The United Dictators Of Mars - SONG

Place In Time

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(re-grooved)

Music: Mody, Words: Harris

Walking through the ages. Seems like not so long ago. My mind races of the memories and times. Open the door unleash the beast. Lost are the days but not left far behind. Over the sands of time.

Can you accept this place in time.

Over the song plays in my head. Distant yet not far away. My mind rages in the here and now. The door is open for the changing of times. Unleash the changes and open my mind. Now it seems so clear.

Onward toward the future. Never lose sight of the past. My mind races for the times still ahead. Open the door, unleash the things that may... Lie in the balance of life's mysteries. Cling to your past but move forward steadfast. Pray by the day and the good things will come. Don't sweat the things that will one day seem like. A simple place in time.

Jeff vetoed this song in the past more than once so when I brought it up for this project he had no choice, it was my studio! It was originally called "Fast 95" because it was a fast song I wrote in 1995 so I worked on lyrics using the same title about coming to grips with failure and the fast pace of life. Jeff just couldn't find the vocal inspiration since I forced him to do it. So I took drastic measures. I cut the guitar out of the intro and first verse and extended the drums. In essence I re-grooved it and added the heart beat type percussion. The song immediately had a new life and as usual Jeff was right about making changes. I thought it would make a great first song they way it builds and then got the idea of using that intro to weave in and out short segments from our past projects. A segue through the years leading to this new place. I gave Jeff the intro theme and he worked around that concept. You can even hear different singing styles Jeff would have used over that time. That took a while to grow on me since I really needed a fresh voice for these old songs but it fits the theme perfectly. I added the sampled line "Can you accept this place in time" and titled the song as such. I thought that one line spoke to where we both are currently. Reflecting on what we've done and accepting the good and the bad.

I vetoed this song in the past more than once so when Master Mody brought it up for this project, I had to veto it again... that is, until a few changes were made.

As soon as Master Mody deleted the Fischer Price tape recorded drums, I was hooked.

Just kidding Tom :)
You will find my real version below:

I am sure that every musician creates songs that never make the cut. We are not the proverbial "exception to the rule" with regard to "B Side" material. This song, as Tom has mentioned, did not move me in its original format. Perhaps it also didn't seem to fit with the majority of material which we were writing at the time. I believe Tom re-introduced this song toward the end of our recording this CD. It is my belief, whether I am right or wrong and I am sure Tom will inform me, that because we were re-inventing material in a collaborative setting, he dug the song up only to be rejected again. Interpretation is a curious thing. Lucky for me, after Tom made some changes (probably due to persuasion), I heard the music in a different way. I say lucky for me because this gave me an idea for a vocal melody/structure which I had been interested in experimenting with for some time. The end result is a song which grew on me and made me realize some good material may have fallen by the wayside had Master Mody not been persistent.

Tom's Rebuttle: the "fisher price" drums reference Jeff made was concerning an online review of the drums on the song "Last on Earth". A critique I stronly disagree with... besides, it was a BOSS DR-5 Drum Machine. I will now drain that critics blood with my Alien retinal laser!

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