Scavenger (50/90 challenge song) (metal) with Peter Watkinson

Donna · **on:** August 29, 2009, 03:59:34 PM

A change from bright and cheery.

Was playing with mood and imagery and the (sometimes) human condition. I envisaged metal, and Peter Watkinson (a Brit, who coincidentally lives in Rotterdam) picked it up. I usually just post my finished 50/90 songs in my forum section here but thought you guys might get a kick out of this.
It's my first-ever "metal" song. (The concept emerged in February but I restructured and rewrote the lyric for 50/90.)

Music/instruments/vocals: Peter Watkinson
Lyrics: Donna Devine

Scavenger

(v1)
On my hands and knees
Through the desert of Time
I am crawling
While vultures hover
My heart is parched
My soul's without cover

Chorus
I'm a scavenger collecting
The bones of the day
From this elephants' graveyard
Of bleached memories
Now brittle and dried
No more tears to be cried

(v2)
The sands are scattered
With dreams of the sane
Melancholy
Replaces wonder
And life's a rock
That we all creep under

Chorus
I'm a scavenger collecting
The bones of the day
From this elephants' graveyard
Of bleached memories
Now brittle and dried
No more tears to be cried

Instrumental

Bridge
Is this desert of despair
A mere hallucination?
My own imagination?
I wish I could thirst
It would make me human
Might lift the curse

Chorus
I'm a scavenger collecting
The bones of the day
From this elephants' graveyard
Of bleached memories
Now brittle and dried
No more tears to be cried

� 2009 Donna Devine

r4m · **Reply #1 on:** August 29, 2009, 06:53:06 PM

Heavier and darker than I even care for, but very cool! Great fit for the lyrics! Great job!!

McLovin · **Reply #2 on:** August 29, 2009, 07:00:34 PM

Holy Dark Batwoman!!

Great lyrics as usual Donna,... and the production is fantastic!

Billy · **Reply #3 on:** August 31, 2009, 02:24:51 AM

Well done Peter! A lot of thought went into the production and it also shows a high level of musical ability. I'm not really a Metal fan but I do enjoy a little trip into the dark side from time to time.

Donna, where on Earth do you go to in your mind to think of such things?.....quite a brutal trip into all that psychology stuff. It's good to make people feel uncomfortable by reading/listening to such things. Stephen King territory. Excellent!

Billy.

Donna · **Reply #4 on:** August 31, 2009, 12:57:08 PM

Bill, Jay, and Billy, thanks, lads.

Your comments mean a lot. Mainly because heavy metal is so far off my usual radar that I truly didn't know whether the music/production was good or not.

All I know is that its loud, energetic, unusual, and laden with instruments, and the lyrics are growled/shrieked rather than simply sung.

And I really, really like it.

If you think this one is dark, I can't wait to hear what Peter does with my second metal lyric "Lilith's Daughter". It'll be up for your listening pleasure (or otherwise) in a week or two.

Billy...indeed the human mind is fathomless... The brighter one's light, the darker one's shadows, eh?

Donna

AndyG6508 · **Reply #5 on:** August 31, 2009, 01:36:17 PM

Donna,

Very atmospheric - the music suits the dark toned lyrics like a glove.

The music is a little too heavy for me, but it is impeccably recorded, performed and sung..a sure candidate as a sound track for a horror movie!

Cheers
Andy

snowdoguk · **Reply #6 on:** August 31, 2009, 01:50:00 PM

Crikey..that is very hard core metal

but very well done nevertheless

Mike

srvfender · **Reply #7 on:** August 31, 2009, 05:07:19 PM

Good fit of music and lyrics. Not my style but well done

AJ

OcalaMusician · **Reply #8 on:** August 31, 2009, 08:39:38 PM

WOW!!! - This is so freakin' cool. I'm not even a huge thrash metal fan, but I really love the well done tracks and especially the very tight syncopated bits. Sounds like Judas Priest meets Iron Maiden meets Slayer.

Hey Nick can ya make a head bangin' smiley face for songs like this??? LOL

Ok - so where are the players of this song and if they are out there, can I get involved with sme heavier music??? Pretty please with 10 penny nails on top!!

I enjoy all styles, but this style and other heavier styles seem to be in the minority. I'd love the change to rip out some hard rock-heavy metal stuff...more like Maiden, J. Tull, Aerosmith (in the olden days), Heart, King's X, Living Colour, and a whole bunch more.

Take care,
Neal

jrobbins · **Reply #9 on:** August 31, 2009, 08:47:03 PM

COOOOL STUFF DONNA!!!!

Neal.... if ya want to do some Maiden, Priest, 80's metal kinda stuff.... I'm your huckleberry my friend. I'll be around.

Sorry about Highjacking Donna. I really did dig the song!!!!!

Would have loved to have heard another vocalist do something with it....never have been much for the cookie monster vox...... the music was ROCKING!!!!!!

Just my .02.

Jon

Donna · **Reply #10 on:** September 01, 2009, 12:50:42 AM

Andy, Mike, AJ, Neal, and Jon, thanks for braving this.

I appreciate all the comments (and will pass them on to Peter).

Neal, I plan to ask Peter to join us here at MC.

Jon, Peter's next song with a lyric of mine will be sung and will have a melody.

Donna

OcalaMusician · **Reply #11 on:** September 01, 2009, 12:29:17 PM

Hi Jon & Donna - just a bit of my "resume". I play guitar, bass, drums, and a bit of keys. Singing is for those who will not cause ears to bleed or mental confusion, etc.

But I would be very happy to get involved with some music in that style we've discussed. I sure can't play drouble bass drums that fast, but I can play at about the tempo of "Over The Mountain" or "Hot For Teacher" without a problem. Guitar & bass can be anything.

PM me or whatever when you guys have something and I'll do the same if I come up with something as well.

Take care,
Neal

Paulo · **Reply #12 on:** September 01, 2009, 02:08:59 PM

Really Welldone . I only don't like this kind of singing, other than that, most of the times the musicians are great and this is the case... Very nice for a change.