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Slave
Jun 5, 2019 17:29:16 GMT
Post by BiteUrLip on Jun 5, 2019 17:29:16 GMT
Music: Elton John
Lyrics: Bernie Taupin
Bass: Dee Murray
Guitars and banjo: Davey Johnstone
Congas and drums: Nigel Olsson
There's a river running sweat right through our land, through our land
Driven by a man with a bullwhip in his hand, in his hand
And I've taken just as much as I can stand, I can stand
Oh we've got to free our brothers from their shackles if we can, if we can
Most nights I have to watch my woman cry, oh she cries
Every day I watch the colonel smile, oh he smiles
His painted ladies riding in from town, in from town
I swear one day I'm gonna burn that whore house to the ground, to the ground
chorus:
Slave, slave
To fight the violence we must be brave
Hold on strong to the love God gave
Slave
There's a rumour of a war that's yet to come, yet to come
That may free our families, free our families and our sons, and our sons
It may lay green lands to barren wastes, all the waste, all the waste
The price of release is a bitter blow to face, oh to face
(repeat chorus)
(repeat chorus)
(repeat chorus)
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Slave
Jun 5, 2019 17:33:28 GMT
Post by BiteUrLip on Jun 5, 2019 17:33:28 GMT
The weakest track from HC. This song I truly dislike. The verses are good but the chorus is hopeless (musically) and I don't like it's words either. It sounds like it's mocking enslaved people - God's love is a tiny blessing when you're locked into pain and misery for the whole of your life. Not the best Taupin here.
2½ stars.
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Post by dougs on Jun 5, 2019 19:16:11 GMT
"Slave" from HONKY CHATEAU:
"Slave" is a folksy southern-influenced song with a bit of country flavour to it. It is driven by Davey's acoustic guitar and banjo. Nigel adds congas to the chorus of the song. One of the rare Elton-written songs where he doesn't play on it. An alternative, and less satisfying fast version, appears on Elton's RARE MASTERS album release in 1992-93. Bernie referred to the original fast version as "ridiculously fast." Bernie was clearly much happier with the final version which appeared on HONKY CHATEAU. Apparently Elton never played this one live.
Rating: 4 stars
Doug
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Slave
Jun 5, 2019 20:41:28 GMT
Post by Commodore Orpington on Jun 5, 2019 20:41:28 GMT
Bernie is not mocking slaves. He is being totally sympathetic.
I love it. 5 stars.
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Slave
Jun 7, 2019 19:34:32 GMT
Post by rocketman on Jun 7, 2019 19:34:32 GMT
4 stars...definitely a wise decision to go with this later, slower version of the song rather than the frenetic initial recording of it that is included as a bonus track on the re-mastered CD (though the fast version isn't terrible by any means). The slow version gives the listener more insight into the desperation and vengefulness evident on this track
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Slave
Jun 16, 2019 18:24:05 GMT
Post by newloneranger on Jun 16, 2019 18:24:05 GMT
This song has grown on me a bit, still one of my least favorites from this album.
4 stars
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Slave
Aug 7, 2019 10:34:45 GMT
Post by nix on Aug 7, 2019 10:34:45 GMT
2 Crappy little boring song. Still listenable.
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