Selling out our Sons and Daughters

ChrisVelan-sqrMontreal singer-songwriter, Chris Velan, wrote “un-American Gothic” to remind us how far our society has strayed from the positive principles that America was founded on. From the early hopes of freedom and peace, we’ve gone too far down the dark alley of greed and pollution. The powerful and greedy are stealing the future from everyone else. Writes Velan: “When did we give up on trying? Blinded by the dream.” Where are the politicians and business leaders willing to share the prosperity with hard working citizens? Where are the advocates showing that people matter more than money? Have we really gone too far to reclaim the American dream?

You can watch the music video for un-American Gothic here: youtube.com/watch?v=zdDLCmCaO08


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Here are the lyrics for un-American Gothic, by Chris Velan. The words are deep and sadly accurate in describing the American journey.

We arrived upon the tide
Dying to be free
I made you my young bride and we claimed destiny
Westward through the Plains
We killed everything
We left no remains
We wrote songs we could sing
We were young, we were the poorest
It was ours for the taking
We built alters in the forest
We shared in all the making
We assembled our masters
In the cities of regretting
Ever forward, ever faster
We got too good at forgetting

I’m afraid we’ve gone too far
No one can save us now
Yes, I’m afraid we’ve gone too far
No one can save us now

So we rallied ‘round the story
With the armies of our hearts
Through the shame and all the glory
We bled for a new start
And we knew that we were right
But still we got the blues
We danced into the night
We stood too much to lose
Then we found love at the speedway
In the twilight’s last gleaming
Though we ignored where the greed lay
As the fireworks were streaming
Now the poison’s in the water
But we tell ourselves we’re winning
Selling out our sons and daughters
Just to keep the wheels spinning

<continued>

I’m afraid we’ve gone too far
No one can save us now
Yes, I’m afraid we’ve gone too far
No one can save us now
Did I ever belong to you?
‘Cause you never belonged to me
When did we give up on trying?
Get blinded by the dream
I’m afraid we’ve gone too far
No one can save us now

There was going to be peace in the valley
We were going to build a better day
Now you’re ducking down a dark alley
I can’t look at you too long
Before I have to turn away

I’m afraid we’ve gone too far
No one can save us now
Yes, I’m afraid we’ve gone too far
No one can save us now
Did I ever belong to you?
‘Cause you never belonged to me
When did we give up on trying?
Get blinded by the dream
I’m afraid we’ve gone too far
No one can save us now

Credits
From chrisvelan.com Mix, released January 25, 2016
Produced by Howard Bilerman and Chris Velan
Recorded and mixed by Howard Bilerman at hotel2tango, Montreal
Mastered by Harris Newman at Grey Market MasteringChris Velan: guitars and vocals
Jamie Thompson: drums
Morgan Moore: bass
Max Henry: keys
Ngabo Kiroko: backing vocals
Ariel Engle: backing vocals