Musically, this track is a mix of different themes that I mostly wrote for the piece, with the later inclusion of a few others that I wanted to use to fill up gaps. Originally, after I came up with the concept of the song, I had planned to write the song as two twenty-minute pieces, the first entitled 'The Rise' and the second 'The Fall'. The idea I had was that I would write roughly ten minutes of the start of each and then, once I had recorded a demo, reverse them and rerecord a new demo of each so that it was a mirror of the first. The ultimate idea was that the first part would be a reflection of the second.
Time, the desire to race through all my songs in order to write again, and the opportunity to record the live tracks with Mark and Bob meant that the song became a cutdown version of what it could have been, but at just over 22 minutes, I'm not sure its really justified to suggest that this song is cutback. I tried to link the music back up (as per my original intention) by bringing certain themes back around, namely the end of VII (using IX's riff), VIII including a reversed IX, and XIII linking XII, I and II, by drawing on its themes and finishing back where it started.
Conceptually, the song was about me, or an alter ego of me that was akin to the 'devil on my shoulder'. The name Romeo Gultch doesn't mean anything specific, but sounded conceptual enough and a little bit bad, and slightly ridiculous. This 'devil' and its story represents the slow, purposeful taking over of myself, as it plunges me into a spiral of spiritual and moral decay. However, the story is rewritten in that, through the process of my faith (which is not really discussed in the song), I emerge out from under Romeo's shadow and put it down, although not fully - as can you ever really?
The concept is a heavy, yet rather playful one. I have no real belief in a 'devil on my shoulder', nor do I care for Satan (either real of metaphorical) and his plans to drag me down (although, you should totally ask me about it some time!). I liked the story and wanted to play the idea out, and giving my lesser self a character and name was a fun exercise.
Overall, this track is arguably the biggest idea I have ever worked with. Roll over, Theater of Dreams.
lyrics
THE RISE AND FALL OF ROMEO GULTCH
THE RISE
I. The Birth of Romeo Gultch
My mother was opportunity
My father; the Morning Star
Although I am like him, I have her eyes…
II. A Boy’s Gotta Eat
I prefer the night
Cultivating shadows
Whet my appetite
Feasting on my sickening host
You won’t believe your eyes!
Too much in the light
Must create my own darkness
Don’t put up a fight
I’m a master of all this
Breathe in now as I bite
I’ll have you all in good time…
III. Target Acquired
I’ve picked you of all else out of a line
Though we’re joined, I made sure I took my time
To size you up, sus you out, to make you mine
We’re gonna have such good times!
Where we will go you won’t believe your eyes!
I’ve made a study of how you move in time
But research by itself just will not satisfy
What we will do you won’t believe your eyes!
IV. The Hostile Takeover
All of these shares are mine
51% of you
I own this space and time
49% won’t do
Redecorate in blood
Out with the old, in with new
No sense in fighting it
Do as I do unto you
How do I bend your mind?
To make you choose my new truth?
Just one step at a time
You’ll only see when you lose
Covered from head to toe
Redecorated in blood
No sense in fighting it
Take what I want from you
My goal’s achieved when I
Do as I do unto you
V. I’m Going Outside to Stalk Lenny and Carl
VI. Practice Makes Perfect
Now I’m in the zone!
Taking hold of this
Make you choose the wrath over the gold
Architect of death
Pull you down with me
I’m getting good at this, don’t you know!
Succumb to me
So succinctly
Deflate until my air you breathe!
VII. Relentless
I have a request
Be suitably impressed!
You go to work from 8 till 5 and go to bed like all the rest
But I never sleep at night
Never allow myself respite
My all is to diminish you complete!
VIII. The King of All I Survey
You are all but spent, I have won
THE FALL
IX. So, Tell Me, How Can I Kill Hope?
I – I want your hope to lie
I feel something uncomfortable
And feel you haven’t died
Wait! It’s supposed to be too late!
What selfish kind of host are you
That doesn’t fully break?
I’ve tried to take you into me
To make you think as I
But you still have the fight inside you
Just hurry up and die!
X. The Line is Drawn, The Teeth Are Set
XI. The Battle of the Inch
The more I see what I guess you’ll be
The less I think I know
You dig your heels and you come at me
Like I’m the one who’s low!
Succumb to me
Maybe you’ll be
The one that gets me in the end…
XII. Riding Unto Doom
I’m not so blind that I cannot see
My back against the wall
I will not die, not admit defeat
Can never truly fall
On shoulders, you stood above
My poison round your knees!
The only thing that can make me weak…
XIII. Snatching Defeat from the Jaws of Victory
It’s no fear!
You had help!?
How is that a fair fight?
While I pulled down
You looked up!
A strength I can’t deny…
XIV. Thus, I Die
Your mother’s faith was new to me
Your father was a star!
Although you are like him, you have her eyes
credits
from The Rise and Fall of Romeo Gultch,
released March 31, 2016
Guitars, Bass, Vocals and Keyboard Programming: Kerry Logan, Keyboards and Pianos: Mark Weir, and Drums by Bobby Logan.
Written and produced by Kerry Logan.
Drum and Keyboard/Piano tracks recorded at Noiseworks Studio on the 28th of December 2015, and at Opunake High School on the 7th February through to the 29th March 2016.
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