about
Song Fu is dead. But Travis Langworthy of SpinTown has kept the spirit of Song Fu alive by sponsoring a new competition, SpinTunes. I'd been doing a play and felt I needed some time off, so I didn't enroll in the first iteration of this. However, when the first challenge was posted I couldn't help myself... I had to write a shadow for SpinTunes 1 round 1.
As it turns out, this first challenge was tailor-made for Dr. Lindyke. "Write a song from the point of view of a super hero or super villain. (2 minute minimum)". You're explicitly allowed to make up your own hero or villain, and there is no stated requirement in the rules to name the hero within the song (you're specifically told that you can name the character in an email). The song is not ABOUT the hero, per se... it's from that person's point of view.
Pfft. We'd already written Yesterday Hero (it's on the Song Fu album), which was about a super-hero. With a little prodding from Number One Son, and some inspiration from The Incredibles, here's a second song which is sung from the hero's perspective (while he was still alive, natch). These are his last thoughts as he goes off to his doom. The hero's name is, of course, Hero, as is established on his tombstone. As he's the only hero his world has, there's no confusion.
Like Mr. Incredible, Hero would like the world to "stay saved". Unlike Mr. Incredible he doesn't have a plethora of super-powered comrades to depend on. He's getting a little tired... Given the choice he'd go back to the family business. Sadly the choice is denied him. But you don't need me to tell you that... it's all in the lyrics.
Since this is a shadow, and I was SUPPOSED to be resting when I wrote it, the track is pretty rough. It's live piano+voice + an live electric piano track that really should have been horns or something. Maybe later.
lyrics
Save the World
by Dr. Lindyke
===========
I wish I had a day off
I wish I had some time to myself
Maybe I could kick my feet up
Maybe I could take a book off the shelf
Maybe I could watch some TV
Maybe I could watch a movie all the way through
I'd like to stop and write some poetry
I know a million things that I'd rather do ---
But I've got to save the world
But didn't I save the world yesterday?
I've got to save the world
I thought I saved the world yesterday!
But no!
Some loony made a death ray
Some other fool is trying to freeze D.C.
Some villain wants everything his own way
Some other only wants a piece of me
Maybe I should've listened to my poppa
Maybe helped the family business grow
'stead of playing universal copper
'stead of trying to vanquish some super foe...
[Instrumental]
Then I realize I'd be dead with everybody else
If I didn't stick my neck out
If I didn't take a chance
If I didn't own the problem
If I didn't dance the dance
We'd be cinders on a cinder
We'd be blood upon a lance ---
So I'm going to save the world
Though I saved the world yesterday
I've got to save the world
Got to save the world
'Cause nobody else is gonna do it, I might as well get to it
Gonna save the world
Though I saved the world yesterday
I've got to save the world
Got to save the world ...
'Cause nobody else is gonna do it, I might as well get to it
I've got to save the world
Got to save the world ...
I've got to save the world
Got to save the world ...
I've got to save the world
Got to save the world ...
credits
from
Shadows, vol 1,
track released June 15, 2010
Music and Lyrics by Dave Leigh
license
