Basement Blessing

(Style: Heavy Blues-Rock with a driving, distorted rhythm; Vocal delivery should be raw, howling, and unapologetic, mimicking Janis Joplin’s power.) VERSE 1 (Slow, heavy bass line kicks in, followed by a distorted guitar strum) Well, the air is thick with sage and that heavy political dread My third cousin’s laughing too loud at something somebody else said And they’re talkin’ 'bout grace, yeah, and the long road we’ve all been on But I see the tightness in Mama’s face, waiting just for the morning dawn. Sittin’ at the pine table, honey, watchin’ the light grow gray— I feel like the goddamn turkey, carved up and put on display! PRE-CHORUS And they keep askin’ me if I’m happy, if my soul is feelin’ clean But I just gotta get away from this sweet, plastic scene! I can’t breathe, baby, not with all this polyester cheer! Gonna tell 'em I need ice, then I disappear! CHORUS (Explosive tempo increase, drums hit hard, guitar wails) GIMME THAT FIRE! Yeah, I need that dirty rye! The conversation’s setting my whole damn soul on fire! They got their damn blessings and their sermons on the TV screen I got my flask of whiskey and the sweetest little stash of green! Roll me a prayer, baby, right down in the basement dust! ‘Cause the only thing I’m grateful for is temporary lust! YEAH! Hallelujah, darling! Pass the smoke and the rye! VERSE 2 I snuck the bottle hidden beneath my coat, down the servant stairs to the mudroom Tucked into the laundry pile, wrapped in the coming gloom. Found an old coffee mug—hell, I don’t even care if it’s clean Poured myself a tall one, just to purge the festive scene. Oh, that cheap rye stings right going down my throat—burns the lie right out of my mouth! Forget the damn pilgrims, forget the family anecdote! It’s quiet in this darkness, baby, away from the shout! PRE-CHORUS They're clinking their crystal glasses, smiling that forced, polite way But I got my own offering, hiding from the light of day! I ain’t got patience for Jesus, ain't got the patience for you, man! I got a match and a promise, and a mighty good escape plan! CHORUS (Full power, maximum velocity and volume, slightly heavier/metal riffing) GIMME THAT FIRE! Yeah, I need that dirty rye! The conversation’s setting my whole damn soul on fire! They got their damn blessings and their sermons on the TV screen I got my flask of whiskey and the sweetest little stash of green! Roll me a prayer, baby, right down in the basement dust! ‘Cause the only thing I’m grateful for is temporary lust! YEAH! Hallelujah, darling! Pass the smoke and the rye! GUITAR SOLO / BRIDGE (Lengthy, screaming, distorted blues guitar solo over heavy rhythm section. The sound should be raw and feedback-laden. Vocal interjections during the solo.) Oh, Lord! You can keep your pie! Don't you know the kind of hurt you gotta hide? They say be grateful for the things you got! But they ain't lookin' at the empty hole I bought! (Wails) They ain't lookin' at me! Keep your damn turkey, baby! Smoke it! CHORUS (Return to full force, slightly slower, heavier rhythm to emphasize the finality) GIMME THAT FIRE! Yeah, I need that dirty rye! The conversation’s setting my whole damn soul on fire! They can keep their blessings and their sermons on the screen— I got my flask of whiskey and the sweetest little stash of green! Roll me a prayer, baby, right down in the basement dust! ‘Cause the only thing I’m grateful for is temporary LUST! YEAH! Hallelujah, darling! OUTRO (Music fades slowly, guitar noise and feedback linger) Just the smoke and the rye... Yeah, forget the family... I'm out of time, baby. I ain't comin' back up... Happy damn Thanksgiving! (Cynical cough/chuckle, final feedback squeal) Oh, sweet God...