1 Topic by KAP54 (edited by KAP54 2010-12-17 18:27:50)

  • KAP54
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Topic: The American Dream

This is a song about a young mans dreams of making it big dashed by the harsh reality of life in the fast lane. I love the American people and what America stands for so please don't be offended by the title. I gotta start writing something more upbeat. LOL I'm seeing a pattern.
Written on keyboard transposed to guitar and thinking about a chorus

The American Dreamby Ken Peters


July 10/08






There [C]was a young man from a [G]small country town,


who [F]dreamed of the day he would [C]fly.


He [F]dreamed he could sing and he [C]dreamed he could dance,


and he [G]dreamed that he never could die.


So with a [C]passion in his heart and a [G]fire in his eyes,


he [F]set off in search of what [C]seemed.


[F]Sure fame and glory a [C]fairytale story some [G]call the American dream.


[F]His Momma asked him [C]not to go.


[F]There's so much more in [C]life to know.


[F]There's so much more to en-[C]joy than the fortune and [G]fame.


[F]And Poppa said if [C]you must go.


[F]Watch your back and [C]take it slow.


[F]Keep your eye on the [C]prize but beware of the [G]danger. The [G]danger.The [G]danger.


As his [C]Momma tried to hide her [G]tears in Poppas side.


he pro[F]claimed he'd return as a [C]king.


Cause he [F]knew how to sing and he [C]knew how to dance,


and that [G]that's what his future would bring.


With a [C]jump in his stride and lady [G]luck by his side,



he [F]set off in search of his [C]dreams.


The [F]big city lights that he [C]sought all his life they were [G]there for the taking it seemed.


[F]But a cold wind [C]seemed to blow.


[F]Everywhere he [C]tried to go.


[F]And every door that was [C]opened was closed just the [G]same.


[F]Time would slowly [C]drag and burn.


[F]To the point of [C]no return.


[F]Blind to all of the [C]sorrow and blind to the [G]danger.The [G]danger.The [G]danger.


Now he [C]lives on the street and his [G]life's incomplete,


only [F]street lights can light up his [C]life.


The [F]visions he had turned to [C]nightmares so sad,


and the [G]agony cuts like a knife.


All [C]alone in the world and not a [G]friend to his name,


he [F]ended it all with a [C]scream.


The [F]search for the glory the [C]fairytale story some [G]call the American dream.


[F]His Momma begged him [C]not to go.


[F]There's so much more in [C]life to know.


[F]There's so much more to [C]enjoy than the fortune and [G]fame.


[F]And Poppa said if [C]you must go.


[F]Watch your back and [C]take it slow.


[F]Keep your eye on the [C]prize but beware of the [G]danger.[G]The danger.[G]The danger.



[song]
{t:Lost to the American Dream}
{st:Ken Peters  May 2010}


[C]Janie played her songs in a [G]small country bar,
But [F]dreamed that one day she would [C]fly
She [F]knew how to sing and she [C]knew how to dance.
Sweet [G]Janie had stars in her eyes,
With [C]passion in her heart and [G]fire in her eyes,
She [F]set off in search of what [C]seemed
[F]Sure fame and glory the [C]fairy tale story some [G]call the American Dream.
[F]Her Momma asked her [C]not to go.
[F]There's so much more in [C]life to know.
[F]There's so much more to [C]enjoy than the fortune and [G]fame.
[F]And Poppa said if [C]you must go.
[F]Watch your back and [C]take it slow.
[F]Keep your eye on the [C]prize but beware of the [G]dangers.

{soc}
    [C]Dark [G]nights
[F]Red [C]lights
    [C]Caught oh baby then [G]Lost to the American [F]Dream
{eoc}

[C]Janie made her way to the [G]streets of LA,
Where the [F]nightclubs light up the [C]night
She [F]sang and she danced, she just [C]asked for the chance,
But the [G]answers she got held no light.
[C]So she played the game and [G]inside hid her shame,
What [F]ever it took was her [C]scheme.
[F]She turned tricks for glory, the [C]fairytale story that's [G]now an unreachable dream.
[F]Darkened streets called [C]out her name,
[F]Teasing her with [C]love and fame,
[F]Turning all of her [C]visions to sorrow and [G]pain.
[F]Needles bloomed a [C]new romance.
[F]Teaching her a [C]lonely dance,
[F]Blinding her [C]eyes and disguising the [G]dangers.

