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In a River

by Michael Faeth

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about

100% of the proceeds from the sale of the song through March 2024 will be donated to help supply NAR C.A.T. Gen7 Tourniquets to those on the front lines for Ukraine and/or in other ways to help those impacted by the war.

The Story Behind "In a River"

Really?!? Right when we are starting to get past a global pandemic someone decides to start another war and cause so much suffering. When the war in Ukraine started in 2022, Michael was compelled to write something about it. How could the cruel and absurd atrocities unfolding not be addressed? How could the pop world just continue writing “let’s party” songs? Denial maybe, or perhaps a coping mechanism.

One of Michael’s oldest friends had started living in Ukraine years ago and married a Ukrainian woman. Shortly after the invasion his friend’s wife, along with her mother and their dog, were sheltered in a parking garage, scared to death with bombs exploding all around. They eventually got out of the country safely, but that brought the reality of the war into clearer perspective. Everyday life can be tough enough, right? Now add indiscriminate bombing into the mix. No longer can ordinary citizens enjoy the innocence of watering in the garden, walking the dog, and driving down the street without the threat of being destroyed with an incoming missile.

As much as Michael wanted to write about the war, everything that came out was too literal and seemed void of any cathartic relevance. He put the idea aside. Months later, he came up with a new drum beat. Inspired by the drumming of Manu Katché and Phil Collins he wanted to create a drum beat that incorporated lots of toms. The power and driving nature of the beat was the catalyst to return to the idea of writing a song about this war. New lyrics started to appear and resonate with him around what he was feeling from the horrible images he had seen, and “In a River” started to take shape.

When Mother Teresa was asked to attend an anti-war protest, she declined but said that when there is a pro-peace rally, she would be there. This song is a pro-peace song.

How many songs about war can be written around the same drum part? This drum part, which is referred to as “war drums,” has been sent to some of Michael’s closest musician friends with the suggestion that they use it as the foundation for their own song. Interested in writing your own war song or know someone that is? Download the drum part here: michaelfaeth.bandcamp.com/track/war-drums

lyrics

How well we know it
We’ve seen it all before
Dear God here we go now
In another fucking war

God here we go

Someone out walking the dog
Destroyed thinking you’re some demigod
Watering in his garden
History will grant your crimes no pardon
A little girl’s grandmother
An evil monster erasing her
Evil monster

How well we know it
We’ve seen it all before
Dear God here we go now
In another fucking war

Driving on a city street
Treated like a slaughterhouse of human meat
There’s a building of homes
Set ablaze by your gang of drones

Safely ashore
You push us right back in

Game to threaten all existence
Underestimating resistance
What you do your little lifespan
Worth it to be a better man
Greed, hate, and delusion
Draw your own conclusion

How well we know it
We’ve seen it all before
Dear God we can save us
We want no more war

credits

released July 1, 2023
Drum set, acoustic guitar, Moog Subsequent 25, vocals, and lyrics: Michael Faeth

Pro Tools Engineering, Mixing, and Mastering: Peter Wolf at Wolfsound Audio in Fresno, CA

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Michael Faeth Fresno, California

Drummed for Jessamine albums on Kranky and 7” on Sub Pop. Played CMJ Music Festival and Bumbershoot. Shared stage with bands like Stereolab and The Flaming Lips. Tour drummer with The For Carnation in England including All Tomorrow's Parties. Plays drums with Buzzbomb, Atoms Are Aliens, and Llama Boy. FCC Orchestra percussionist. Theater production drummer. Self-released three full-length albums. ... more

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