SNAKE IN THE GRASS LOW TIDE RIOT [INTRO — INSTRUMENTAL ONLY — 16 BARS] [Huge warm electric bass plays a hypnotic descending funk-reggae riff] [Deep dub sub-bass reinforces the bassline] [Tight live kick and snare enter with shuffled hi-hats] [Crisp offbeat skank guitar, dirty Hammond organ] [Spring reverb and tape-delay guitar echoes] [Muted horn stabs punctuate the groove] [Build into a heavy full-band reggae-rock rhythm] [NO VOCALS, HUMMING, CHANTS OR VOCAL SAMPLES] [VERSE 1 — LOW RASPY MALE VOCAL, CONTROLLED REGGAE PHRASING] You shook my hand with a loaded smile Said you'd walk beside me every mile Had my back, that's what you said While you counted every step ahead [BASS RIFF ANSWERS THE VOCAL, ORGAN STABS] You knew the names, you knew the game Knew just where to place the blame Never raised your voice or showed your teeth Just kept your knife where I couldn't see [PRE-CHORUS — MALE LEAD, TENSE AND RHYTHMIC] You don't need a gun to take a shot Don't need a match to burn the lot Some folks lie, some folks steal Some shake your hand while they turn the wheel [DUB DROPOUT — BASS AND RIMSHOT ONLY] [ONE BEAT OF SILENCE] [CHORUS — AGGRESSIVE SKA-ROCK, POWERFUL MALE LEAD] SNAKE IN THE GRASS! I HEAR YOU MOVING! SMILE IN MY FACE! WHILE THE KNIFE GOES THROUGH ME! SNAKE IN THE GRASS! I KNOW YOUR KIND! SAY YOU GOT MY BACK WHILE YOU'RE WORKING BEHIND! [ROUGH MALE GANG RESPONSES ON TITLE PHRASE] [OVERDRIVEN GUITAR, HEAVY LIVE DRUMS] [INSTRUMENTAL TURNAROUND — 8 BARS] [Huge rolling bass groove returns] [Wah-wah guitar and Hammond organ trade short phrases] [Deep dub echo and tight snare fills] [NO VOCALS] [POST-CHORUS — LOW MALE VOCAL, RHYTHMIC DELIVERY] Keep your friends close Keep your enemies in sight It's the ones that call you brother That'll cut you in the night [VERSE 2 — RASPY MALE LEAD, DARKER REGGAE-FUNK GROOVE] You played the part, you wore the face Took your seat and knew your place Passed the word when I wasn't there Then acted shocked when it filled the air [SHORT BASS FILLS BETWEEN LINES] Every favor came with strings Every promise had hidden things You didn't stab me in the street You pulled the ground from under my feet [PRE-CHORUS — MALE LEAD, GROWING INTENSITY] You don't need a gun to take a shot Don't need a match to burn the lot Some folks lie, some folks steal Some shake your hand while they turn the wheel [CHORUS — FULL BAND, AGGRESSIVE SKA-ROCK] SNAKE IN THE GRASS! I HEAR YOU MOVING! SMILE IN MY FACE! WHILE THE KNIFE GOES THROUGH ME! SNAKE IN THE GRASS! I KNOW YOUR KIND! SAY YOU GOT MY BACK WHILE YOU'RE WORKING BEHIND! [INSTRUMENTAL DUB BREAK — 24 BARS] [BASS GUITAR TAKES CENTER STAGE] [Massive syncopated funk-reggae bass solo] [Drums strip down to kick, snare and rimshots] [Spring reverb guitar chops and long tape-delay echoes] [Hammond organ swells, occasional muted horn stabs] [Dub dropouts create sudden pockets of silence] [Dirty wah-wah guitar joins the bass groove] [Live drums build toward a heavy full-band return] [NO VOCALS] [BRIDGE — STRIPPED DOWN, LOW MALE VOCAL] Funny how the truth comes out When the room gets quiet Funny how the loudest loyalty Never seems to buy it [BASS AND DISTANT ORGAN ONLY] I don't need revenge I don't need a scene I just know exactly What your friendship means [BREAKDOWN — HEAVY HALF-TIME DUB-ROCK] [Deep distorted bass, pounding kick and snare] [Dark echoing guitar stabs] [MALE LEAD — COLD, CONFRONTATIONAL] I saw the tracks I heard the sound I watched you smile While you dragged me down [MALE LEAD — MORE AGGRESSIVE] No more favors No more trust I know what crawls Beneath the dust [INSTRUMENTAL BUILD — 8 BARS] [Bass riff grows heavier] [Offbeat guitar accelerates its rhythmic intensity] [Drums add driving ska-punk snare fills] [Organ and horn stabs rise behind the guitars] [HARD FULL-BAND STOP] [FINAL CHORUS — EXPLOSIVE MALE VOCAL, FULL BAND] SNAKE IN THE GRASS! I HEAR YOU MOVING! SMILE IN MY FACE! WHILE THE KNIFE GOES THROUGH ME! SNAKE IN THE GRASS! I KNOW YOUR KIND! SAY YOU GOT MY BACK WHILE YOU'RE WORKING BEHIND! [FINAL REFRAIN — MALE LEAD WITH ROUGH GANG RESPONSES] Snake in the grass... I know your kind... Snake in the grass... You were never on my side... [OUTRO — REGGAE-FUNK GROOVE RETURNS] [MALE LEAD — LOW, DRY, MATTER-OF-FACT] You can keep the handshake You can keep the smile I know what you are [FINAL LINE — ALMOST SPOKEN MALE VOCAL] I just didn't know it for a while [INSTRUMENTAL OUTRO — 8 BARS] [Huge bass riff continues alone] [Drums and skank guitar fade into dub echoes] [Final deep bass note with long tape delay] [END]
