Tag: pop rock

‘Denial’ — Lyrics To A Woke Pop-Rock-Dance Protest Song

I have mixed emotions about Selena Gomez’s song Bad Liar. In some ways it’s the song of the summer, and in other ways it kind of gets on my nerves a little bit. But it’s definitely got a beat and you can dance to it. But it has gotten me thinking about a similar song with more, um, “woke” lyrics that would be a sly take on climate deniers. At last, that’s the aim.

Denial
lyrics by Shelton Bumgarner
@bumgarls
please give credit if you produce or perform

with you in control
the world continues to spin
but you have to admit
you’re doing nothing to stop
nothing to stop, nothing stop
how quickly it’s growing hot
and what not
so you can deny it all you want
tell me to slow my roll
but it’s clear
the world is getting hotter
it’s hot as can be
now what baby

[chorus]
stop denying what we all can see
stop denying what we all can feel
the world’s growing hot, hot, hot

those around you refuse to see
what is right before your face
your skin sweats just like mine
the summer seems to last all year long
the sun ain’t getting closer
but when I see you my blood seems to boil
we’re all going to suffer
the people across the globe can see
what we both know is the truth
you need to stop denying the facts

[chorus]
stop denying what we all can see
stop denying what we all can feel
the world’s growing hot, hot, hot

[bridge]
things are changing so quickly
the ice caps are melting at a rapid pace
what are you going to do when
there’s no ice left to rub across your face

don’t be in denial
don’t be in denial
don’t be in denial

‘The Ballad Of Otto Warmbier,’ — Lyrics To A Pop Folk Song

Now, let me stress from the beginning that this entire situation is tragic. It’s tragic what happened to this poor boy and it’s even more tragic that there’s weirdly enough some traction when it comes to war talk as part of his death. I find this all weird. But his death is so tragic that it seems it warrants an attempt at a folk pop song. No one pays any of my lyrics any attention, so this is just me yelling out into the void my sadness at what happened. I don’t want war with North Korea, and it’s really sad that poor young Warmbier had to die at the hands of that horrific regime. This would be a folk pop ballad.

The Ballad of Otto Warmbier
lyrics by Shelton Bumgarner
@bumgarls
please give credit if you produce or perform

the land of the morning calm is still
divided in two with dreams that are now nightmares
things are about as bad as they could be
and tragically, I am forced to sing
of one more thing, one more thing, one more thing

Otto Warmbier a young man just out of school
pulled down a banner like a fool
but nothing he could have done
nothing under the great big sun
could possibly merit his unjust treatment
he was beaten to an inch of his life
the North Koreans beat him again again
put him in a coma now he’s dead
put him in a coma now he’s dead
put him in a coma now he’s dead

there’s talk now of bombings
more dead, more dead, more dead
but what are these people thinking
don’t they know the list is long
as the people of Operation Paul Bunyon
and the crew of the Pueblo
can attest, the wicked North Koreans get no rest

so history will remain frozen I’m afraid
nothing will happen to avenge young Warmbier’s name
the millions that would die should try
is a cost far, far, far too high
though let us never forget what the North Koreans did
they beat poor young Warmbier again and again
put him in a coma now he’s dead
put him in a coma now he’s dead
put him in a coma now he’s dead

‘Drain The Swamp’ — Lyrics To A Woke Country Pop Rock Song

These lyrics are meant to be a homage to Lynyrd Skynard’s Swamp Music and Charlie Daniels’ Uneasy Rider. That’s the goal, at least. I don’t really have a beat, but in my imagination it’d be something country rock in its stylings. Maybe a little funky too.

