Elephant in the room

by @mikeskliar

Liner Notes

#folk #political #protest #quick

I read earlier today that there's more evidence that widespread lead poisoning was a big contributing factor in the decline of the ancient Roman empire. Thinking about that, and thinking about our present day situation, this seems to have wrote itself, just about the time I was about to go to sleep. This song seemed to want to emerge right away, and I did a very quick iPhone one take one mic guitar-and-vocal thing- imported into garage band on my phone to give it a little eq (cutting the low frequencies) and adding a little reverb- then did a little more trimming and stuff in audacity on my pc, and here ya go.

enjoy, if that's the right word for a song like this.

Lyrics

The elephant’s here in this room How can you not mention this fact? The elephant’s in the White House And everything’s under attack

It’ll pass, it’ll pass, but how? That’s a mystery This ain’t gonna end so well, just ask any student of history

Its been just about one month Feels like a decade or longer Injustice insanity increasing This fascist parade’s getting stronger

What undid the Roman empire, was lead in the water systems The present day lead in our minds, our social media algorithms

We’re heading for deadly and dark We’re heading for one big disaster There’s no one to put on the brakes This journey to hell’s getting faster

It seems there’s little doubt, we’re screwed for a long time to come Won’t matter if you shout, or just let your body go numb

The elephant’s here in this room How can you not mention this fact? The elephant’s in the white house And everything’s under attack

Comments

[avatar]

“What undid the Roman empire, was lead in the water systems The present day lead in our minds, our social media algorithms”

Genius lines! I feel so sorry for intelligent, caring Americans right now. It must be what decent Germans were experiencing in 1932.

[avatar]

The words perfectly describe the situation, especially verse 2 puts it all perfectly. Terrible times in politics are good times for art, it seems. I like the descent on "everything’s under attack" btw.

[avatar]

a delightful waltz brings to mind the dancers of poe's masque of the red death, happily dancing as death puts his hand on their shoulders. one thing i would add in terms of historical precedent. it took many emperors to facilitate the decline and fall of the roman empire.

[avatar]
@jonmeta

Nice chords choices, and as usual, incisive and eloquent social commentary.

On the Roman Empire: if you listen to the Caligula episode from 'The Rest is History' podcast, the parallels with this elephant are uncanny. I always said he was Hugo Chavez for right wing America, but now I'm leaning towards Caligula.

Now can you write a song about DOGE called 'The Department of Gutting Everything" ?

[avatar]

we get the message loud and clear! this elephant however is talked about but it don't change things.

[avatar]

Rather than acknowledge the elephant, I suggest we put it in prison for its crimes. Fabulous song Mike.

[avatar]

As a student of history, I approve of the song and weep for our nation in about equal measure. I like the chord progression between the verse and the bridges. Good work here, my friend!

[FAWM]
New to FAWM?

Sign up now and start making music!

Sign Up Log In
Current Challenge
PERSONAL SOUNDTRACK

Help / Collab Guidelines / Skirmishes / Donate / Terms of Service / Privacy / Copyright / AI Statement

© 2025 FAWM, LLC.
Made with in PGH / PDX / MIA.
All lyrics & song content remain © the fawmers who wrote them. See terms of service!