NOTES:
So maybe it started life as me trying to work out my outrage and anger over the war, directed specifically a Bush and Dick. But the question is more one of the ages. The worst thing can happen to a person is to have no meaning at all. Indifference from all around. I didn’t want to let ourselves off the hook either. We were so happy to go get ’em and hit that big hornets’ nest with the biggest sticks we could find. Oh, the hippy idea that democracy is like love and once they get a taste, they’ll love us even more. Hippy thinking but in reverse. Of course, most of it was about trying to make a power grab and secure resources but most of the administration drank the Cool-Aide along with most of the media and public. We are still paying the price. And we fucking tortured people. Came out and proudly said we did. You can’t be taken seriously at selling an ideal when you change the ideal whenever it’s convenient or feel threatened. I was talking with someone from Chile and I asked about life post dictator and how grand it must be – they said of course but before you could walk the streets at night. There it is. Not so clear is it? I heard the song Johnny Appleseed by Joe Strummer and just loved it. I loved the idea of a kick ass country protest song. A raved-up Cash meets Guthrie number. Hard drinkin’ with a big “fuck you” waiting to greet you. I was also thinking about war era Dylan songs and there is a sense of justice in the end. But when have you seen that happen recently? You think any of these guys would ever be brought to court for the crimes? I wanted to answer Dylan and go a step further. But if it musically just stayed there it wouldn’t break much ground and not really of its time of relevance. I was also listening to some Outcast and how cool the faster stuff sounded. So, in my mind Cash and Strummer are writing a tune while in the studio listening to Outcast. So, Cash meets Outcast was what I was trying to get to. Again, up to you whether I did or not. I wanted the song to start like it was coming through a radio of a pickup truck on a farm road in the 40’s. Justice and I recorded a chorus on one mic while she was on autoharp doing her best June Carter Cash imitation and me on guitar doin’ my best to keep up. We were tickled with the results. I’ve spent a lot of years not writing what I was born into – country, gospel and bluegrass surrounded me as a child. If my grandmother wasn’t playing piano and singing, then it was a strange day indeed. Grandfather would join in on bass vocals and guitar. The neighbors would come over – all singing around the piano and drinking beer from cans. Nothing like gospel songs sung by people three sheets to the wind. Nothing like the directness of old-time country songs. The music of my youth is allowed to be seen in this song.
LYRICS:
No hard rain, no hard rain, no hard rain’s gonna fall (repeat)
No repercussions for your actions. No cause to effect
No Karmic payback, no judgment round you neck. It won’t be on the block
No hard rain, no hard rain, no hard rain’s gonna fall (repeat)
No voices raised, no dissent to obey, to stem what you’ve done
The only cries heard, from someone vague that won’t, that won’t be coming home
(CHORUS)
But after all it’s not your fault
You’ve been left to your ends
In apathetic, well who’s pathetic
For one and for all
And at your end, you’ll still stay dry with everyone soaked to skin
Except for all eyes, they will stay dry and apathy greets your end
(CHORUS)(FIN)
