
bradbrubaker 3 months ago

If Steve Earle were bit by the fun bug, he would write this. Nice clean cut ending.
oddaustin 3 months ago

You have some nice equipment over here, you consistently pull of some surprisingly good production and sound quality (for such a small window of time in which to record and mix). I really dig the drum sound in this, it's big... I like big drums.
arthurrossi 3 months ago

It is true, this is a great sing-along-song! What a catchy melody! I dig the lyrics!
mikeskliar 3 months ago

great idea, well done!! I love this!
and you're right, American politics really can be measured by pre-and post-watergate.

wonderful sing-along, great melody and appropriate production- reminds me a tiny bit of ,of course' john lennon's 'give peace a chance'....
(nice mixing in of the 'crook' speech at the end, too!)
fuzzy 3 months ago

Love the resonating bass drum and the layered vocals. A bizarre combo of Pete Seeger and Frank Zappa. Well done!!
wolfkier 3 months ago

good fun, digging on the early zappa vibe going on here.
enjoyed muchly.
wolf.