Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 12, 2017 8:04:05 GMT -5
Read a couple of articles in the business press last month about the rapid growth of the "dollar" chains -- the Dollar Store, Family Dollar, Dollar General and the like. They have an interesting business model, and they often go into towns too small for Walmart. My own hometown has a Family Dollar and a Dollar General.
Here is the video:
I have edited and altere the lyrics a bit since recording the video, but here is the current version: Dollar Store © 2017 by David Hanners This town is seniors and divorcees Most on some county relief Main Street’s boarded up or falling down But they say it's gonna turn around
Get off work, hit the bank drive-through Wait in line is all I do Money’s gone before payday Take the kids to McDonald’s anyway
So grab your coat, I’ll hold the door We’ll go to the Dollar Store We’ll go to the Dollar Store
Toilet paper, milk, microwave food Nowadays who’s got time to cook? Money’s stretched pretty tight Keeps Marie up at night
Some left town for the unknown We stayed ‘cause it was home Ask her if it's worth it all Her expression’s blank as fresh drywall
(Chorus)
In the fields beyond the lights on the two-lane out of town They grow beans and corn Once could buy anything you need downtown Now all we got is the Dollar Store
Old folks and divorcees Wait for their check from the county Ghosts of Main Street seem resigned Don’t see it bouncing back in my lifetime
In New York City some smart investor Bets on things not getting better Rich man always wants some more So he builds a Dollar Store
(Chorus)
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 17, 2017 0:23:16 GMT -5
Edited and shortened the lyrics and ditched the melody for a new one. I'll come up with a video later, but here are the new lyrics:
Dollar Store © 2017 by David Hanners Main Street’s boarded up or falling down But they say it's gonna turn around This town is seniors and single moms Most on relief, a few have jobs My paycheck’s gone before payday Take the kids to McDonald’s anyway Grab your coat, I’ll hold the door We’ll go to the Dollar Store
Toilet paper, milk, microwave food These days who’s got time to cook? Time and money stretched too tight What you think about when you’re up at night Wonder if it's worth it all Your expression’s blank as fresh drywall Grab your coat, I’ll hold the door We’ll go to the Dollar Store
In the fields beyond the lights on the two-lane out of town They grow beans and corn Once could buy anything you need downtown Now all we got is the Dollar Store
This town is old folks and the dispossessed Single moms on TANF Ghosts of Main Street seem resigned Don’t see it bouncing back in my lifetime On Wall Street some sharp investor Bets on things not getting better Rich man always wants some more So he builds a Dollar Store
|
|
Tamarack
Administrator
Ancient Citizen
Posts: 9,379
|
Post by Tamarack on Nov 23, 2017 9:02:30 GMT -5
Looking forward to the melody and video. The lyrics certainly describe hundreds of small towns.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 26, 2017 4:06:06 GMT -5
Thanks for the kind words.
Here's a new run at the melody. Not entirely sure what I think of it. I have a pal who seems more adept at Americana melodies than I am and he's going to try his hand at coming up with something. If I like his better (which I probably will...) I'll use it.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 1, 2019 9:28:30 GMT -5
This song has had a tortuous path. It has gone through more iterations than I can count. In fact, I'd even forgotten about some of the versions above. I think the song has finally found its level:
Dollar Store © 2019 by David Hanners Screen door slams, she’s got her list Can’t tell if she’s ok or pissed Those eyes once said it all Now they’re blank as fresh drywall She climbs in, closes the door We are off to the Dollar Store
Prairie boxes and double-wides Full of rednecks, retirees and shotgun brides Thank God the foundry is still downtown Everything else is worn out and worn down Rusted Silverados of the working poor Parked outside the Dollar Store
In the fields either side of the two-lane out of town They grow beans and corn Some nights I’m tempted just to get out on that highway See how far I can go
Ghosts of these streets seem resigned This town ain’t bouncing back in my lifetime Seeds we sowed we now reap ‘Cause we just wanted fast and cheap Come a time there’ll be nothing left here anymore Not even a Dollar Store Come a time there’ll be nothing left here anymore Not even a Dollar Store
|
|
|
Post by Rob Hanesworth on Oct 4, 2019 20:52:27 GMT -5
David, I think you polished it up real nice. Great song.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 6, 2019 0:53:03 GMT -5
David, I think you polished it up real nice. Great song. Thanks for taking the time to listen, Rob! I appreciate it. It has been a tortuous path on this song....
|
|
|
Post by loopysanchez on Dec 9, 2019 14:29:05 GMT -5
Just stumbled onto this one. Outstanding. Loved seeing your editing process as you narrowed the song down to what it needed to be. Sad, beautiful, honest.
I've been working on a song that mentions a dollar store, first person story from a woman who could be a character in your song. I think I'm to a point I like it; may still need to thin it out a little. I'll post some lyrics when I get it finalized.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 15, 2019 1:38:20 GMT -5
Just stumbled onto this one. Outstanding. Loved seeing your editing process as you narrowed the song down to what it needed to be. Sad, beautiful, honest. I've been working on a song that mentions a dollar store, first person story from a woman who could be a character in your song. I think I'm to a point I like it; may still need to thin it out a little. I'll post some lyrics when I get it finalized. Please do! Would love to see your lyrics. And thanks for the kind words. I'm still working on this tune. It is hard to describe, but there's still something about it that bugs me, and I haven't figured out what it is.
|
|