Back with another philosophical rock song on a Tuesday. Who could have expected that? This one was another high-effort, went through multiple iterations, some that were soooooo close, but just didn’t make the cut. The nice thing about doing it this way is that I can see how changes to the meter play out as I change the lyrics – sometimes things that work on paper don’t work out when they’re sung. Regardless, I like how this came out.
Behind The Music:
All the songs so far are here (LINK). Working still on the downloadable stuff but have made a lot of progress. I think I’ll need two band names, one for rock and one for country. John Wilder and the Lost Brigade works for either, but I’ll probably save that for rock. Wilder and the Ghost Riders for country?
Rivers Run Red
By John Wilder
From sea to sea, they tried to fade us away
Strangers breach the gates, no ties to yesterday
They cross the borders, in endless waves they come
Replacing kith and kin, under the setting sun
America’s voices grow fainter, drowned by the foreign tide
Natives turn to ghosts in the land they built with pride
Now no shared roots, just numbers in a game
The foundation cracks, nothing stays the same
The storm is brewing deep,
The shadows start to creep
A nation’s soul asleep
A bloody harvest we will reap
Rivers run red in the land of the free
Replacement’s shadow, can you see
Millions pour in, no bond, insane
Leading to ruin, endless pain
Rivers run red, the warning’s now
Native sons refresh the vow
Dark times ahead, the clash will come
At the brink of our world being overrun
Cities once our own now echo alien calls
Our youth now displaced, behind false walls
No loyalty to soil, no love for what was built
The enemy, takers in the fold, sowing seeds of guilt
The future darkens fast, division carves the ground
As evil tries to take the free and make us bound
Innocents will pay when tensions finally break
The peaceful day decays for freedom’s sake
The flames are kindling high,
The end draws ever nigh
A people’s silent cry,
Beneath the blood-red sky
Rivers run red in the land of the free
Replacement’s shadow, can you see
Millions pour in, no bond, insane
Leading to ruin, endless pain
Rivers run red, the warning’s now
Native sons refresh the vow
Dark times ahead, the clash will come
At the brink of our world being overrun
We built this land tall,
On sweat and iron will
Now watch it start to fall,
A void outsiders cannot fill
The clash of worlds unfolds, the end drawing near
A nation’s story sold, in rivers flowing fear
But the darkest signs lead to the turning of the tide
Where the native sons rise up, reclaim their rightful stride
Rivers run red, but the dawn breaks through
Replacement’s end, the fight renews
Native hearts awaken, lessons learned
In the storm’s eye, invasion overturned
Rivers run red, but victory is near
Sons and daughters conquer fear
The clash ignites, our world stands
Triumph rises from these lands
The tide turns now
The darkest hour’s light
Our strength prevails
Eternal fight
What about Wilder and the Lost Highway for the country band name? Gives a little nod to Hank Sr.
So, after I getting this comment, I spent the next hour or so on band names. I’ll report back more on Thursday with the next song on what I ended up doing.
Charles and the Hammers
Close! I think you’ll like Thursday.
Hey John,
I understand that you’re using AI for the music and vocals. If I might be so bold: You might like to specify various amp models and guitar types/p’ups/pedals, etc.
As a writer/player for almost 50 years now, I have several amps and a couple of bass rigs, along with more than just a few axes.
A Marshall JCM 800 would be great for an AC/DC style, with a Mesa Triple Rectifier for a later Priest or Maiden sound, while something like a Bogner Uberschall would be better for a more Metal sound like Evergrey or King Diamond’s guitarist Andy LaRocque.
I will say that I highly approve of the Lyrical content 😉
Sorry John,
Shoulda’ logged in. We’ve interacted before, and I found you through the Burning Platform. I mentioned that I’ve been playing with my own John Wilder since 1982😁
I’m like a kid in a candy store. I’ve had these songs knocking around in my head since I was 14-15 but can’t sing and my guitar playing is . . . short bus stuff. But, I know the songs I always wanted to hear . . . .
Thank you!!!! I tucked those into my music notes. I greatly appreciate it, and we’ll see if the software can do anything with that. Any other comments are always welcome!!!
The future lies on the other side of rivers of blood, oceans of tears, and mountains of skulls.
It does.