I recently received an email from a major on-line publication collecting “Letters To The Gulf”. I wondered, What would the Gulf Say to Us? That question sounded familiar so I dug through some old video tapes looking for that long-lost club gig from my days in the Hollywood Rock Band Circuit back in the Late 1980’s.
This piece is called Song For the Sea and it was written shortly after the Exxon Valdez spill in 1989 and amid controversy over illegal long net fishing practices. Lance McCormick is playing Bass and Keys, I am on Drums, and Phil Felicia is on vox and axe. It is pretty interesting how timeless this theme is.
Interesting features:
Phil uses a can of Tuna as a slide to make the sound of expiring whales and sea life. His guitar solo is an enactment of a tuna fish thrashing in it’s final moments of life. I remember that I could barely contain myself, it was so funny to watch – I almost fell off my seat in hysterics every time Phil did the part – but it was powerful imagery especially in later shows after we worked out the shtick a little better. I think we all took stabs at the lyrics. Keep in mind that this was 20+ years ago in Hollywood California – the objective was to be offensive, shocking and controversial so don’t get too riled up over our choice of words. On the other hand, they do contain an interesting historical perspective from a bunch of kids (transcribed below) in the late 80’s. The band was called “Rage In Eden”, affectionately named after Gulf War 1
So here is a blast from the past in loving dedication to BP and the gang
***STRONG LANGUAGE ADVISORY***
Song For The Sea
Welcome to my Universe
Once the mighty sea
Turned dumping ground
for all the pigs to see
Now I’m left here in your waste
drowning in your own disgrace
(let’s do it)
Spilling Toxins in my Sea
My putrid flesh bears the stench
of your rotting soul
So I put it to you
Mr. Politician Man
Whatever Gave you the right
To come and punish my world
With your – (indiscernible) – high and low
All I live for in my life
Is just a paycheck to you
So I put it to you, Mr. Businessman
Whatever gave you the right to Punish my world
Dogs dig in my shores
Dollar Whores
I need you to taste the decay and waste
we sold you, yeah
So I put it to you, Mr. judgment man
What ever gave you the right
to punish my World.
