BIG HOUSE
29 May 2020
BEHIND THE TRACK
Frank Musker on the origins of ‘Big House’, the debut release from World Goes Round…
‘I don’t have a specific memory of writing Big House with Jeff and Marty but I do think it was essentially concept/lyric driven initially. I had visited the Amazon (not the online retailer!) about four times in Peru, Brazil and Venezuela. I was amazed by its pristine beauty, the sheer size of everything, the animal life and I had become a bit obsessed with South America generally. I still am. When I read that an area of forest equivalent to a thousand football fields was being destroyed at some impossibly rapid rate I was in despair and needed to express it in some meaningful way - hence the line ‘In the time it takes to sing this song, Another thousand acres will be gone.’
Also it was a couple of years before the Berlin Wall came down and I had become increasingly aware of the rumblings in the news of refugees fleeing from behind the Iron Curtain and the dangers they faced - ‘Well there’s a man in East Berlin, All he wants is a ticket on a westbound train’ - seems like not a lot has changed now.....if anything the refugee problem has got much worse. They all want the good life we enjoy in the west - and who could blame them?
So all these environmental and social things were going on in my head at the time but when I spoke about them to people in California and the UK they seemed completely oblivious. Actually I remember they thought I was a bit nuts and it was clear they felt quite uncomfortable talking about it. It was all so far away. Why is it our problem? So I got the idea of a bunch of ridiculously hedonistic people living it up in a big mansion up on a hill while down below the world was burning and choking on filthy polluted air. Nero fiddling while Rome burns. ‘So we do the dance - take it for granted, You tell the truth - they don’t understand it.’
Amongst my musical heroes at the time were Don Henley and Peter Gabriel - they seemed to have the platform to talk about difficult stuff in their music without people thinking they were being preached to. I remember Jeff and Marty coming up with the perfect musical feel for the song I wanted to write. The melody came very quickly and naturally with Elizabeth adding her amazing ad lib vocals and harmonies. It was very satisfying for me to sing. I found a way of expressing real anger and passion which I hadn’t been able to express before because the song itself was so powerful. It feels even more relevant today than it did then because of the likes of Extinction Rebellion, David Attenborough, Greta Thunberg etc. It’s now an urgent subject which is in the mainstream of public and political debate.
The song was written as a wake up call thirty years ago. It’s time to wake up now.
LYRICS
Big House
What kind of damn do you give?
Do you know how the other three quarters live?
You say that you do but you don't have a clue
Sing - oh weh oh weh oh weh oh
Oh weh oh weh oh etc
You can see it on the streets in your neighbourhood
What you mean? We never had it so good
Chorus
Living in a big house - up on the hill
We're all living it up while somebody else - pays the bill
Well it's a sweet life - as long as it lasts
Living in a big world - but it's shrinking fast
Living in a big house
Living in a big big house up on the hill (let me in)
Well there's a man in East Berlin
All he wants is a ticket on a westbound train (ya see)
It's not the same everywhere but I guess you don't care
So we do the dance - take it for granted
You tell the truth - they don't understand it
In the time it takes to sing this song
Another thousand acres - will be gone
Chorus
Living in a big house - up on the hill
We're all living it up while somebody else - pays the bill
Well it's a sweet life - as long as it lasts
Living in a big world - but it's shrinking fast
Living in a big house
Living in a big big house up on the hill
Bridge
Real life
You can have it - you can keep it to yourself
You can feed it to the sharks - I don't wanna know
We can only - help you if you don't need help
Oh no no no - Sorry!
Chorus
Living in a big house - up on the hill
We're all living it up while somebody else - pays the bill
Well it's a sweet life - as long as it lasts
Living in a big world - but it's shrinking fast
Living in a big house
Living in a big big house up on the hill
Outro
Save me save me save me save me etc
Music & Lyrics: Hull, Musker, Walsh.
LISTEN
ROUND THE WORLD
17 July 2020
BEHIND THE TRACK
Bruce Springsteen once remarked that all the best rock tunes are ultimately based on We Gotta Get Outa This Place by the legendary Eric Burdon and the Animals.
