Story Behind The Song

I wrote this song one night after returning home from my aunt's country home. Tower cranes loomed on the skyline surrounding her rustic farmhouse, which was soon demolished to make way for an ugly housing development.

Song Description

A lament about uncontrolled development resulting in urban blight in the West. Verses are low-key; uplifting choruses sound a note of hope in an alternative / jangle-pop style. Song has an REM / 10,000 Maniacs feel, and features an instrumental hook playe

Lyrics

HOW THE WEST WAS WON

Can you see it on the skyline
Build it fast and they will come
Rushing in to fill the spaces
Emptying some other one...

Soon I'll buy a piece of pretty
Pretty is as pretty does
Crane and tower coming nearer
Under ever over us;

Build it they will come
Emptying some other one
Towers over us
Pretty is as pretty does.

THIS IS WHERE THE SKY WAS SOLD & HOW THE WEST WAS WON CRANE AND TOWER, SOLDIERS TO THE MEN WHO STOLE THE SUN

Can you see the last survivor
Every day a few more dead
Getting hard to find the flowers
Beauty's softer in the head...

Ugly's breath is on the window
I see Ugly's beady eyes
Soon I'll go to bed with Ugly
Will I know her when I rise?

Every day more dead
Beauty's softer in the head
Ugly's beady eyes
Will I know her when I rise?

THIS IS WHERE THE SKY WAS SOLD & HOW THE WEST WAS WON CRANE AND TOWER, SOLDIERS TO THE MEN WHO STOLE THE SUN THIS IS WHERE THE SHADOWS FALL WHEN ALL THE DEALS ARE DONE
CRANE AND TOWER, DARKEST HOUR, OVER EVERYONE

(CHANTED:)
HEAR WITH THE FEAR OF THE FOUND; THE LONG LOW SOUND; IN THE GROUND THE SAD SLOW POUND; OF THE SOUND; THE LONG LOW SOUND; IN THE GROUND.
(Jail the wind... Build the highest tower... Hell is now... Cover all the ground.)

Build for Jesus, build for glory
Dwarf the acre where we stand
Profits in the sky, Hosanna
Build it anywhere you can...

Jail the wind that roams the heavens
Here is hot and hell is now
More and grayer, highest payer
Cover every inch of ground.

THIS IS WHERE THE SKY WAS SOLD & HOW THE WEST WAS WON
CRANE AND TOWER, SOLDIERS TO THE MEN WHO STOLE THE SUN
FIELD AND FLOWER, SING YOUR FINAL HOUR TO SAVE THE SUN
STILL THE CRANE AND RAZE THE TOWER
NOW TO KINGDOM COME
OUR WILL BE DONE TO KINGDOM COME ...

Playlist Creator	Playlist Name	Date Added
Anthony Hendriks	My Top Songs	2/8/2008