Montreal 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
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 So we rallied ‘round the story |
<continued>
I’m afraid we’ve gone too far There was going to be peace in the valley I’m afraid we’ve gone too far |
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