Song #35

This turned into a surprisingly ambitious project (probably my craziest project yet), written and recorded today, the day after my return from the organic agricultural farm in Quebec where I spent the last week.

Aside from harvesting and some planting, much of my time there was spent eradicating this weed, Hairy Galinsoga, an invasive weed that seemed to be taking over, well, everything, but the squash patch in particular. Of course being an organic farm that does not use sprays, my fellow Wwoofers and I, as well as the two employees of the farm had to pull these all out by hand. Of course, sitting there resulted in delicious bouts of insanity, in which Bacchus figured prominently. Each night, I closed my eyes and saw nothing but Hairy Galinsoga. Back home now, I’m still seeing the stuff, and it seemed only fitting to immortalize our weeding plight in song.

Someday, I definitely hope to get this one mixed properly. All the instruments except the piano (which is improvised) are courtesy of Garageband loops. All the voices are me unaltered, except the lowest voices in Parts I and III, where I modified the pitch and added reverb to Bacchus.

So this song is a Rock Opera about a weed, some squash, and the God of Wine. Is it just me, or are these songs continually getting weirder and weirder as the weeks go on?

Hairy Galinsoga (a rock opera in 3 parts)

PART I
[Hairy Galinsoga]

From beneath you we devour
Choke your crops with daisy flowers
Bring you to your knees for hours
You have hands but we’ve got power!

We can root from stem or seed
And no matter what your speed
Know that we will not concede
We’re the world’s most potent weed

Hairy Galinsoga!
We are squashing your squash!
Hairy Galinsoga!
All your fields are belonging to us!

You can curse and scream and pray
But to your profound dismay
We are here and here to stay
Since we know you don’t use spray!

Hairy Galinsoga!
We are reaping your beans!
Hairy Galinsoga!
There are more of us than you can ever dream!

PART II
[Hapless Cucurbita pepo]

I’m just an innocent zucchini, I’m just starting out, to grow
Here with the bees and roots and grasses, shouldn’t be that hard, I know
I need to see the sunlight but closing in on me and mine
are
Hairy Galinsoga!
Shadows over me and mine
Hairy Galinsoga!
Who will save us from these monsters?
Hairy Galinsoga!
Blocking us from what we crave
Hairy Galinsoga!
We need someone to save from this all

PART III
[Bacchus, Saviour of Squash]

BACCHUS SMASH!
BACCHUS SMASH!

Bacchus hears the call!
He’s six foot, seven inches tall
Riled up and ready to brawl
Hairy Galinsoga, get ready to fall!

BACCHUS SMASH!
BACCHUS SMASH!

He’s got a hammer the gardening tools
To wreck some Galinsoga molecules
Today the Galinsoga’s gonna lose
And we will celebrate with lots of booze

BACCHUS SMASH!
BACCHUS SMASH!

Hairy Galinsoga! (BACCHUS SMASH!)
In a great big pile!
Hairy Galinsoga! (BACCHUS SMASH GOOD!)
Bring on the fire!

(BACCHUS LIKES FIRE!
BACCHUS KILL ALL HAIRY GALINSOGA!)

The growing crops are swinging on the vine
The squash is happy and the sun, it shines
The field is cleared now let it be a sign
You don’t fuck with the God of wine!

Hairy Galinsoga!
It’s time you learn! (You don’t fuck with the God)
Hairy Galinsoga! (You don’t fuck with)
Burn, baby burn! (You don’t fuck with the God of wine)

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