The classic Born to Run was the perfect example of that deep rooted desire to escape a life which is going nowhere. It speaks of the rock and roll dream of getting on a motorcycle, tearing off into the sunset and never looking back.
In the case of Round the World the song deals with an escape from a negative relationship which is going nowhere. But it's written from a more optimistic perspective - that a new love has brought new hope for a better future.
Making that final break with the past and setting off to find the big beautiful world that's out there waiting to be discovered and experienced is the theme of the sunny light filled chorus.
It swells the heart with positivity, warmth and the hope that people all over the world want the same things - love, freedom, joy, adventure and fulfilment.
After all the unprecedented trauma and fear of Covid 19 and the worldwide restrictions of lockdown this song looks forward to a time when it's okay to dream of travelling again - taking to the road and embracing this precious life in all it's beauty.
LYRICS
Round the World
Tell you something babe OK
Took my love wrong the usual way
Everybody's scheming on this 'friend' of mine
Don't you worry bout me coming home tonight yeah
They might tell you that you see
I held my breath timelessly
I've got to leave you girl in a final way
Well I won't carry you - I'm gone to stay
Well I defy the notion
I got a feeling it's all the way
Cause I'll be taking her baby, far away
Round the World
One love to get me through
Round the World
Oh we'll shine on through
Later on the telephone
Got another quarter and I'm calling home
Got to tell you baby if you don't mind
That it's really not up to you this time
Well I defy the notion
From sea to shining sea
I'd rather take you on baby
Come fly with me
Round the World
One Sun one sunshine
Round the World
Oh I'll make you mine in time yeah
Well I don't know if we'll make it
I may lose all track of time
I'll be calling you baby from time to time
Round the World
One sun one sunshine
Round the World
Oh I'll make you mine in time
Round the World
Sun is a shining through
Round the World
For me and you
Yeah - round and round we go
RTW - smiles and lies a baby cries for you you say
RTW - you'll see people everywhere
RTW - people care
Yeah - round and round we go
Music & Lyrics: Musker, Cawley, Tyler
LISTEN
PUT IT ON THE LINE
9 October 2020
BEHIND THE TRACK
It's 1989 in Los Angeles - four friends create an album which will only be heard for the first time IN 2020. Following on from the sensational debut single 'Big House' and follow-up 'Round The World', the hotly anticipated third single from the 'supergroup that never was' is here.
Put it on the Line is a song about overcoming fear and self doubt - emotions common to every single one of us.
It is dedicated to all the ordinary every day heroes everywhere who put themselves on the line and in harm's way each and every day for us - the ones who just turn up come what may and do their duty whatever the cost.
Here's to the nurses, the doctors, the health workers, the firemen, the soldiers and to all those who daily overcome resistance and their own perceived limitations. There are no limits to your heroism and to what you can achieve.
We salute you.
LYRICS
Put It On The Line
You got to play the system
That's what we have been taught
To obey the eleventh commandment
Thou shalt not get caught
So who takes the bullet?
Who gets to make the call?
And when they blow the whistle
Who takes the fall?
Got to put it on the line
Each and every day
Put it on the line
No matter what discouraging voices say
Anytime you're weak
Anytime you fall behind
Show 'em what you're made of
Don't be afraid to put it on the line
You overcome resistance
Whether you win or lose
Anyone who ever went the distance
Had to pay some dues
A hero or a zero?
The choice is not always yours
Either way you get caught up
In other people's wars
But you put it on the line
Each and every day
Put it on the line
No matter what discouraging voices say
Anytime you're weak
Anytime you fall behind
Show 'em what you're made of
Can't stop now
Not if you wanted to
Can't go back to the way things once were
No way out
Cause it's never over
Don't look back
Over your shoulder
Cause there's always somebody coming up behind
But you put it on the line
Anytime you're weak
Anytime you fall behind
Show 'em what you're made of
Put it on the line
Each and every day
Put it on the line
No matter what discouraging voices say
Anytime you're weak
Anytime you fall behind
Show 'em what you're made of
Show them what you're made of
Put it on the line
Music & Lyrics: Musker, Cawley, Tyler