Story Behind The Song
I wrote this song quickly in 2000 just before I went into the studio to record "Bring Your Own Insanity," my second full-length CD. Although I'm not a huge fan of the Stone Temple Pilots, I was inspired by their song, "Vaseline."
At the time that I wrote the song, I was studying carnatic music -- a form of Indian classical music -- so I had a very strong interest in Eastern scales and instrumentation, which dominate the production of the song. Indeed, because of my interest in caputuring an Eastern sound, I hire Hans Christian, the multi-instrumentalist and brain-child behind the New Age band Rasa, to play cello and harmonium on the recording. Indians generally use violins, but I really have an affection for cellos, and Hans is one of the best cellists.
Song Description
"A Chemical Dream" is explicitly an existential song. It is not a drug song, although there are certainly similarities between ecstatic states induced by spiritual practices and those induced by plants (called "entheogens" when used for sacramental purposes).
The song has been described by the Atlanta-based Music Morsels magazine as "moody alt rock," by OffBeat, Louisiana's largest music magazine, as "literally and metaphorically psychedelic," and by the Baton Rouge Advocate at "rajah rock."
| Song Length |
3:52 |
Genre |
Rock - Psychedelic, Rock - Modern |
| Tempo |
Medium (111 - 130) |
Lead Vocal |
Male Vocal |
| Mood |
Content, Peaceful |
Subject |
Existence, Spirituality |
| Similar Artists |
Stone Temple Pilots, Led Zeppelin |
Language |
English |
| Era |
2000 and later |
| |
Lyrics
I search for God, I search for truth
I search for love, I search for you
Is it just my mind? Is it just a game?
Just a part of me that I can't name
Ghosts of ancient sins are haunting me
Everywhere, every time, everything
Is this your master plan?
God doesn't live in this town
This empty space turned out to be
A chemical dream just for me
Everywhere, every time, everything
A chemical dream . . .