Drain The Swamp
lyrics by Shelton Bumgarner
@bumgarls
please give credit if you produce or perform

ol Trump tells me
tells me all the time
that he’s going to drain the swamp
drain the swamp, drain the swamp

I look all around
all I see is swamp creatures
making their way down D.C. way
got me singing the blues

[chorus]
when are we going to drain the swamp
like I keep being told
when are we going to drain the swamp
am I being played for a fool
all I want is someone to
drain the swamp
drain the swamp
drain the swamp

the people know when they’re being lied to
we know what to do
we know what to do
come election time
we’re going to ride the blue wave
getting in there someone new

[chorus]
when are we going to drain the swamp
like I keep being told
when are we going to drain the swamp
am I being played for a fool
all I want is someone to
drain the swamp
drain the swamp
drain the swamp

[bridge]
people tell just wait and see
give ol Trump a chance
believe me I have
but that time has been had

the swamp is going to be drained
soon enough
soon enough
soon enough
but only once ol Trump is thrown
out on his butt

‘Eve’ — Lyrics To A Woke Pop-Rock Song

I feel inspired because, well, my little summer breeze of a celebrity crush of the moment is Eve Peyser of Vice Magazine. She’s beautiful and she inspires me, and I’m looking for different angles to me complaining about Trumplandia, so you get this. These lyrics are a homage to “Levon” by Elton John and Bernie Taupin. I like how it tells a story and this is kind of me trying to tell the story of this tragic day when people seem to be getting shot left and right. This probably has a little bit too much of Levon built into its structure, but that could be fixed with someone serving as co-writer and the light touch of a good composer.

Eve
lyrics by Shelton Bumgarner
@bumgarls
please give credit if you produce or perform

Eve stands in her new apartment’s little room
checking her computer now and then
to see if we’re still standing or not
things seem to be falling down all around

Eve lives in Brooklyn at the center of it all
her thoughts are jarred now and again by the news
we interrupt this breaking news for more breaking news

chorus
Eve is worried about our fate
Eve is worried that we’re on thin ice
Eve hopes we make it through this dark time
maybe wisdom will prevail

things are dire it’s true
but Eve has a plan to make things work out at last
she’s going to do her part
to keep things together
it may be just a walk in the park

now she takes a sip of wine
smiles again at her small little room
the one she fits in so perfectly
wondering at the fate
that brought it to her life

chorus
Eve is worried about our fate
Eve is worried that we’re on thin ice
Eve hopes we make it through this dark time
maybe wisdom will prevail

[bridge]
the future is never set
maybe we’d defeat hate just yet
she says with a sigh
things might just work out fine

the day isn’t over yet
so maybe it can end well
just yet
just yet
just yet

‘Brooklyn’ — Lyrics To A Woke Folk-Pop Ballad

I saw a picture of Eve Peyser of Vice Magazine in her new apartment on Twitter and she said she fits perfectly in a “strange small room” perfectly. Her obvious beauty and wit has inspired me yet again and given that I am _assuming_ that the apartment is in Brooklyn, I decided to write a poem-meant-to-be-sung about the picture. Given that I have Trumplandia on the brain, it’s “woke” as well. But this is meant to be a homage to Simon & Garfunkel’s “America.” Or that song “Budapest.” It’s supposed to tell a story about a place. That’s the goal, at least. This is, as always a first draft. Like “America,” there’s no traditional chorus. Your vocalist would have to figure out where the emphasis would be.

Brooklyn
lyrics by Shelton Bumgarner
@bumgarls
please give credit if you produce or perform

she fits in a strange small room
in her new Brooklyn apartment
perfectly
her broad smile belies
the reign of the mad king
the one we all think about and wince
though for a moment she’s at peace

Brooklyn is the center of it all
her new apartment with its strange small room
the one she fits in so well
leaves us all to pause
to dwell on the meaning of it all

the streets of Brooklyn hum
with the busy people brooding on vice and sin
their voices can be heard to Montreal
maybe in French if they have the gaul

Eve with the raven hair
with her lovely countenance
makes Helen green with envy
it all happens in her new apartment
it all happens in her new apartment
it all happens in her new apartment
the one with the strange small room

‘(I Don’t) Recall’ — Lyrics To A Woke Pop Song

As you may know, Attorney General Jeff Sessions said “I don’t recall” and “I don’t remember” a lot during his recent testimony in front of Congress. These lyrics are a reference to that. In my imagination, the music to this would be something akin to Tove Lo’s Habits (Stay High). Her song’s lyrics are much more complex than this, but this is a pretty good beginning.

