Hollywood Ending
by @berni1954
Skirmish: Happy Endings (@atornberg)Liner Notes
I couldn't post the demo last night as it was past midnight our time and the neighbours might have objected! Got to keep your neighbours sweet, or no chance of a happy ending 😉
INSTRUMENT 3/4 Classical Guitar by Hora (Romania) (or a Baritone Guitalele, if you prefer 😁)
Lyrics
CAPO 1 (it's in Eb)
(Bm) The pursuit of happiness is (G) in the consti(A)tution But (Bm) what that word implies has (G) no clear reso(A)lution It's (Bm) used to rationalize the (G) right to make (A) money (Bm) Or insist we look on the (G) side of life that's (A) sunny It (Em) justifies all our con(A)sumer spending But (Bm) life is (G) seldom like a (A) Hollywood (Bm) ending
(Em) Hollywood Ending the (A) crisis is over! (Bm) Hollywood Ending our protagonist's in clover It's (Em) all broad smiles... and (A) tears of laughter And (F#m) off they go into the happy ever after!
(Bm) There's bills to pay and there's a (G) mortgage to (A) finish (Bm) Food prices rise as our (G) wages di(A)minish (Bm) Interest rates are climbing (G) higher than the (A) ceiling (Bm) It's leaving everyone with (G) that old sinking (A) feeling We're (Em) left with dreams but there's (A) no use pretending (Bm) Life is (G) seldom like a (A) Hollywood (Bm) ending
CHORUS
(Bm) Putting kids through school is (G) a huge (A) nightmare (Bm) There are no jobs for them they (G) have to look (A) elsewhere (Bm) I'm saving what I can to (G) pay for my cre(A)mation (Bm) Even death's not cheap in (G) our wealth driven (A)nation I've (Em) heard that composting has (A) begun trending (Bm) Yes, life is (G) seldom like a (A) Hollywood (Bm) ending.
Comments
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Life is seldom like a Hollywod anything ;-) Or as we say in German: "Das Leben ist kein Ponyhof!"
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that's a cracker mate! the music is as compelling as the words! well played!
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Fantastic, Berni. An incisive lyric and suitably dark sound to fit. Impressive you could pull this off in a skirmish.
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You nailed it, Berni. Wow. I could cut and paste every freakin' stanza and tell you how timely, accurate, and clever each word, each phrase is,because they are. .You give us one little hollywood dream in the 2nd section, a moment to feel the fantasty, then it's back to business. Driving the nail in with your bottom line tag "But life is seldom like a Hollywood ending". Brilliant write my friend. Always a pleasure listening to your level of clarity and craftsmanship!
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The message resonates! Just a nice listen. Really enjoyed your vocals and strumming.
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Very enjoyable song, well written, well sung, well played and well done. Cheers
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Hollywood has a lot to answer for. On the other hand, a diet of Tess of the d'Urbevilles doesn't appeal. Whatever happened "life isn't meant to be easy, it's meant to be life"? Ah well, berni sings truth with a ?baritone?guitarlele....
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I love the hook and the insight that life is seldom a Hollywood ending and your relatable details in the verses make that very clear and develop it well. Great song!
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Very concise lyrics, well said! Nicely sung.
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So nicely done -- the framing in the first verse nicely sets up "life is seldom like a hollywood ending." (Love the chord that gets is to the last line in the chorus.) And the seriousness (and specificity) of the 2nd verse gives us a nice illustration (as does the 3rd verse).
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Commenting again for the demo: Your voice is great and you've fit the words to music well! I love the melody and chord choices. I can hear this being massive with a full band!
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@cathreu @philnorman @atornberg
Just a note to say I posted the demo for "Hollywood Ending" glad you liked the lyrics.
"mortgage to finish" and "Wages diminish" is a very clever rhyme, and the chorus jumps off the page. I hope youll add music to this!
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Righteous. Great way to use the prompt, it took you to a powerful expression of what it means to live through these crazy times. I love the way politic and protest has found its way into a lot of our songs this year -- creation is an act of resistance. Great skirmish.
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Sad, but I am hoping things change. We are into dark times at the moment. I do as much as I can in my community and it helps.
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Sounds like I’ve heard this song forever. You have such a natural relaxed style of guitar, singing and delivery. So many truths spoken in the lyric. Here SAMRO pays for your funeral as a songwriter in SA! Lol