Friday, February 21, 2014

Advantage on the Kingdom of the Shore

In February of 2014 we (an online music-making group called the Cover Album Project Band) picked a Shakespearean sonnet, #64, and each was given a line from it to inspire an original song. For an added frisson, the song was supposed to feature the ii - V - I chord progression prominently. My line was "Advantage on the Kingdom of the Shore" and here is what resulted. Gavin O'Keefe, the Ramble House artist, provided the soaring eagle and seagull calls on his viola.

MP3
 
VIDEO


Who wouldn’t want to live
Where the tide sets the pace
Who wouldn’t want to hear
The ocean’s vibrant roar
Who wouldn’t want to have the great advantage
The advantage on the kingdom of the shore.

Who wouldn’t want to lie
In a gentle valley
Who wouldn’t want to fly
Up where the eagles soar
Who wouldn’t want to have the great advantage
The advantage on the kingdom of the shore.

Mountains to the east
Ocean to the west
Livin on the edge of land
Is like ridin on the crest
Of a wave that never ends
And never asks for more
It’s the seacoast advantage
On the Kingdom of the Shore

Who wouldn’t want to fight
With the water at your back
Who wouldn’t want to know
About the times that went before
Who wouldn’t want to take the great advantage
The advantage on the kingdom of the shore.

Desert to the east
Water to the west
Livin on the coast
Is like flyin on the crest
Of a wave that never ends
And always knows the score
It’s the seacoast advantage
On the Kingdom of the Shore

Sonnet 64 (c) 1609 by William Shakespeare, by permission of the author
 

 
BONUS COVER!

Are there any popular songs about zombies? You'd think there would be plenty these days. Here's one from the 70s by Asleep at the Wheel and I imagine it would go over well at a bar. In the old days it wasn't quite so ironic.