(I Don’t) Recall
lyrics by Shelton Bumgarner
@bumgarls

you’re rush’n ’round town
asking all we know if I’m some kind of clown
you ask me all kinds of questions
looking for the truth
I look at you in the eye
with a sigh
say repeatedly what can be seen
I don’t mean to be mean
but baby leave me be

I don’t remember
I don’t recall
I don’t remember
I don’t recall

we’re all lying to each other
these days
want me to testify to the truth
when at this point
even I don’t know what’s real
did I cheat
when I went rush’n ’round town
up to you decide
’cause I’m going to invoke
my rights
to protect my delights

I don’t remember
I don’t recall
I don’t remember
I don’t recall

[bridge]
we’re all looking for the facts
we hope the truth will arrive
but I promise you I don’t recall
just don’t know what to say

I don’t remember
I don’t recall
I don’t remember
I don’t recall

‘Blindsided’ — Lyrics To An Anti-Trump Folk-Pop Song

One of the angriest songs I know of is “Troy” by Sinead O’Conner. I have no beat to go with this, but in my imagination is would be a folk-pop song like Troy. You might give it a pop-rock spin like an OK Computer song. Maybe. Anyway, this really is just a poem meant to be sung. These lyrics are kind of meant to be a response to Ivanka Trump’s statement that she was “blindsided” by the angry reaction to her father’s election. It’s meant to be someone responding to her and thinking back to election night and how that made them feel.

Blindsided
lyric by Shelton Bumgarner
@bumgarls
please give credit if you produce or perform

it was fall
the globe was spinning, warming
we all thought we had it figured out
the Mid-West would hold
it would hold tight
we’d be liberated from the foe
freedom would ring
but as the night wore on
things began to turn
we thought we would be blessed
but the light began to dim
our frontal lobe began to pound
it became obvious that our fate was sealed
we were going to be blindsided
we were going to be blindsided
the Mid-West would not hold
Michigan and Wisconsin
Michigan and Wisconsin
how could you
how could you blindside us so
now we’re hurdling towards an unknown fate
we live in shock and awe
of that fall night when
the boom fell
leaving us blindsided
we’re lead by a loon, a buffoon
who lies all the time
his daughter has the gual
the gaul to say
she was blindsided by our fury
when her father brought this on himself
he is not kind
he is not fair
there’s nothing to say I fear
but we must rage on
we’re still reeling
from the night we were blindsided by fate
could it have been hackers
could it have been fools
I don’t know
but the struggle has now just begun
we were blindsided
we were blindsided
we were blindsided

‘Be My Reince Priebus’ — Lyrics To An Anti-Trump Pop-Rock Song

This is just lyrics to a silly little pop song about Chief of Staff Reince Priebus. He has a funny name and seems like something of a suck up so it seems like he would be fun to write about. I have no beat for this, but it would be funny to have a really loud chorus like LCD Soundsystem’s North American Scum. And yes, this makes reference to a well known poem.

