FAWM: "Pantomime of Empathy"

Pantomime of Empathy

2025 by @regis

Liner Notes

#slide #slidebass #5string guitar #cbg #political #rock #bluesrock

Someday I might figure out how not to sound Stones-y when playing my 5-string cigar box guitar, but not today. More fretless 2-string slide bass fun. Another song where I recorded music first without having lyrics (or even a melody). I'd probably structure this differently, but I think that short and sweet works well enough.

James 2:14-26

Lyrics

You act so tough, you talk so proud With jello spines your heads are bowed The gilded one that you adore Has taken your souls, and so much more

The mask is off, and you’re still in You doubled down thinking that you’ll win Pissing away what made us great To lick the crumbs off the golden plate

You say you’re justified in the faith you confess So show me your works, and we’ll assess We know your pantomime of empathy Is just front for cowardice and greed All you proclaim is cowardice and greed

We’ve got money for bombs, more upper class tax cuts Maternal mortality is up up up Turn your back on your kids, turn your back on the vets Privatizing profits selling our assets

Wreck the economy with a new trade war At least the trans kids can’t play sports anymore Is this how do you treat the least of these? Like grapes in the press, for you to squeeze

You’re justified in the faith you confess Show me your works, and we’ll assess Just another lie to put yourself ahead If these are your works, your faith is dead It’s plain to see that your faith is dead

Comments

@plushbaby 2025

Love the instrumentation and that 2-string slide bass rules! I get a subtle Lou Reed vibe on this - maybe a combination of the music and your vocal delivery. It's a compelling song and I wish you all the best for the next 4 years!

@jeremykazoo 2025

There are so many questions here I ask myself. I wish any of these thoughts ever had a chance to be answered. I just hope that cooler heads prevail in the next few months.