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WEEK 6/SONG 6:"What I'm Doing Right"
This week’s song is big! There are a total of nine collaborators on this tune!
We’ve got beautiful string playing from Camellia Hartman, hot fire horns from Andrew McGovern, and the relentlessly grooving rhythm section of Sam Merrick on drums and Reuben Cainer on bass. We also have Brien, Caroline, and Adam Fraser singing, along with Darren Mastropaolo, who was a big help in figuring this monstrous track out.
Creating while quarantined (even in paradise) is a wild and often weird experience of synthesis. I spent much of the week trying to write an entirely different song. Then at 1am on Tuesday night, frustrated at a lack of progress, I started banging out a call and response melody over a conga beat. The lyrics seemed to be a satirical reflection on the Texas Governor saying “There are more important things than life”. That statement felt like the light being shone on how people at the top of society value their own worth over their neighbors’ lives.
I’ve also been watching so many musician friends lament not being at Jazz Fest this year and it brought up my own fond memories of New Orleans. Hence, a NoLa-flavored uplifting song about worker uprising (!?) for May Day/International Worker Day.
Ultimately this one’s just a good time. Highly recommend playing it loud in the kitchen and dancing in your socks while making gumbo.
lyrics
LYRICS:
Line up people with your empty bowls
It’s two for one if you sell your soul
Grab a broom go sweep that floor
For 7.25, not a single cent more
Here’s a rag, better wipe your brow
(Thank you sir, that’s very kind to allow)
Something nasty’s going around
(Yes sir, sure hope the fever goes down)
I believe in paying your debt
(We believe in blood and sweat)
Not this life, maybe in the next
(We’re doing our doing our doing our best)
All my people there standing in line
(Used to cost a nickel and now it’s a dime)
Get your hands off what’s rightfully mine
(Wait a minute you said you’re on our side)
I can see you from here, you’re hardly trying
(Seven days straight’s little hard on the mind)
Don’t you know there’s worse things in life than dying
Are you hearing what the man just said?
He’ll bleed us dry for a loaf of bread
Before you stand up and join the fight
Take a good long look at what you know is right
So tell me, tell me what I’m doing right
When you tell me what I’m doing wrong
Grab those clippers, better get to work
(Trying to stand up but the fevers getting worse)
I’m teeing off at four o’clock
Doing our best but the lungs still hurt)
Quit that coughing, what’d I say
(Don’t worry sir we’ll be okay)
We’re not gonna play with blood on the fairway
(Breaking our back so you can play)
Are you hearing what the man just said?
He’ll make his dollar if it leaves us dead
Before you stand up and join the fight
Take a good long look at what is wrong and right
Tell me, tell me what I’m doing right
Tell me, tell me what I’m doing right
Wait now people, now where’d ya go
(We’re leaving, we’re leaving, not taking no more)
But this here paper says I own your soul
(That’s some dice we’re willing to roll)
Come on back I’ll give ya something sweet
(We’re marching ourselves on down the street)
But who’s gonna stay and wash my feet?
(We’re marching, we’re marching on down the street)
But who’s gonna cook and clean?
(We’re marching ourselves on down the street)
How’m I gonna get to my four o’clock meeting?
We’re marching, we’re marching on down the street
We’re marching, we’re marching on down the street
We’re marching, we’re marching on down the street
credits
released May 3, 2020
Written/Mixed/Produced by Nat Osborn
Mastered by Danielle Warman
Nat Osborn - Vocals, Percussion, Piano
Sam Merrick - Drums
Reuben Cainer - Bass
Camellia Hartman - Strings
Andrew McGovern - Horns
Darren Mastropaolo - Vocals
Brien Fraser - Vocals
Adam Fraser - Vocals
Caroline Fraser - Vocals
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