Be My Reince Priebus
lyrics by Shelton Bumgarner
@bumgarls
please give credit if you produce or perform

Reince Priebus
born too late
he’s in the thick of it all
he’s the guy with the gaul to suck it all

be my
Reince Priebus
Reince Priebus
Reince Priebus
be my
Reince Priebus
Reince Priebus

Reince Priebus
don’t leave us with the fear
everything we hold dear will be gone
once Trump is done with it all
but to hear you tell it
we’re just going to have it all

Reince Priebus
won’t deceive us
he’s just lance the boil
give us something to roar about
’cause he’s in the thick of it all

be my
Reince Priebus
Reince Priebus
Reince Priebus
be my
Reince Priebus
Reince Priebus

[bridge]
nothing is as it seems
when your bursting at the seams
to tell the world
that your boss is rex
what next, what next

Reince Priebus
let’s just call it a day
the time for lies has ended
the truth needs to be in play

be my
Reince Priebus
Reince Priebus
Reince Priebus
be my
Reince Priebus
Reince Priebus

‘Anything’ — Lyrics To A Woke Anti-Trump Dance Pop Song

This uses found verse from the Access Hollywood tape that somehow failed to sink Donald Trump’s presidential bid. In my imagination, it would have a thumping baseline like Britney Spears’ “Womanizer.” It is sung from a woman’s point of view, kind of directly talking to Donald Trump. It would use a sample from the Access Hollywood for great effect, if done properly. This is definitely a first rough draft, but I like the concept a lot.

Anything
lyrics by Shelton Bumgarner
sample from Access Hollywood
@bumgarls
please give credit if you produce or perform

[Donald Trump, spoken]
And when you’re a star, they let you do it. You can do anything.
And when you’re a star, they let you do it. You can do anything.

think you’re a celebrity
think you can do anything
now you’re our leader
that’s what they say
much to my dismay
much to my dismay

[hook, Donald Trump, spoken]
Grab ’em by the pussy. You can do anything.
Grab ’em by the pussy. You can do anything.
Grab ’em by the pussy. You can do anything.

we live in an era of disorder
the Russians are in the house
flipping things about
you’re a silent lout

now we’re in the streets
wearing our pussy hats
telling you what’s next
your hands are small
we’re see you at the ballot box
the free world we are going to rock

[hook, Donald Trump, spoken]
Grab ’em by the pussy. You can do anything.
Grab ’em by the pussy. You can do anything.
Grab ’em by the pussy. You can do anything.

[bridge]
people in the streets
dancing around with pride
I pass on by with a smile
knowing we’re going to have victory
soon enough baby

you think you can do anything
but that’s not true
that’s not true
won’t know what hit you
when we’re done with you

[hook, Donald Trump, spoken]
Grab ’em by the pussy. You can do anything.
Grab ’em by the pussy. You can do anything.
Grab ’em by the pussy. You can do anything.

‘Vortex’ — Lyrics To A Woke Dance-Pop Anti-Trump Song

I have toyed with the lyrics to a song called “Vortex” for some time now. I think it’s a great title to a “Toxic” type song and for no other reason than I have some time on my hands, I thought I’d write some lyrics to a “woke” dance-pop song using that title. It’s just fun trying to tell a story in verse, so you get stuff like this. Actually, if you study pop songs like Toxic, they’re really tough to write because they use words so sparingly. Regardless, here you go. This is very much a first draft, so take that into consideration. But it’s promising. It’s an interesting concept for a dance song.

Vortex
lyrics by Shelton Bumgarner
@bumgarls
please give credit if you produce or perform

it seems everyone around me is complicit
there’s a swirling around the king
where will this all end
I sing and sing
wait a moment more will come
this vortex has just begun

[Pre-Chorus]
the talking heads demand we listen
will the airbags open up
will this vortex suck us in

[Chorus]
weather’s getting worse
a tornado is on the loose
we’re going to have to hold on tight
someone is going to testify again
time to batten down
the vortex is getting stronger
time to batten down
the vortex is getting stronger

we’re all worried for our fate
what will happen to this ship of state
the vortex is swirling around

[Pre-Chorus]
the talking heads demand we listen
will the airbags open up
will this vortex suck us in

[Chorus]
weather’s getting worse
a tornado is on the loose
we’re going to have to hold on tight
someone is going to testify again
time to batten down
the vortex is getting stronger
time to batten down
the vortex is getting stronger