{soc}
    [C]Dark [G]nights.
[F]Red [C]lights.
    [C]Caught oh baby then [G]Lost to the American [F]Dream
{eoc}

[C]Now she lives on the street and her [G]life's incomplete,
Only [F]street lights can light up her [C]life.
The [F]visions she had turned to [C]nightmares so sad,
And her [G]agony cuts like a knife.
[C]All alone in the world, the only [G]friends to her name,
Are [F]hookers and pimps and the [C]screams
[F]Lost is the glory, the [C]fairytale story some [G]call the American dream.
[F]Her Momma begged her [C]not to go.
[F]There's so much more in [C]life to know.
[F]There's so much more to [C]enjoy than the fortune and [G]fame.
[F]And Poppa warned if [C]you should go.
[F]Watch your back and [C]take it slow.
[F]Keep your eye on the [C]prize but beware of the [G]dangers.

{soc}
    [C]Dark [G]nights.
[F]Red [C]lights.
    [C]Caught Oh baby then [G]Lost to the American [F]Dream.
{eoc}

©Ken Peters May 15 2010

Just Keepin on Keepin on
Martin DC15E
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Re: The American Dream

Great song Kap54,

London is still full of Irish men who went there in the 50/sixties. never made it and never came home. Most are alcholics. so so sad.

Your song is sad, reminds me of this one i love to play and sing!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXOSLlur1Tc

Blessings on your gift.

Old Doll.

Why Blend in with the Crowd ? When you were made to stand out !
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Re: The American Dream

hi kap a touching story ,but there's thousands that have gone down that road ,lovely song....stay cool

love is life ,life is for love,keep a true heart and live life to the full....stay cool

daddycool's Website

  • KAP54
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Re: The American Dream

Thanks Lena and daddycool.The odds are long but I guess you gotta try when it feels right.
Lena, Thank You for the link to Nanci Griffith.I have never heard of her or the song
Tecumseh Valley.Absolutely Beautiful. She had my eyes welling up as she connected with the lyrics and the audience. I shall be watching out more closely for her music.Thank You

KAP54:)

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Martin DC15E
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Re: The American Dream

hi kap,

when i saw the verses unfold before me i thought it was going to be a song of epic length, but then it ended with a bang [or flash] i thought you said it was up beat?

a tragic tale my friend, so not every one realises the "american dream" then? and just in case there is someone out there that still believes it, the streets of london aren't paved with gold, but the road to hell is paved with good intentions, thats enough cliches

great song, looks finished to me, but your the one that matters, if you think it needs more work i'll wait to see the finished version.

good work, keep it up

phill

Ask not what Chordie can do for you, but what you can do for Chordie.

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  • KAP54
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Re: The American Dream

Thanks Phill
Not sure if I am going to put a chorus in there. I have a melody in mind but I think instrumental in between verses would have a better effect.
As for this song being upbeat,I was looking at my posts and I seem to be writing a lot of slow tunes about death or failure and I need to write something more upbeat so I don't fall into the trap
of writing the same style of song. LOL

Thanks Again smile
KAP54

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Martin DC15E
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Re: The American Dream

Hi Kenny,

Great song and I agree with Phill that to me it seems finished, but you're the boss.

The lines " His Momma asked him  not to go." and "But a cold wind seemed to blow." where it changes to the F C chords could well be the chorus, in fact as I played it I thought that it was your intention. I will give it another run through later. Thank you.

Roger

"Do, or do not; there is no try"

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  • KAP54
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Re: The American Dream

I would like to say Thank You to Roger as he has taken the time to arrange and record his version of The American Dream.He has done excellent work in the singing and interpretation of how it should be sung.My hat's off to you Sir. smile
Have a listen at http://www.myspace.com/friendsofchordie

P.S. Pay no attention to the pic as I was at work and sober


KAP54 smile

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Martin DC15E
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Re: The American Dream

Beautiful and sad ballad . . . well written, Kenny . . . well performed, Roger.

I agree with Roger that this song is 'finished' in that it tells the story and feels complete.

This is good stuff - - - and I gotta say that Roger's inclusion of autoharp on the choruses is a very nice touch!  James

"That darn Pythagorean Comma thing keeps messing me up!"
[url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pythagorean_comma[/url]

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Re: The American Dream

i should really make a point of reading things before going and playing.
I thought the lyrics and song was great. But I never played it as a ballad,lol, I strummed fast on this.

As Lena says about Irishmen still in london and never made it back, as well as irish scots too, and not just there but more apt to the song I know of people that have gone to america to fullfill their dreams but came back with nothing.
Also year ago when the english were shipping the scots and irish off to the new land, promising them so much and got nothing.

Great song.

Ken

ye get some that are cut out for the job and others just get by from pretending
  • KAP54
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Re: The American Dream

The song will remain as is, other than instrumentals in the breaks.Thanks again Roger smile I agree with you James,the autoharp gives it a nice feel.When I record it I will be keeping it in mind.

Thanks James smile

Kenny

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Martin DC15E
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Re: The American Dream

Beautiful!

Song,

Melody,

Recording.

Well done to all.

Old Doll.

Why Blend in with the Crowd ? When you were made to stand out !