timboalogo Posted July 19, 2022 Share Posted July 19, 2022 Hi folks, I don't often share my work these days but thought someone might enjoy this song. I've worked in my province's education system for years and have had the opportunity to work with our First Nations communities. One of the most difficult challenges Canada's First Nation folks face are dealing with the repercussions of Canada's residential school system where children were basically stolen from their parents and raised in church settings in an effort to assimilate them into our colonial and genocidal culture. You may have read in the news how the authorities continue to find mass graves on school grounds filled with the remains of children's bodies. The faces of the survivors set me on the path to recording this song: In a Poet's Eyes Timbo blood stains in a poet's eyes devil in black n white disguise his blessed hands thought to mold the clay what're they gonna wear to school today stolen moon and stolen sky lost treasures never knew why brother richard took the indian away sisters digging in the fields today alice is giggling, deep in her rabbit hole when will she come out to play alice is crying, saw it all in her looking glass when will she come out to pray blessed virgin watching from on high the grass is greener where the children lie alice tumbles back down the rabbit hole they've come for you now grab your things and go why can't it be a better today spoil the child when you spare the rod do what you need to do in the name of god we'd never hurt a single hair on their heads minesweepers still trynta count the dead no more witches left to burn blame lies on the saintly return springtime's here time for planting seeds but there's still brothers digging in the weeds alice is hiding, deep in the rabbit hole when will she come out to pray alice is crying, mad hatter can't fix the watch will she never come out to play the grass is greener where the children lie blessed virgin hides the reason why alice tumbles back down the rabbit hole they've come for you now grab your things and go Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KSband Posted July 20, 2022 Share Posted July 20, 2022 Sounds good, interesting song. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bjornpdx Posted July 21, 2022 Share Posted July 21, 2022 Powerful lyrics. Well done with that. And the mix is very good such that the lyrics stand out and are easy to understand. -Bjorn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freddy j Posted July 21, 2022 Share Posted July 21, 2022 "Powerful lyrics" -- indeed. Mix and performance are all done well. I attended grammar school (grades 3-8) in Canada (London, Ontario) and we never were taught about the schools you have mentioned. I have however done some reading concerning these schools --- certainly a stain on the history of Canada. Very good and poignant piece! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhonoBrainer Posted July 22, 2022 Share Posted July 22, 2022 Yes I've heard of these schools, didn't they find a mass grave of kids somewhere in western Canada? "The grass is greener where the children lie" . . . I don't know if the Alice in Wonderland references need explaining, or if I'm just dumb - is there an intersection between these schools and Alice's experience? Your song is ambitious in it's lyrics, which is great. Mixwise I'd find more room for some punchier drums, and a more present bass. It's a catchy melody and I liked how you sang it. cheers, -Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wookiee Posted July 23, 2022 Share Posted July 23, 2022 @timboalogo It is a tragedy and crime what certain European religious sects did to the natives of Canada as they also did in Australia , your lyrics convey that message. Mix is not bad but as noted above a few tweaks my bring it to life a little more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bajan Blue Posted July 23, 2022 Share Posted July 23, 2022 As Tom says, powerful lyrics but the mix does need a bit of work on the drums and bass in particular - otherwise a cool track Nigel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timboalogo Posted July 28, 2022 Author Share Posted July 28, 2022 Thanks guys, sorry I've been out of touch in the British Isles. Thank you for the kind comments and I look forward to addressing the mix issues when I get home. Timbo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeeringAmps Posted August 3, 2022 Share Posted August 3, 2022 On 7/23/2022 at 8:35 AM, Bajan Blue said: powerful lyrics but the mix does need a bit of work I concur... t Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark skinner Posted August 4, 2022 Share Posted August 4, 2022 Timbo , Great lyrics and a fantastic job presenting them. Seems the battle never ends for any First Nation people. The Lakota Nation here in the US , made national news this morning . They're in an effort to shut down the hate and deceit being spread by outside missionary's on their reservations. It never ends. Enjoyed the song .. mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SUPAREELS Posted August 7, 2022 Share Posted August 7, 2022 As a Beatles fan (especially Lennon) I hear a bit of their colour here and for that you get my vote .. needs a bit of love with the mix so can't wait to see what you come up with. Excellent work here Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timboalogo Posted August 7, 2022 Author Share Posted August 7, 2022 (edited) Thanks to everyone who has posted - I've indeed been working on a better mix. Whether it's better or not remains to be heard. @STEVE POOLE, on our cruise of the British Isles we took the Fab 4 taxi tour whilst in Liverpool. Highly recommended, ask for Phil as your driver! We stopped at the house where John lived with his aunt (who didn't tell him that his mother lived a mile or so away). Phil the Guide was plainly a John fan as well, and explained his early life in a way I'd never quite understood before, about being shifted from place to place, that his mum was run over not far from this house and so on. We even saw Strawberry Field, where John used to sneak in to as a lad. His cheekiness and satire certainly helped fuel the fire of my teenage years. Thanks for the props! Tim Edited August 8, 2022 by timboalogo 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hidden Symmetry Posted August 8, 2022 Share Posted August 8, 2022 Enjoyed the tune, will check the next mix. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timboalogo Posted August 14, 2022 Author Share Posted August 14, 2022 (edited) Hi all, Took me awhile to get this track back on track, so to speak. I think I've addressed your mix concerns - I had to change up the snare drum to get it heard properly. I realized that the bass was quiet because I really don't like my bass playing so I tried to hide it! For PhonoBrainer, I made the Alice in Wonderland references for a couple of reasons. One was that I can really go off the rails lyrically and stomp on the same points over and over again. Instead, using the Wonderland vehicle, I tried to portray Alice as every child who just wants to play and be loved. Once the abuse started, the child hides in a rabbit hole and either comes out to pray or comes out to play. And she is the watch that the Mad Hatter is trying to fix, but she and all her First Nation brothers and sisters can never be fixed. I appreciate everyone's thoughts on this song. In a Poet's Eyes remixed Timbo Edited August 14, 2022 by timboalogo Forgot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkusClinus Posted August 15, 2022 Share Posted August 15, 2022 Wow. Well done - really well done all the way around. Keep up the good works. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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