Alternative Facts (reposted from Facebook)
So we are now living in a Post-Truth era! You can spew a lie to refute a fact as long as you label your lie as something other than a lie. The second I heard that phrase, “Alternative Facts,” as a thin-veiled excuse for lying to the public, I knew I had to come up with, if nothing else, an anti-anthem. I penned these lyrics on the morning of January 23 and immediately emailed them to my collaborator in England, Adam Silverstein, for first right of refusal. Fortunately, he did not refuse! He composed a melody within 24 hours, to which I made a few suggestions. By January 26, he had incorporated my suggestions and sent me a finalized piano track to which I recorded a vocal on January 30 (despite still lacking a good deal of vocal power thanks to a nearly month-long bout of bronchitis for which I had just finished taking antibiotics). I began the submission process for CDBaby to register the single, and by February 3 it was available for purchase on CDBaby (it will be available on iTunes and other platforms within the month, but, honestly, it’s cheaper to get this one on CDBaby for seventy-five cents!).
You can hear the song for free BY CLICKING HERE.
Also, you can listen on YOUTUBE AT THIS LINK.
If you like what you hear, however, please consider heading over to CDBaby and purchasing a copy for just SEVENTY-FIVE cents! The money will go towards completion of the various full length projects I’ve got in the works (hopefully we can get some VINYL editions of the upcoming double albums I’m working on, plus a version of this song that includes band backing), and if there’s more than enough to do that, well, then Adam and I would love to donate some of that to some worthy charitable causes! I’m going to say we start with civil rights protections and education...
You may also CLICK HERE TO BUY AN MP3 VERSION FOR JUST 75¢!
Now, here are the lyrics, for all you literati out there!
ALTERNATIVE FACTS
So you built a log cabin with your own two hands. Can you tell me where that cabin now stands? Can you say who occupies its residence And how they brought us to this strangest of lands? I bargained in good faith for my place at the table. You undermined that faith every time you were able. Don’t tell me I should stop complaining. You can’t piss down my back and tell me it’s raining. You let in the vandals like they were’t there to sack. While they emptied the coffers, you ignored the attack. Numbers do not lie, but you can cover numbers’ tracks With a little wind and light dusting of alternative facts.
“Alternative facts, alternative facts: Don’t judge the man on his words or acts,” Says the clown with a face like an overused axe Dispensing the alternative facts.
“Alternative facts, alternative facts. I’m not a reptile in a human face mask. It’s easier if you just lie back and relax Than try to resist alternative facts.”
So you built a gold mansion on double speak And you claimed those lies were just tongue in cheek With Orwellian eloquence that can’t be beat. Who inherits the world? It isn’t the meek. It’s a helluvalot easier to boil a frog When he’s slowly anaesthetised into a fog. Turn up the heat ’til the water feels right. Brown shirts take power when folks are polite. You joined in the goose stepping like it was a dance track. The ovens were filled. You claimed it was for snacks. Reality’s harsh but you’ve got a knack For blurring its rough edges with alternative facts.
“Alternative facts, alternative facts: Don’t judge the man on his words or acts,” Says the clown with a face like an overused axe Dispensing the alternative facts.
“Alternative facts, alternative facts. I’m not a reptile in a human face mask. It’s easier if you just lie back and relax Than try to resist alternative facts.” Everything’ll be okay. Bogeyman has gone away. You’ll be safe if you just pray.
Everything’ll turn out fine. You’ve got naught and I’ve got mine. Brother can you spare a dime?
Don’t listen to the evening news. Dontcha know it’s run by Jews? And thought is designed to confuse.
Say what it is you cannot see. I’ll fill the blanks in happily As long as you don’t question me.
Don’t lose sleep. Don’t bat an eye. Don’t dissent or question why. This is how democracies die.