This is the third remake of a song of my 2007 album „Many directions“. The track was heavily influenced by 70s Funk a la Chic and I remember, that I practiced Funk-guitar at those times with a book called „Masters of Rhythm guitar“. Looking back my interest on rhythm guitar has grown over time and I have lost my interest in Lead guitar. The tasteful chord-voicing and the rhythmic precision of guitar-players like Nile Rodgers and others are admirable. Back to the topic the poem, which I used for „One way ticket“ was written by the american poet Langston Hughes, an afro-american author, who fought for the rights of the black minority in the USA. The poem is dealing with the topics of escape and racism. So the main character purchases a „One way ticket“ to escape from the repression in the southern states of the USA. In his sharp analysis of racism Hughes identifies angst as the main cause of racism („Who are scared of me and me of them“)
Looking at this statement I thought it would be appropriate to set the poem to a black genre style, though I am a white guy living in germany. However the topic is still as relevant as it was, when Langston Hughes wrote this poem.
Like the other remakes I try to present the song as good as possible. I am glad, that I found some splendid musicians around the world, which joined the project. While the rhythm-group was found very fast and while I had Gdaliy Garmiza for the Saxophone in mind from the very beginning, the hunt for the right vocalist became endless. Two or three singers backed off as soon as they had got the playback, so my search for a male Soul-singer took more than three months before Brail Watson said „Yes“ and I think the long wait was worth it.
lyrics
One way ticket
I pick up my life, And take it with me, And I put it down in Chicago, Detroit, Buffalo, Scranton, Any place that is North and East, And not Dixie.
I pick up my life And take it on the train, To Los Angeles, Bakersfield, Seattle, Oakland, Salt Lake Any place that is North and West, And not South.
I am fed up With Jim Crow laws, People who are cruel And afraid, Who lynch and run, Who are scared of me And me of them
I pick up my life And take it away On a one-way ticket- Gone up North Gone out West Gone
(Langston Hughes)
credits
released September 26, 2017
Lead and backing vocals: Phillip „Brail“ Watson (braillionaire.bandcamp.com)
Saxophone: Gdaliy Garmiza
Bass: Adam Świerczyński
Drums: Jonas Schütz
Guitar and violin: Dirk Radloff
All rights reserved 2007 by heartsore-music/ Dirk Radloff
Do you like Judas Priest, Iron Maiden or Manowar?
Heartscore, a German-italian studio-project (no live-shows planned) bring back the power of classic Heavy Metal paired with some Prog- and Thrash-Metal influences.
A powerful metal opus, blending soaring vocals, intricate melodies, and thunderous riffs for an epic listening experience. Bandcamp New & Notable Jun 26, 2023